High costs mean Apple will limit 2nm processors to iPhone 18 Pro models

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iPhone edited 6:09AM

A new report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that only certain models of the 2026 iPhone 18 range -- presumably the Pro editions -- will get 2nm processors.

Large red TSMC logo on a black wall with a person walking past in the foreground.
TSMC is developing a 2nm process



It's previously been reported that Apple will not be able to use 2 nanometer processor technology until the iPhone 18 Pro in 2026, and now Kuo appears to have backed that up. His report does not actually specify the Pro series, saying only that not all of the iPhone 18 range will get it.

The processors for 2025 iPhone 17 models will be made by TSMC's N3P process/3-nanometer technology. The processor for 2026 iPhone 18 models is anticipated to use TSMC's 2-nanometer technology. However, due to cost concerns, not all new iPhone 18 models may be equipped with a

-- (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo)



Given that the 2nm process will result in yet faster chips, it's surely a certainty that it will be in the Pro models. Theoretically, though, it could be limited to the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

TSMC has previously committed to launching its 2nm process in 2025, and some reports claimed it will be used in the iPhone 17 Pro. However, later reports said that mass production of the 2nm processor would come too late for the 2025 iPhone launch.

Also backing this up, Kuo further says that the 2025 iPhone 17 range will use TSMC's next generation of 3nm technology. Specifically, he claims the range will use the 2nm N3P design, which is claimed to offer a 5% performance increase over the current 2nm N3E design.

Again, Kuo does not specify which iPhone 17 models are to get processors using this technology. Previously, Apple made a clear distinction between the models by having the regular iPhones use the processors from the previous year's Pro models.

For 2024 and the iPhone 16 range, Apple instead developed two new processors. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus got an A18 processor, while the iPhone 16 Pro models have an A18 Pro.



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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 3
    tenthousandthingstenthousandthings Posts: 1,063member
    TSMC has always said “2H 2025” for the start of volume production of N2. Any early reports that it would be used for a September 2025 product like iPhone 17 were always fantasy.

    Interesting that Kuo thinks A20 Pro/M6 on N2 in 2026 will parallel A17 Pro/M3 on N3 in 2023, but it’s hard to know if he’s just guessing based on that past history or if he actually has sources telling him that Apple doesn’t have a non-Pro A20 taped out, for whatever reason.
  • Reply 2 of 3
    curtis150curtis150 Posts: 1member
    Why do we care?
  • Reply 3 of 3
    charlesncharlesn Posts: 1,041member
    Kuo Reality Check: he had the Apple Watch 10 screen sizes wrong the day before W10 debuted. So if he can't accurately predict screen sizes 24 hours before launch, consider how "worthy" his predictions are for iPhone chips two years from now. 
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