Apple uses TSMC’s 2nm chips for the first time in the iPhone 18
By ForGeeks TSMC is preparing to begin producing 2nm chips on April 1, and many expected Apple to be the first customer to use this process for the A19 and A19 Pro in the iPhone 17. However, according to a new forecast from analyst Jeff Poo (GF Securities), Apple will continue to use the advanced 3nm process (N3P) for the A19/A19 Pro, and the transition to 2nm technology won’t take place until 2026 with the A20 and A20 Pro chips for the iPhone 18.
The move to a new process traditionally means increasing the number of transistors in a processor, making it more powerful and energy efficient. In addition, TSMC’s 2nm chips will for the first time utilize Gate-All-Around architecture (GAA), where vertically arranged nano-sheet transistors surround the channel on all four sides. These are:
- Reduces current leakage
- Enhances performance
- Improves energy efficiency
The A20 and A20 Pro chips are expected to deliver 15% performance gains at the same power consumption level, making the iPhone 18 more powerful without sacrificing battery life or overheating.
Apple has remained a key customer of TSMC since the 5nm chip era in 2020, when together with Huawei the company received the first batches of the advanced process technology. However, after U.S. sanctions, Huawei lost access to the top chips, and Apple remained TSMC’s main customer for TSMC’s latest process technology.
In 2023, when TSMC introduced 3nm manufacturing, Apple was the only company to get those chips, thanks to an exclusive contract. Now, the company will also become the first smartphone maker to switch to 2nm processor technology in 2026.
