TSMC is preparing to supply Apple with 2nm processors in less than two years. These next-gen chips will give Mac, iPhone and iPad even better performance, without requiring more power to operate.
The 3nm chips in the latest Apple computers are cutting-edge, but what’s at the forefront of technology is constantly moving ahead.
2nm A19 chip likely coming in iPhone 17
The Apple name is on the A-series and M-series processors, and the chips are designed in Cupertino, but they are produced by TSMC using technology the chipmaker developed. The Taiwanese foundry has been able to shrink the components of Apple’s chips every year or two, allowing the devices they power to work faster while generating less waste heat.
As noted, the A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro models and the M3 chips in the new MacBook Pro and iMac were all produced with a 3nm process.
And Financial Times reports:
“TSMC, which dominates the global market in processors, has already shown the process test results for its “N2” — or 2 nanometre — prototypes to some of its biggest customers, including Apple and Nvidia, according to two people with direct knowledge of the discussions.”
TSMC scheduled mass production for its first 2nm chips for 2025. These will also certainly go to Apple — the company sent its entire initial supply of 3nm processors to the Mac-maker.
That’s good news for iPhone 17, which is surely already on the drawing board in Cupertino. The cutting-edge chip should make it better at running the artificial intelligence features coming to Siri and other aspects of iOS 18 in 2024.
