Chip shortages may be plaguing other consumer electronics products, as a recent check of PS5 inventory and Xbox Series S inventory shows However, the iPhone 13 looks to avoid chip-related delays

Digitimes reports that chip supplier TSMC has begun production of the Apple-designed A15 Bionic processor This is the chip that is expected to be used in the four iPhone 13 models rumored for a fall release

As best we can tell, it puts the iPhone 13 on track for launch in Apple's usual September window for new phone releases Reports earlier this spring indicated that production of the A15 would begin in late May, and according to a Digitimes article, that appears to be exactly what is happening

Even better for the iPhone 13 outlook is the news that TSMC will soon be able to ramp up chip production This means that the A15 will be produced in larger quantities than the A14 Bionic that underpins the iPhone 12 lineup

Like the A14, the A15 Bionic is manufactured using a 5-nanometer process This means that the A15 is likely to be an iterative improvement over the A14 in terms of processing power and efficiency

Still, when it comes to performance, an A15-equipped iPhone should be enough to keep it at the top of its class; the A14 already beats Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888-powered major Android phones

The A15 processor is just one of the changes coming to the iPhone 13 lineup all four models are expected to have a smaller notch and more screen space in the new iPhones the Pro model should have a display with a 120Hz refresh rate The Pro model should have a display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and an improved camera is also expected

Assuming that Apple is on track with other aspects of iPhone 13 production, the new phone should arrive in early September, but we are still waiting for more specific information on a release date