Apple Set to Pioneer TSMC's Revolutionary 2nm Chip Technology

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Thursday, January 25, 2024 12:17 PM UTC

TSMC, a prominent chip manufacturer, is projected to begin producing 2nm circuits in the second half of 2025. The reduced transistor size linked with this technology allows for more transistors to be crammed into a single processor, potentially resulting in faster performance and lower power consumption.

Apple has a reputation for being an early adopter of TSMC's cutting-edge semiconductor technology. This year, for example, both the A17 Pro processor in the iPhone 15 Pro and the M3 series CPU in Macs use TSMC's 3-nanometer technology, as per Gizmo China.

Apple is once again likely to be the first to use TSMC's new 2nm process. The new node will also use a new manufacturing technique called gate-all-around field-effect transistors (GAAFET) with nanosheets.

In comparison to existing devices' FinFET transistors, the technique should allow for quicker speeds and lower power consumption. However, the transition to GAAFET presents its own set of issues. TSMC will need to establish new factories and invest considerably in modifying its manufacturing process.

Apple to Also Adapt Chips for TSMC’s Future Technologies

Apple, as a big TSMC customer, will most certainly need to modify its chip designs to fit the new technology.

Aside from the upcoming 2nm node, TSMC is also improving its current 3nm process. The business has already improved its fabrication method in the new N3E and N3P chips, and it is currently working on other chips, such as N3X and N3AE, for high-performance computing and automotive applications, respectively.

Looking further forward, speculations say that TSMC is already working on more advanced 1.4-nanometer circuits. They're predicted to come as early as 2027. Apple, predictably, is also apparently interested in gaining early access to this cutting-edge technology.

Photo: Bangyu Wang/Unsplash