The iPhone 13 series is currently in production, so it makes sense to talk about the iPhone 18. At the earliest, the iPhone 18 will arrive in five years’ time. Is it not too soon to talk about iPhone 18? Its features and all that it offers are irrelevant. The manufacturing process of its chips is what we are referring to. The semiconductor process is rapidly approaching the limit, having reached the 10nm point. TSMC expects to mass-produce its 3nm process by the end of the year. However, it will take a few more years to produce the 2nm process. According to recent reports, TSMC’s 2nm process will arrive in 2026 and at this time, we will be talking about the iPhone 18.
TSMC 2NM MANUFACTURING SYSTEM TO COMMENCE IN 2025
Judging from TSMC’s position, the 2nm process will not really enter the production stage until at least the second half of 2025. Apple will not catch up in 2025. It will be impossible to see a 2nm Apple device in 2025. The 2026 launch date for the first Apple device equipped with a 2nm processor is the earliest. If everything goes according to plan, then this will also be the launch date for iPhone 18, if all goes well. This means that the iPhone 14, 16, 17 and 17 series will only use chips manufactured with the 4nm or 3nm manufacturing process.
Unlike Samsung’s aggressive use of GAA transistors at the 3nm node, TSMC will only use GAA transistors at the 2nm node. The new technology presents many challenges and will take a while to make mass production of the 2nm process. In addition, Intel’s 20A and 18A processes will also use GAA transistor technology, targeting TSMC Samsung’s GAA process.
5nm is a significant step up from 7nm chips. The 2nm manufacturing process is expected to be the next step in this improvement.