In January 2019 Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple is already Engaged with TSMC's 5nm Processor Team to Prepare for a 5nm iPhone in 2020." It's expected that only Apple and Huawei will offer the next-gen processor in 2020. As TSMC prepares to ramp up production of 5nm early in 2020, the company is getting the word out on the progress of their new frontier, 3nm processors.

It's being reported today by Digitimes that TSMC has been fast advancing its manufacturing processes. It is on track to move 5nm node to commercial production in the second half of 2020, and will soon break ground for a 3nm facility where volume production will start in 2022.

TSMC will kick start production of chips built using a newer 3nm process node in 2022, according to JK Wang, the firm's senior vice president for fab operations.

Next year promises to be a fruitful one thanks to 5G picking up momentum. Phone vendors are set to launch more 5G devices in 2020, including foldable ones. For more, read the Digitimes report.

The news of TSMC's work on 3nm is not new. Last month Patently Apple posted deeper report on the matter titled "With TSMC and Samsung Fighting for Global Processor Dominance, TSMC Brakes Ground for 3nm Plant & Reveals Future Plans."

Our November report noted that TSMC's total investment in 3nm will touch the level of US$20 billion. The new plant is expected to start volume production in 2022 at the earliest, according to sources.

TSMC’s major customers for 3nm processors are expected to be Apple, Huawei and Nvidia among others. The 3nm process is expected to churn out ultra-precision semiconductors mainly used in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and 5G mobile communications.

At the time, TSMC also let it be known that it is already planning to start volume production of 2nm chips starting 2024.