Apple's iPhone 17 Unlikely to Feature 2nm Chip, Pushing Advanced Processor to 2026

Next Year's iPhone 17 Unlikely to Feature TSMC's First 2nm Chip

Reports that next year's iPhone 17 will adopt TSMC's next-generation 2nm process are "fake news," a reputable source of accurate predictions about Apple's plans claimed on Monday. According to a post by Weibo user "Phone Chip Expert," the 2nm process won't go into mass production until the end of 2025. The account holder, who claims to have 25 years of experience in the integrated circuit industry, including work on Intel's Pentium processors, suggests the iPhone 17 will therefore still use TSMC's 3nm process. "The 2nm process won't be mass-produced until the end of 2025, so the iPhone 17 definitely can't catch up," read a machine translation of Phone Chip Expert's post. "It won't be until the iPhone 18 that a 2nm processor will be used." "Anyone who has seen the capacity planning chart will know that this is yet another report from an unscrupulous media outlet," added the user, commenting on an article by Zhitong Finance that repeated claims recently made by Taiwanese newspapers based on "industry sources." TSMC plans to begin mass production of 2nm chips next year and it was believed that the company had been accelerating the process to secure a stable yield before mass production. Apple is TSMC's main client, and it is typically the first to get TSMC's new chips. Apple acquired all of TSMC's 3nm chips in 2023 for iPhones, iPads, and Macs, for example. The 2nm fabrication process, also known simply as "N2," is expected to offer a 10 to 15 percent speed improvement at the same power or a 25 to 30 percent power reduction at the same speed compared to chips made with the supplier's 3nm technology. The A17 Pro chip in Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models is manufactured with TSMC's first-generation 3nm process, known as N3B. Apple's M4 chip, which recently debuted in the new iPad Pro, uses an enhanced version of this 3nm technology. Code in iOS 18 has confirmed that all four iPhone 16 models are set to use Apple's next-generation A18 chip, based on TSMC's N3E process. N3E is TSMC's second-generation 3nm chip fabrication process, which is less expensive and has improved yield compared to TSMC's first-generation 3nm process. The Weibo user contesting claims that 2nm will be ready for the iPhone 17 has a track record of accurate predictions. Phone Chip Expert was the first to reveal that the iPhone 7 would be water-resistant and that the standard iPhone 14 models would continue to use the A15 Bionic chip, while the more advanced A16 chip would be exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro models. These forecasts were later confirmed by multiple credible sources and were proven correct when the products were released. More recently, Phone Chip Expert was the first source of information about Apple developing its own AI server processor using TSMC's 3nm process, targeting mass production by the second half of 2025.

iPhone 17 2nm chip reports disputed by leaker with decent record

Citing inside information they claim to have about TSMC's forecast production capacity, they suggest that 2nm chips won't enter production until the end of 2025 - which would be too late for the iPhone 17 ... The Financial Times reported back in December of last year that TSMC had recently demonstrated its 2nm chips to Apple, suggesting that the first of these would debut in the iPhone 17 Pro in 2025. Digitimes backed this, stating that TSMC's 2nm chip production was "progressing well and on track for volume production in 2025." The same site said that the earthquake in Taiwan had not impacted the schedule, and that small-scale production would begin in Q2 2025, which would allow mass production to begin in Q3, in time for the iPhone 17 launch,. In May of this year, TrendForce also appeared to lend its support to this schedule. A new report says that there was a "secret meeting" between Apple chief operating officer Jeff Williams and the company's exclusive chipmaker TSMC. It's being speculated that the meeting may have been to agree a deal for Apple to reserve all of TSMC's 2nm capacity, in the same way it reportedly did with 3nm tech. An ET News report just last week reported that 2nm chip plans were running ahead of schedule. However, a leaker who uses the name 'Mobile phone chip expert' says the reports aren't true, and that mass production won't begin until the final quarter of the year. This is nonsense fake news. It will take until the end of 2025 for 2nm production. The iPhone 17 can't catch up at all, and the processor of the iPhone 17 still uses 3nm. The iPhone will not have 2nm until the iPhone 18. After reading the production capacity planning table, I know that this is another report by the unscrupulous media. As MacRumors notes, the leaker has a respectable track record, being the first to report that the A16 chip would be exclusive to the two iPhone 14 Pro models, and most recently that Apple was developing its own 3nm chips for its AI servers. It's too early to determine the accuracy of any of these reports, and it's not really an issue likely to sway many purchasing decisions at this point. Aside from those who upgrade every year, most of those who currently own iPhone 15 Pro models are likely to hold onto them for some time, while almost everyone else is potentially in the market for an iPhone 16 this year to take advantage of the Apple Intelligence features. Whether a 2nm chip comes to the iPhone 17 or iPhone 18 line-up isn't really on anyone's radar as yet.

TSMC 2nm processor won't arrive until the iPhone 18 Pro

Despite previous reports that Apple's iPhone 17 Pro would get TSMC's latest 2nm processor, a new claim says mass production will not be ready until the end of 2025. As recently as April 2024, reports were saying that the new and faster 2 nanometer processors would be produced for Apple in 2025, and that they would appear first in the iPhone 17 Pro. TSMC did commit to a 2025 launch, but a new claim says that volume production will be too late for that year's iPhone launch. The claim comes a leaker called "Mobile phone chip expert," on the Weibo Chinese social media site. The claim was in response to apparent industry media reports that chips made with the 2nm process would be ready in early 2025. "This is nonsense fake news," writes the leaker (in translation), "After reading the production capacity planning table, I know that this is another report by the unscrupulous media." Then the leaker specifies that the iPhone 17 Pro will still use 3nm processors. And that the iPhone will not have 2nm until the iPhone 18 range. The industry report that the leaker hopes to refute also says that Apple's M5 processor is expected to be mass-produced in 2025. The leaker doesn't directly comment on this claim, and previous reports have said Apple is already working on that M5 chip. Leaker "Mobile Phone Chip Expert" has a generally good reputation for accuracy. However, most of his or her claims concern issues that will take years to confirm. They may also never be confirmed. For instance, a recent claim from the leaker says that Apple has a secret plan to develop AI processors for its data centers.

Production Delays Force Apple To Skip TSMC's 2nm Chip For iPhone 17: Report - Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE:TSM)

Apple Inc. AAPL could end up pushing back the use of Taiwan Semiconductor's TSM 2-nanometer chip technology for its upcoming iPhone 17 series. What Happened: A reputable source with an accurate track record of predictions with respect to Apple's plans said on Weibo that the next-generation iPhone 17 will instead use a more refined 3nm chip manufactured by TSMC. The user criticized a report that mirrored claims about the 2nm chip, based on "industry sources." He stated, "Anyone who has seen the capacity planning chart will know that this is yet another report from an unscrupulous media outlet." See Also: Apple Rolls Out First iOS 18 Public Beta With Home Screen Customization And More: Here's How You Can Get It Now This is crucial since the 2nm fabrication process is expected to offer up to 15% speed improvement at the same amount of power consumption, or the same level of performance as a 3nm chip made by TSMC with power savings of up to 30%. Apple's iPhone 15 Pro uses TSMC's first-generation 3nm fabrication process. Subscribe to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox. Why It Matters: This revelation comes amidst reports of Apple's pursuit of a "significantly skinnier" iPhone 17. The company's focus on thinness, evident in the design of the OLED iPad Pro, is expected to extend to the iPhone 17, potentially influencing the choice of chip. Furthermore, renowned Apple observer, Ming-Chi Kuo, had previously hinted at significant camera upgrades in the forthcoming iPhone 17 models. The iPhone 17 is expected to see its front camera lens upgraded from the current 12MP/5P lens to a 24MP/6P lens, enhancing image quality significantly. Moreover, Kuo has also suggested that the iPhone 17 may incorporate a new technology for its mainboard, potentially offering enhanced internal space and cost-saving benefits. The new technology could simplify the manufacturing process. Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by following this link. Read Next: 6 New Hidden iPhone Features You Probably Haven't Discovered Yet on iOS 18 Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Image Via Pexels Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs