The next generation iPhone/iPad chip, dubbed A11 should be manufactured in a 10nm production process, and TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) is already in the design stage. A11 should be the first chip that will be built in the new 10mn process; TSMC should achieve certification on its 10nm process by the end of this year, and first chip samples should be ready by early 2017.
Small-Volume production of the new A11 chips will start during the second quarter of 2017, and if prove successful, mass production will start soon after.
TSMC is not the only company that will make A11 chips; Samsung is also part of the deal, but they’ll produce just one-third of the chips, but should bring first samples sometime around the end of 2016. TSMC has invested $1 billion as part of preparation for the new production process.
If all goes well, 2017’s iPhone (that’ll probably be called 7s) will be packed with the state-of-the-art 10mn A11 chips, meaning much better speed, and even lower power consumption.