TSMC Progresses Towards Mass Production of 2nm and 1.4nm Chips, Potentially Shaping Future Apple Devices
In the realm of semiconductor manufacturing, TSMC, the primary chip supplier for tech giant Apple, is steadily advancing towards the production of cutting-edge 2nm and 1.4nm chips, as reported by DigiTimes.
The latest developments indicate that TSMC has set clear time frames for the mass production of these highly anticipated chips. Trial production for the 2nm node is slated to commence in the latter half of 2024, with small-scale production scaling up in the second quarter of 2025. Notably, TSMC’s newly established facility in Arizona will also partake in the production efforts for 2nm chips. Furthermore, by 2027, TSMC’s Taiwan facilities will transition towards manufacturing 1.4nm chips.
The initial 1.4nm node, dubbed “A14,” will succeed TSMC’s “N2” 2nm chips. Mass production of the N2 chips is scheduled for late 2025, followed by an enhanced “N2P” node in late 2026.
Apple has a history of being at the forefront of adopting state-of-the-art chip fabrication technologies. For instance, the company was the first to integrate TSMC’s 3nm node with the A17 Pro chip, which debuted in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. It is expected that Apple will continue this trend with TSMC’s upcoming nodes, with advanced chip designs initially featuring in iPhones before extending to iPads and Macs.
A glimpse into the trajectory of iPhone chip technology showcases Apple’s consistent push towards innovation:
- iPhone XR and XS (2018): A12 Bionic (7nm, N7)
- iPhone 11 lineup (2019): A13 Bionic (7nm, N7P)
- iPhone 12 lineup (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)
The evolution of Apple’s silicon chips, from the M1 series to the latest iterations, underscores TSMC’s relentless pursuit of advancements in transistor density, performance, and efficiency. Notably, TSMC had already showcased prototype 2nm chips to Apple last year, foreshadowing their anticipated debut in 2025.
