Apple has upgraded its iPhones and Macs with cutting-edge 3-nanometer chips. The A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro models and the M3 chips for Macs are both built on this advanced 3nm node, replacing the older 5nm process. This year’s iPhone 16 series introduces the A18 chip, which utilizes a second-generation 3nm process. As a result, the A18 is more efficient and faster than the A16 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 15 models.
Future of 2nm Chips
TSMC, Apple’s key chip supplier, is set to begin manufacturing 2nm chips by late 2025. Apple is expected to be the first to receive these 2nm chips. TSMC is building multiple new facilities to handle 2nm production, investing billions to meet Apple’s future demands.
TSMC’s Role in Apple’s Chip Strategy
Apple often gets priority access to TSMC’s latest chips as its largest customer. In 2023, Apple secured all of TSMC’s initial 3nm production, using it for iPhones, iPads, and Macs. In between the 3nm and 2nm technologies, TSMC is also working on enhanced versions like N3E and N3P, with additional chips like N3X for high-performance computing and N3AE for automotive use.