TSMC’s 2nm Chips On Track For 2025 Launch, With The iPhone 17 Pro Expected To Be The First Candidate Of The Next-Gen Chips
May 28, 2024
Apple’s custom silicon transition has been a major plus for the company and a milestone for the entire computer industry. The company has been making gigantic strides in developing its M series chips, and every year, the technology is setting a new challenge. Last year, Apple moved to its 3nm process technology with the launch of the M3 series of chips, and we are now hearing that the development of TSMC’s 2nm fabrication is on track for next year.
Apple’s custom chips based on the 2nm process will see daylight next year, as supplier TSMC is on track to debut the technology
Apple typically spends a year or two after introducing the new chip technology, and we can expect the same this time around. The company is now developing 2nm process chips for its future products with its partnership with TSMC. BusinessKorea reports that Apple’s 2nm chips are on track to launch next year, and the iPhone 17 lineup could be the first device to get it, followed by the MacBook Pro models. While Apple will be the main beneficiary of TSMC’s 2nm chip technology, the supplier will also gain in terms of orders.
The supplier is confident in the development process of its chips based on 2nm fabrication and that the release will possibly be on time. The Vice President of Process Development, Zhang Xiaogang, states that the development of 2nm technology is progressing “smoothly” and that mass production is on time for 2025. It was previously rumored that TSMC’s 2nm development could be delayed due to technical challenges in applying Gate-All-Around or GAA technology.
These claims were put to rest by the vice president of the company, who stated that “the yields when applying GAA has reached 90 percent of the target.” This shows the progress of the company’s 2nm node development. Apple’s COO Jeff Williams also visited Taiwan recently for a meeting with TSMC President Wei Zhejia to secure orders for the 2nm chips. If the technology is on track for next year, it is possible that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will come with the A19 Pro chips, which will be fabricated on TSMC’s 2nm process.
Apple’s current iPhone 15 Pro models come with the A17 Pro chips, which are based on TSMC’s 3nm node, and this year, the chip process will remain the same. However, with some tweaks and adjustments, the company will offer improved performance and efficiency gains. Apple’s recent launch of the M4 iPad Pro comes with a 3nm chip as well, and this means that the company will introduce the M5 chips for Macs and future iPad models, which will use TSMC’s 2nm node.
With Apple by its side, TSMC has managed to achieve considerable success over the years. At this stage, it remains the only supplier capable of developing 2nm and 3nm chips at the scale and quality desired by Apple. The supplier will expand its production facility in the future to meet the increasing demand. We will keep you guys updated on the latest, so be sure to stick around.
