Apple should benefit from TSMC’s 2nm chips first

The Apple firm has reportedly succeeded in securing the first delivery of 2 nanometer (nm) chips from TSMC for its iPhones.

Apple is the first smartphone manufacturer to equip its devices with a chip engraved using a 3nm architecture, the Apple brand will also undoubtedly be the first to switch to a 2nm engraving.

According to information from Digitimes, it is to Apple that TSMC will supply its first batches of 2nm chips. Their availability is planned for the second half of 2025. If the schedule is respected, the SoCs of the iPhone 17 Pro will therefore benefit from this engraving process.

The race for 2nm engraving is on

The iPhones planned in two years should therefore be the first mobiles on the market to upgrade to 2nm. Samsung is also developing its own 2nm chips, but it seems unlikely that these will be ready before TSMC’s. At the earliest, the Galaxy S from early 2026 will benefit first.

TSMC would have presented a prototype 2nm chip to Apple in December 2023, allowing the American firm to start working on its customization to make it an Apple Bionic SoC.

Then, on to 1.4 nm

To prepare for the production of 2nm chips, TSMC has already built two new factories, and is awaiting authorization for the construction of a third. This represents an investment of several billion euros.

While waiting for 2nm chips, TSMC will improve its processes on 3nm nodes. Its N3B technology will give way to N3E during this year, which will itself be replaced by N3P a few months later. It will then be time to market its 2nm chips.

TSMC will not stop there and should improve its 2nm engraving until 2027, when the first 1.4nm chips should arrive. Should then follow a 1nm process. Apple has even already taken the lead in reserving the first 1.4 and 1 nm chips from TSMC.

Source : Digitimes