TSMC’s 1.4nm process is named A14 and may be launched in 2027

Apple recently launched new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models equipped with M3 chips. The latest chip is based on TSMC's 3nm architecture, which provides stronger computing and graphics performance. Compared with the M2 chip, the performance of the new chip is quite strong. TSMC showed off its work on future chip manufacturing technology that could pave the way for Apple to dominate the industry. TSMC also mentioned its new chip "A14" based on the 1.4nm manufacturing process, which will be released several years after the release of the 2nm chip.

TSMC shared information about its upcoming chips in a slide that mentioned the 1.4nm chip as "A14." The name is obviously confusing because the A14 refers to the 5nm chip in Apple's iPhone 12. However, since the company has not announced its 2nm chip in 2025, the chip will not be available for several years, and there is little chance of confusion as time passes. This year, Apple debuted the A17 Pro chip, the company's first 3-nanometer chip made by TSMC.

Apple is working with TSMC to develop chips for its future devices. The company's A19 or M5 chip will likely be the first device to use TSMC's 2nm chip. Although the 1.4nm chip will be a completely new product line, it will follow the "N2" 2nm chip. N2 chips will begin mass production later in 2025, and enhanced N2P nodes are expected to arrive in 2026.

It can be deduced from this that the 1.4nm or A14 chip will not be launched before 2027. If so, Apple will continue to be TSMC's most valuable customer and we could see the new chips in the company's iPhone 19 Pro (if Apple sticks to the same naming scheme). The iPhone 15 Pro is the first device to use the new 3nm chip, and competitors have yet to follow suit.

In comparison, the original M1 series of chips were based on TSMC's N5 node. In addition, M2 and M3 chips use N5P and N3B nodes based on yield. The latest S-series chips for Apple Watch use the N7P process, while the latest S9 chips use the N4P node. It should be noted that TSMC’s 1.4nm chips are currently only in the development stage and a lot of work needs to be done before release. However, it is still strange why the company named its 1.4nm chip after Apple's A14 chip.