Apple Watch S9 Chip Now Made in the USA [Report]

The Apple Watch S9 chip is now being produced by TSMC in Arizona, USA, according to a new report from Tim Culpan.

TSMC Arizona has picked up a second Apple product. In addition to the A16 processor for iPhones, which I shared with you in September, the fab is now producing SiPs (Systems-in-Package) for the Apple Watch, according to my sources. This product is believed to be the S9 SiP (I'll be honest, I am a little unclear on this, but I'm 99% sure it's the S9). Recall that TSMC Arizona is manufacturing at N4 (part of the N5-family of process nodes) while the S9 is made in Taiwan at N4 and is a derivation of the A16, so this would make sense.

Notably, Culpan also reveals that a third chip has entered into production at TSMC Arizona, the Ryzen 9000, codenamed Grand Rapids. This brings the total number of products currently in production at the facility to three: the Apple A16, the Apple S9, and the AMD Ryzen 9000.


As of now, Phase 1A (P1A) is reportedly up and running at around 10k wafers per month. This capacity is shared among the three products currently in production. P1B is still being finished, but once it's done the total capacity at Arizona Phase 1 is expected to reach 24k/month. Culpan noted that tooling delays might pose challenges but clarified that TSMC is still on track to meet its first-quarter 2025 timeline for Phase 1B.

TSMC's board is scheduled to meet in Arizona this February, perhaps for the first time ever. The meeting is expected to include a tour of the facility and could serve as a public relations opportunity for both TSMC and the U.S. government. While no formal event with President Trump has been announced, Culpan speculated that the administration might use the occasion to highlight the fab's progress.

Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for updates.