Industry analyst Jeff Pu has revealed a prediction that Apple's A20 chip for the iPhone 18 will be manufactured using TSMC's 2nm process. A prediction reported a little while ago suggested the chip would use a 3nm process, but if the 2nm process is indeed adopted, the A20 chip could see significant improvements in performance and power efficiency over the A19 chip.
Revised Prediction on the A20 Chip's Manufacturing Process
Jeff Pu, chief Apple analyst at GF Securities (Hong Kong), initially predicted that the A20 chip for the next-generation iPhone 18 would be manufactured using TSMC's third-generation 3nm process (N3P). Since this N3P process is also expected to be used for the A19 chip in the iPhone 17, set to launch in late 2024, the prospect of both chips sharing the same manufacturing foundation had disappointed many smartphone processor enthusiasts.
Recently, however, Pu revised his prediction in a message to MacRumors, stating that the A20 chip will instead be manufactured using TSMC's cutting-edge 2nm process (N2). According to him, the previous information regarding the N3P process should be "disregarded." This revision brings the prediction in line with earlier reports that the A20 chip would use a 2nm process, once again unifying the rumors surrounding Apple's chip roadmap.
According to industry experts, the shift to the 2nm process—a technology in which semiconductor circuit patterns are formed at a fineness of roughly 2 nanometers—means the A20 chip could achieve significantly greater performance and power efficiency than the A19 chip. The smaller the node number in a semiconductor manufacturing process, the more transistors can be packed into a chip, enabling higher performance and lower power consumption.
TSMC's 2nm Process Technology Development and Production Outlook
TSMC's development of its 2nm (N2) technology is proceeding smoothly on schedule, and it features the company's first nanosheet transistor technology. Nanosheet transistors represent an evolution from traditional FinFET transistors, offering superior electrical control and improved performance.
According to TSMC, the N2 technology will deliver a "full-node advancement" (a major improvement between generations of manufacturing processes) in terms of both performance and power consumption, with mass production slated to begin in 2025. The company has also developed low-resistance RDL (redistribution layers) and ultra-high-performance metal-insulator-metal (MiM) capacitors, further boosting chip performance.
According to industry sources, TSMC has already achieved a 60% yield (the proportion of manufactured products meeting quality standards) in trial production of the 2nm process. This figure illustrates why companies like Apple are eager to secure the first batches of wafers.
Reports indicate that once TSMC's Baoshan and Kaohsiung facilities are fully operational, the company plans to increase monthly 2nm wafer production to 80,000 units by the end of 2025. The company is also reportedly set to launch a new "CyberShuttle" service starting in April, which will allow companies like Apple to evaluate multiple tests on the same test wafer, helping to reduce development costs.
Adoption in the iPhone 18 Series and Market Impact
Meanwhile, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has pointed out that because manufacturing costs for 2nm chips are extremely high (an estimated $30,000 per wafer), not all models in the iPhone 18 lineup may adopt this cutting-edge process. In particular, only the "Pro" models may be equipped with the 2nm SoC, while the standard models could continue to use the 3nm process.
Such differences in manufacturing processes could further widen the performance gap within the iPhone 18 lineup. While 2nm chips may significantly enhance user experience through advanced AI capabilities, longer battery life, and faster processing power, cost constraints may make it difficult to equip all models with this technology.
The launch of the iPhone 18 series is still about a year and a half away, and plans could change "in an instant." Still, for now at least, the latest prediction that the A20 chip will be manufactured using TSMC's 2nm process suggests Apple's continued intent to stay at the forefront of semiconductor technology.
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