With the release of the iPhone 18 in 2026, which will feature 2nm CPUs, Apple may soon make changes to its phone lineup. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed in a tweet that only certain models will have the 2nm chip, the cutting-edge technology, due to financial constraints. For Apple’s top smartphones, the switch to 2nm will make a big difference in processing power and efficiency.
The development of Apple’s iPhone 18 2nm chip
As always, Apple has pushed the limits of semiconductor technology, and the next iPhone 18 2nm chip processors are no exception. It is anticipated that Apple’s chip supplier, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), would start manufacturing 2nm CPUs in 2025. According to Kuo, these processors will enable the placement of more transistors on each chip, improving both performance and energy efficiency.
Even though the iPhone 18 2nm processors represent a huge technological advancement, only the high-end versions will be able to use them. Industry analysts believe that the main problem is the cost of manufacturing 2nm processors. The cost and complexity of manufacturing increases as the chip size decreases, which affects the availability and cost of these processors across Apple’s product range.
According to Kuo, cost considerations will restrict the use of 2nm CPUs in all iPhone 18 versions. Nevertheless, Apple is able to use this cutting-edge technology first thanks to its collaboration with TSMC. After years of developing 2nm chips, TSMC is making significant investments in new manufacturing facilities to meet demand.
What is the technology of 2nm?
The size of the transistors on the device is indicated by the word “2nm.” More may be crammed onto a smaller transistor, which boosts speed and efficiency. It is anticipated that the 2nm circuits would result in increased heat management, longer battery life, and greater computing capability. Chips are being used in gadgets that can do more complicated functions with less energy consumption as they continue to shrink.
Preparing for the commercial manufacture of 2nm chips, TSMC hopes to launch them in late 2025. The fact that additional facilities are being built for this purpose is evidence of the increasing need for next-generation processors. Since Apple is TSMC’s biggest client, it will probably have access to these processors for the iPhone 18.
