TSMC’s 2nm Chips Set to Debut with Apple in 2025

In a notable development, Apple is reportedly at the forefront of adopting TSMC’s upcoming 2nm chips, as per information from DigiTimes.

According to a “Tomorrow’s Headlines” alert by DigiTimes, TSMC is set to begin the production of 2nm chips in the latter half of 2025. This transition from the current 3-nanometer architecture, already present in Apple’s latest iPhones and Macs, is anticipated to bring substantial improvements in speed and power efficiency.

The transition to 2nm involves TSMC’s adoption of GAAFET (Gate-All-Around Field-Effect Transistors) with nanosheets, moving away from the current FinFET technology. This shift is expected to bring faster speeds with a smaller transistor size and lower operational voltage, although it entails a more intricate manufacturing process.

TSMC is making substantial investments to prepare for this transition, with plans to construct two new facilities dedicated to 2nm chip production, and a third pending approval. Given that Apple is TSMC’s primary client, the Cupertino tech giant will likely need to make hardware adjustments to accommodate this advanced technology.

Apple has already embraced 3-nanometer chips, seen in the Apple A17 Pro chip for the iPhone 15 Pro models and the M3 series chips in Macs. The transition from 5nm to 3nm technology resulted in a substantial 20% increase in GPU speeds, 10% faster CPU speeds, and a doubling of Neural Engine speed.

In the progression from the current 3nm to the upcoming 2nm nodes, TSMC is introducing various improvements in the 3nm category, such as the already released N3E and N3P chips. Future releases like N3X for high-performance computing and N3AE for automotive applications are also in development.

Rumors hint at TSMC laying the groundwork for more advanced 1.4-nanometer chips, expected to debut as early as 2027. Apple is allegedly seeking to secure TSMC’s initial manufacturing capabilities for both 1.4nm and 1nm technologies, highlighting the company’s commitment to maintaining a leading position in semiconductor innovation.