TSMC announces that the A16, the first 1.6nm chip, will be available in 2026

• The technology TSMC NanoFlex for nanofoil transistors gives designers flexibility over standard N2 cells, allowing them to choose between cells (basic building blocks of chip design) that are short to save space and be more energy efficient, or cells that are tall to achieve higher performance, all within the same design block.
• TSMC also announced N4C, an extension of N4P technology with up to 8.5% reduction in chip manufacturing cost, and the transition to N4C technology will be relatively easy, scheduled to enter production next year. N4C provides surface-efficient core IP (reusable design blocks that are designed to take up as little on-chip space as possible) and design rules fully compatible with existing N4P technology.
• TSMC is also developing the technology Coup to support the growth of data transmission in the context of advances in artificial intelligence. COUPE uses a chip organization technique to combine an electrical chip with a photonic chip, providing better performance and increased energy efficiency.
• Finally, TSMC says it is working on the development InFO-oS and CoWoS-Rfor use in applications such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and vehicle central computers.

Because it’s doing well, TSMC, the world’s largest contract chip maker, announced in April a 16.5 percent increase in revenue in the first quarter of 2024. The company also received major subsidies from to the USA to open more semiconductor factories on American soil.

Hackers say the announcement of TSMC A16 chips is a jab at Intel, which announced Angstrom 20A and Angstrom 18A manufacturing technologies. They also tout the fact that the TSMC symposium was held in Intel’s hometown of Santa Clara. I think everyone forgot about the Apple A16.