Kuo Leaks: IPhone 17 Will Use 3nm Chip Technology, IPhone 18 Pro Will Use 2nm Technology

Next year's iPhone 17 series will be equipped with a processor that uses 3-nanometer (nm) chip technology (photo: x @theapplehub)

JAKARTA - On Thursday, September 19, 2024, Apple's leading analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, revealed that the next year's iPhone 17 series will be equipped with processors that use TSMC's latest 3-nanometer (nm) chip technology. Meanwhile, only the iPhone 18 Pro model in 2026 is expected to use next-generation 2nm processor technology from the Taiwanese chip manufacturer, due to cost considerations.

3nm and 2nm chip technology refers to the generation of chip-making technologies that each have a set of design and architectural rules. Smaller numbers on chip technology generally show smaller transistor sizes, which allow more transistors to be mounted on one chip. This usually results in improved processing speed and better power efficiency.

Last year, Apple adopted a 3-nanometer chip for its iPhone and Mac. The A17 Pro chip contained in the iPhone 15 Pro model and the M3 series chip on Mac was made with a 3-nanometer process, an upgrade from the previous 5nm node. This year's iPhone 16 series uses an A18 chip built with a second-generation 3-nanometer process, making it more efficient and faster than the A16 Bionic chip used in the iPhone 15 model.

TSMC plans to start 2nm chip production by the end of 2025, and Apple is expected to be the first company to receive chips made with this new process. TSMC is building two new facilities for 2nm chip production and is in the process of approval for a third facility. TSMC typically builds new factories when necessary to increase production capacity to handle significant chip orders, and currently TSMC is making a massive expansion for 2nm technology.

TSMC invests billions of dollars in this new chip technology, while Apple has to customize its chip design. As TSMC's biggest customer, Apple usually gains priority access to the latest chips. For example, in 2023, Apple bought the entire production of TSMC's initial 3-nanometer chip for its iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This partnership often allows Apple to integrate advanced semiconductor technology into their products before other competitors.

Among 3nm and 2nm nodes, TSMC will introduce some new improvements to 3nm technology. TSMC has launched N3E and N3P chips which are improved 3nm processes, and there are still other chips under development such as N3X for high performance computing and N3AE for automotive applications.