Apple has just unveiled its iPhone 16 lineup, featuring the new A18 and A18 Pro chipsets, both built on TSMC’s second-generation 3nm technology. While it’s exciting to see Apple introduce a fresh chipset across all models, many tech enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the transition to even more advanced 2nm chips. Initially, there were rumors that Apple would adopt TSMC’s 2nm process for the iPhone 17 Pro models. However, a more recent report presents a different timeline for this upgrade.
According to renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 17 series will still rely on TSMC’s enhanced N3P 3nm chip technology, rather than making the leap to 2nm. The 2nm technology, due to high production costs, is expected to debut in some iPhone 18 models in 2026, marking a significant shift in Apple’s hardware roadmap.
This might seem like a minor detail, but the difference between 3nm and 2nm chip technology is substantial. The terms “3nm” and “2nm” refer to successive generations of chip manufacturing technology, with each generation featuring smaller transistors. Smaller transistors mean more can fit onto a single chip, boosting processing speed, enhancing power efficiency, and overall improving device performance.
Apple first adopted 3nm technology for its devices last year, using it in the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and M3 Mac models. The newly launched iPhone 16 lineup benefits from an improved second-generation 3nm process, which enhances both speed and power efficiency compared to the iPhone 15 models, making them a significant upgrade in terms of performance.
Looking ahead to 2025, TSMC is expected to begin mass production of 2nm chips, with Apple poised to be one of the first companies to receive them. TSMC is currently constructing two new facilities dedicated to 2nm production, with a third facility already in the works. This expansion reflects TSMC’s ambitious plans for its 2nm technology, and Apple’s strong partnership ensures it will continue to lead the industry in adopting cutting-edge semiconductor technology.
In the meantime, TSMC is refining its 3nm processes, introducing enhanced versions like N3E and N3P for better performance and efficiency. Moreover, specialized chips like N3X for high-performance computing and N3AE for automotive applications are also in development. These incremental improvements will likely tide Apple over until the 2nm technology becomes available.
When the iPhone 18 arrives with 2nm chips, not all models will feature this groundbreaking technology. Due to the high production costs associated with 2nm chips, it’s likely that only the iPhone 18 Pro models will benefit from the 2nm A-series SoC, while the standard models will continue using advanced 3nm processors. This tiered approach allows Apple to balance cost and performance across its product lineup.
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