Apple's iPhone 17 May Miss 2nm Chip Upgrade, Eyeing iPhone 18 Instead

Recent reports cast doubt on Apple's plans to implement 2nm technology in next year's iPhone 17 series, with production delays possibly pushing the advanced CPUs to the iPhone 18.

Rumored 2nm Chip Delay Could Postpone Advanced CPUs to iPhone 18 Series

A few days ago, a claim arose that Apple will switch to 2nm CPUs next year. The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are expected to include a TSMC 2nm CPU. However, a new rumor has placed doubt on the veracity of this revelation.

According to the report, TSMC could not commence mass manufacturing of 2nm chips until the second half of 2026. Effectively, this upgrade will not be available before the iPhone 18 series.

Last year, Apple was the first smartphone maker to adopt 3nm technology. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max used the TSMC-made A17 Pro, while the 4nm A16 Bionic chip powered the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.

Android phones with 3nm CPUs will likely join the market by the end of 2024, but widespread acceptance may not occur before 2025. Meanwhile, speculations say Apple aims to switch to 2nm iPhone CPUs as early as 2025.

The most recent such report came from the reputable Taiwanese daily DigiTimes. It stated that TSMC, based in Taiwan, will build the Apple A19 Pro for the iPhone 17 series using its 2nm production node.

However, a Vietnamese freelance coder, Nguyen Phi Hung on X, maintains this isn't the case. "This is 1000000% false information," Hung stated on X. "Mass production of TSMC 2nm will take until the second half of 2026," he said.

This suggests the iPhone 17 series will still have a 3nm processor. According to reports, TSMC will employ its enhanced second-generation process node for this year's A18 Pro, which will power the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max.

The A18 Bionic for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will be built on the same process node. It is uncertain whether the Taiwanese chipmaker will release a third-generation version of the iPhone 17 processors next year.

iPhone 18 and Samsung Galaxy S26 to Debut with Cutting-Edge 2nm Chips in 2026

If this story is correct, the iPhone 18 series in 2026 will be the first to use Apple's 2nm processors. On the other hand, Samsung plans to begin commercial manufacturing of 2nm chips by the end of 2025 and launch its 2nm semiconductors with the Galaxy S26 series in early 2026.

TSMC's delay may help it overcome its arch-rival in the 2nm race. That is if it can achieve healthy 2nm yields in time to start mass production in 2025. Less than four months into 2024, so much may change except when we enter 2025.

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