The processor market is intensifying with competition. Before the release of 2nm processors, TSMC published a roadmap for 1nm processors. However, Intel, TSMC’s biggest competitor in this area, may reach this goal earlier. TSMC’s 2nm technology, on the other hand, is expected to be delayed. As a result, the first iPhone models using the 2nm processor will likely be the iPhone 17 series.
2nm TSMC processors may not be ready in time for iPhone 16.
The processor market is more dynamic than ever following the chip crisis. Despite China’s embargo on rare elements affecting the market, TSMC has already prepared its targets. The target set for 2nm processors emerged as prominent. According to this, 2nm TSMC processors will be ready by 2025.
There is still a possibility that the iPhone 16 Pro series will use 2nm processors. However, the date announced by TSMC is when the company will start producing 2nm processors. In this sense, the first iPhone models using the 2nm processor are likely to appear in the iPhone 17 series.
Regarding the 1nm TSMC processors, the company aims to start producing 1nm processors by 2030. TSMC plans to include 1 trillion transistors in a single package in this processor, using 3D chip technology. The evolution of processor technology after this record number of transistors is a matter of curiosity.
TSMC’s schedule includes plans to reach 2nm by 2025 and 1.4nm by 2028. If the company keeps to this schedule, it will reach the 1nm level by 2030. Interestingly, Intel has announced that it will transition to the 2nm process in 2024 and aims to reach 1.8nm by 2025. If Intel achieves the 2nm level by 2024, it will surpass TSMC in nanometer level for the first time in a long while.
Additionally, TSMC plans to reach 200 billion transistors in monolithic chip design, which is critical for artificial intelligence processors, by 2030. Currently, Nvidia’s H100 AI processor has 80 billion transistors, Intel’s Ponte Vecchio has 100 billion, and AMD’s new MI300 has 146 billion transistors. By 2030, much more powerful AI processors are expected to emerge.
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