TSMC Prepares A16 Process: The Launch of 1.6 nm Chip Production is Very Close

TSMC is increasingly becoming the benchmark for chip production. The company has planned several innovations to enrich its range and continue its growth program. One of the next steps is represented by the A16 production process, which will identify the 1.6 nanometers process.

The start of production is very close: the project will commence shortly after the 2 nm production process that will be used by Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek for the upcoming high-end smartphone chips in the coming months.

Production Starting at the End of 2026

The first chips produced with the A16 process are expected, according to the latest information, by the end of 2026. The start of production will not mean an immediate launch of the chips into the market. In fact, the first chips produced with the new A16 are expected to hit the market in 2027.

Initial estimates anticipate a performance improvement of up to 10% and lower consumption by 15-20%, along with an increase of up to 10% in chip density. The start of production will not signify an immediate marketing launch for the chips. As mentioned, the first chips produced with the A16 are expected to arrive on the market during 2027.

It is noteworthy that, as revealed in recent months, NVIDIA is set to be the first and only client of TSMC regarding the A16 production process. The company has now established a strong partnership with the chip manufacturer and has managed to unseat Apple, which has been TSMC's main customer in recent years. NVIDIA will use the A16 process for its Feynman GPUs.