Apple is coming more powerful with its next generation of chips

TSMC is in the news for its progress in the production of Apple’s chips. The chipmaker is moving towards the production of 2nm and 1.4nm chips for the production of future Apple chips. Let’s take a look at the details of the next generation Apple chips.

TSMC will mass produce Apple next-generation chips in the second half of 2025

The timelines for mass production of Apple’s next-generation 2nm and 1.4nm chips are now set, with trial production starting in the second half of 2024. Small-scale production will start first, followed by large-scale production in the second quarter of 2025.

TSMC’s new factory in Arizona will also participate in 2nm production. In 2027, facilities in Taiwan will transition to production of 1.4nm chips. TSMC’s first 1.4nm processor is officially called “A14” and will follow “N2” 2nm chips. The N2 will go into mass production in late 2025, followed by the improved “N2P” chip in late 2026.

This is nothing new for Apple, as they are already notorious for adopting new and cutting-edge processor manufacturing technologies. For example, it was the first company to use TSMC’s 3nm chip in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Therefore, Apple is expected to use TSMC’s latest technologies in its upcoming chips. Apple’s most advanced chip designs usually first appear in the iPhone and then spread to the iPad and Mac product lines.

Here’s a projected future outlook for the iPhone’s chip technology:

– iPhone XR and XS (2018): A12 Bionic (7nm, N7)

– iPhone 11 series (2019): A13 Bionic (7nm, N7P)

– iPhone 12 series (2020): A14 Bionic (5nm, N5)

– iPhone 13 Pro (2021): A15 Bionic (5nm, N5P)

– iPhone 14 Pro (2022): A16 Bionic (4nm, N4P)

– iPhone 15 Pro (2023): A17 Pro (3nm, N3B)

– iPhone 16 Pro (2024): “A18” (3nm, N3E)

– “iPhone 17 Pro” (2025): “A19” (2nm, N2)

– “iPhone 18 Pro” (2026): “A20” (2nm, N2P)

– “iPhone 19 Pro” (2027): “A21” (1.4nm, A14)

Apple’s M1 series processors are based on the A14 Bionic and use TSMC’s N5 chip. The M2 and M3 series use the N5P and N3B respectively. Apple Watch’s S4 and S5 processors use the N7, the S6, S7 and S8 processors use the N7P, and the latest S9 processor uses the N4P.

Each new TSMC chip has a higher transistor density, better performance and better efficiency than its predecessor. Late last year, it was revealed that TSMC had shown prototype 2nm chips to Apple ahead of its expected introduction in 2025.

This is seen as an important step in the next generation of chip technology that will enable higher performance and better battery life in future Apple devices. What do you think? Please don’t forget to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.