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

AppleInsider

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.

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)

September 19, 2024

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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tenthousandthings

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.

curtis150

Why do we care?

charlesn

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. 

9secondkox2

Makes sense. Similar to iPhone 15 offering the new 3nm a17 pro in only the pro models snd the previous gen in regular models. 

The only caveat is that apple might actually launch 2nm chips late next year, not a year later. 

tenthousandthings

9secondkox2 said:

Makes sense. Similar to iPhone 15 offering the new 3nm a17 pro in only the pro models snd the previous gen in regular models. 

The only caveat is that apple might actually launch 2nm chips late next year, not a year later. 

That has only happened once, with the A16 Bionic on TSMC N4P. Despite the name, that was the fourth generation of TSMC’s 5nm tech (i.e., made in the same fabs as N5, N5P, and N4 before it), so it went into production earlier than usual.

N2 and beyond introduces a new transistor design, so I believe it’s being made in new fabs, different from N3, N3E, and N3P. Very unlikely to go into production early, but I suppose you never know!