TSMC became the first company to manufacture 3-nanometer smartphone chips for Apple.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, usually called TSMC, began mass production of 3-nanometer chips in 2022. Apple used the process for chips in products including the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, introduced in 2023. Smaller process labels generally indicate newer transistor technologies, though the number is not a simple measurement of every physical feature.
TSMC was founded in 1987 by Morris Chang and pioneered the dedicated semiconductor foundry model. A foundry manufactures chips designed by other companies, allowing customers such as Apple, AMD, and Nvidia to outsource production while retaining their own design operations.
TSMC is often confused with fabless chip designers. Apple designs its A-series processors, but TSMC manufactures them. The company is also frequently called the world's largest dedicated semiconductor foundry, a distinction separate from being the largest chip designer.