Apple was previously reported to unveil two 3nm chipsets later this year, the A17 Bionic and M3. Unfortunately, with an earlier rumor claiming that the M3 has been delayed until next year, we shall only have one announcement of an SoC made on TSMC’s cutting-edge architecture, but there must have been a reason for this delay. While yield production of 3nm wafers is one of them, there are other factors at play.

Mac and iPad sales saw a decline in Q2 2023, while iPhone shipments picked up, making up more than 50 percent of Apple’s revenue for the quarter, making it a huge reason for just the A17 Bionic to launch

The $24.1 billion profit that Apple garnered from its $94.8 billion revenue for Q2 2023 was contributed by iPhone sales, a category that brought $51.3 billion in revenue. Keep in mind that despite a slowdown in the economy, Apple’s iPhone sales outpaced the revenue figure from the previous quarter, where the technology giant’s handset segment generated $50.6 billion. However, the same success could not be repeated by the Mac and iPad family, which only made $7.2 billion and $6.7 billion, respectively.

Also, both product categories’ revenue was lower compared to the previous quarter, so on top of having to deal with TSMC’s 3nm chip production issues, Apple had another conundrum to tackle. Even if 3nm chip production stabilized and Apple managed to launch the M3 on schedule, it would matter little if customers were not purchasing any next-generation Mac or iPad. The iPhone, however, is something millions would gravitate to, especially the ‘Pro’ models, as these two will exclusively feature the 3nm A17 Bionic.

Delaying the M3 is the smart choice because TSMC is apparently unable to cumulatively meet the demand for it and the A17 Bionic, so at least now, the Taiwanese manufacturer has some breathing room to focus more on the high-end iPhone chipset. Apple intends to keep the momentum going for its Mac business with the unveiling of a 15-inch MacBook Air, and though it is reported to feature the same M2 as previously released models, it will be a breath of fresh air as it flaunts a new display size for an existing lineup.

Even if Mac and iPad sales disappoint throughout the year, Apple is reported to incorporate more exclusive featuresto the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, so their demand should offset the decline from other products. We still have two more financial quarters to go, so even if Apple does unveil the M3, we will still see the world’s first 3nm chip in a few months.