Apple's Next-Gen MacBook Air and iPad Air/Pro to Feature TSMC's Advanced N3E Processed M3 Chips with Improved Performance

According to the latest news, Apple's upcoming MacBook Air and iPad Air/Pro are expected to use TSMC's N3E process to manufacture M3 chips, in addition to the A17 chip used in the iPhone 15 series. These products with the new chips are likely to be launched in the second half of this year and the first half of next year respectively.

Previous reports suggested that the new 15-inch MacBook Air would use the M2 chip, which will also be launched with the 2022 13-inch MacBook Pro. However, according to rumors, the new MacBook Air may use the M3 processor instead, which can improve performance by 24% (single-core) and 6% (multi-core) compared to the M2. However, it may not make its debut at Apple's WWDC developer conference on June 6th.

Apple is currently working on its next-generation M3 chip, which will be manufactured using TSMC's N3E process, an improved iteration of the N3 process that is a more advanced 3nm process. Chips manufactured using the N3E process may have better power and performance characteristics than those made using conventional N3 process, while achieving higher transistor densities.

Compared to N5 with equivalent performance and density, the N3E process can achieve a 34% reduction in power consumption, an 18% improvement in performance under the same power and density, and a 60% increase in transistor density, thereby improving chip integration and performance.

Media reports indicate that Apple will be the first customer to use the N3E process node, which will be used in the M3 chip that will be installed in the next-generation MacBook Air and iPad Pro.

However, it is unlikely that the M3 processor will be launched earlier than the A17 processor. This means that the 15-inch MacBook Air is likely to be launched after the iPhone 15 series, and its debut at the upcoming Apple WWDC developer conference.