The first Apple A17 Bionic and M3 chips, made according to the 3 nm process technology, turned out to be very difficult to manufacture.
Only 55% of processors are suitable for installation in gadgets. The remaining 45% is marriage.
In this regard, Apple began to pay TSMC only for working processors, and at a reduced price. Apple is TSMC’s main customer, so the Chinese factory agreed to such terms.
Once TSMC gets production up and running and cuts scrap rates down to at least 30%, Apple will start paying for processors at standard price.
TSMC planned to release 100 thousand processors per month with 3nm technology by the end of 2023. [Wfcctech]