Apple recently released the iPhone 16 series smartphones, which are powered by A18 and A18 Pro chips manufactured using the 3 nm process technology. However, the next generation of iPhone 17 Pro smartphones may receive a 2-nm process.
TSMC’s 2-nm process in the iPhone 17 Pro
New information from the Business Times claims that TSMC’s 2-nanometer process will be in massive use in 2025, and that Apple will be one of the first to adopt the new process. It is expected that the next generation of A-series chips, which will form the basis of the iPhone 17 line, will be based on TSMC’s 2-nm process.
However, there is a possibility that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will be the first to be based on TSMC’s 2-nm process, while the non-Pro models will be based on the 3nm process. This should not be surprising, as Apple has already used a similar approach.
Most likely, future chipsets will be called A19 and A19 Pro.
Improved performance
TSMC expects 2nm to improve performance by 10%-15% at the same power or reduce power consumption by 25%-30% at the same frequency and complexity. Thus, it can provide a noticeable improvement in the performance and energy efficiency of iPhone 17 Pro models.
TSMC’s 2-nm process reportedly utilizes a leading nanosheet transistor structure, which will ensure performance and energy efficiency in all nodes to meet the growing demand for energy-saving computer technology.
According to a previous leak, the iPhone 17 series will include a “Slim” model, which is expected to bridge the performance gap between Pro and non-Pro models.