Apple's Next-Gen Chip Technology on Track for 2025 Debut

Apple chip supplier TSMC is on track to deliver 2nm chip technology next year, BusinessKorea reports.

apple silicon feature joeblue
Apple is expected to move its custom silicon to the 2nm process next year to leverage TSMC's advancements. TSMC is said to be confidently progressing with the 2nm node. The chipmaker's Vice President of Process Development, Zhang Xiaogang, announced that "the development of the 2nm process is progressing smoothly" and mass production is on track for 2025.

Some rumors suggested that TSMC may be forced to delay full-scale mass production of its 2nm process until 2026 due to technical challenges associated with the first-time application of Gate-All-Around (GAA) technology. These rumors were dispelled by Zhang, who confirmed that "the yield when applying GAA has reached 90 percent of the target," indicating substantial progress. Jeff Williams, Apple's Chief Operating Officer, recently made a discreet visit to Taiwan to meet with TSMC President Wei Zhejia and secure supply of 2nm chips.

The iPhone 15 Pro is powered by the A17 Pro chip, which is manufactured with TSMC's 3nm process. This process allows for more transistors to be packed into a smaller space, delivering improvements in performance and efficiency. Apple's M4 chip, which just debuted in the new iPad Pro, uses an enhanced version of this ‌‌3nm‌‌ technology. The transition to 2nm chips should bring further improvements, with projected performance gains of 10 to 15 percent and power consumption reductions of up to 30 percent compared to the ‌‌3nm‌‌ process.

TSMC remains the only company capable of manufacturing 2nm and ‌3nm‌ chips at the scale and quality Apple requires. For its ‌‌3nm‌‌ chips, Apple booked all of TSMC's available chipmaking capacity, and the chipmaker plans to triple its production capacity for the node by the end of the year to meet soaring demand. 2nm chips could first appear in 2025's iPhone 17 lineup.

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

iPhone 16 Pro Max 80% Charge Limit: One Year Later, Was It Worth It?

Wednesday September 24, 2025 3:58 pm PDT by
With the iPhone 15 series, I did an experiment and kept my iPhone's Charge Limit set at 80 percent for an entire year. It provided an interesting look at the impact of charge limits on battery longevity, so I decided to repeat it for the iPhone 16 line. Since September 2024, my iPhone 16 Pro Max has been limited to an 80 percent charge, with no cheating. As of today, my battery's maximum...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.1 Beta 1

Monday September 22, 2025 12:44 pm PDT by
Apple released the first beta of iOS 26.1 today, just a week after launching iOS 26. iOS 26.1 mainly adds new languages to Apple Intelligence, but there are a few other features that are worth knowing about. New Apple Intelligence Languages Apple Intelligence is now available in Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese. AirPo...
iPhone 17 Pro Colors

Skipped the iPhone 17 Pro? Here's What is Rumored for iPhone 18 Pro

Tuesday September 23, 2025 8:55 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still a year away, there are already a few rumors about the devices that offer an early look ahead. Below, we have recapped some of the early iPhone 18 Pro rumors so far. This story was published previously, and it has been updated to reflect the latest rumors. Many early rumors prove to be true, but nothing is confirmed yet, and Apple's...
apple tv 4k new orange

Next Apple TV Expected to Launch This Year With These New Features

Monday September 22, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
The next Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Likely Features N1 Chip With Wi-Fi 7 Last year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the next Apple TV would be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, which is...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

Apple Blames In-Store MagSafe Chargers for iPhone 17 Pro Display Model Scratches

Wednesday September 24, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
The marks on the iPhone 17 Pro models that people have noticed at Apple retail stores are caused by the chargers that Apple uses, Apple confirmed today. Apple told 9to5Mac that worn MagSafe charging stands in stores are causing marks on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple says that the marks are not scratches, and are instead material transfer from the stand to the phone. The...
iPhone 17 Pro USB C Port

iPhone 17 Pro Max's USB-C Charging Speeds Tested With Apple Chargers

Monday September 22, 2025 7:29 am PDT by
The website ChargerLAB has tested the iPhone 17 Pro Max's USB-C charging speeds with a variety of Apple's chargers, from 18W to 140W. The device reached a peak charging speed of around 36W with the following Apple chargers:40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max 61W USB-C Power Adapter 67W USB-C Power Adapter 70W USB-C Power Adapter 96W USB-C Power Adapter 140W USB-C Power AdapterFor...
AirPods Pro 3 Newsroom

Apple's 'Back to School' Offer Ends Soon, Now Applies to AirPods Pro 3

Wednesday September 24, 2025 7:20 am PDT by
Apple's annual "Back to School" promotion for students ends soon, so act fast if you want to score free AirPods with the purchase of an eligible new Mac or iPad. Until Tuesday, September 30, college students and qualifying educational staff in the U.S. can receive free AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation when they purchase an eligible new Mac or iPad from Apple. This is a $179 value. ...
ios 26 digital id passport wallet

Apple Confirms iOS 26 Wallet Passport Feature is Coming in 2025

Tuesday September 23, 2025 1:06 pm PDT by
Digital ID, the iOS 26 feature that lets U.S. passport holders add their passports to the Wallet app, is coming later in 2025, Apple confirmed today. Apple updated the release timing wording of Digital ID on its iOS 26 features page. "Digital ID will be coming later this year with US passports only," it reads. Prior to today, the footnote for the feature said "Digital ID will be available ...
Apple Intelligence General Feature 2

iOS 26.1 Adds New Apple Intelligence Languages and Expands AirPods Live Translation

Monday September 22, 2025 11:15 am PDT by
With iOS 26.1, Apple Intelligence is gaining support for additional languages, including Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese. Apple announced plans to expand the languages that can be used with Apple Intelligence last year, and now the added language support is here. Apple Intelligence is now available in the following...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro is Vulnerable to Scratching, But Not Where You Might Think

Tuesday September 23, 2025 2:18 pm PDT by
Early reports have suggested that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air are more vulnerable to scratches and scuffs, primarily due to damage spotted at Apple Stores. Apple customers have discovered that the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models Apple has out for display at its retail locations have scratching in the area of the MagSafe charger. Those devices are handled by hundreds to thousands of...

Top Rated Comments

Saturn007 Avatar
17 months ago

TSMC remains the only company capable of manufacturing 2nm and 3nm chips at the scale and quality Apple requires. For its ‌3nm‌ chips, Apple booked all of TSMC's available chipmaking capacity
Anti-trust division of DOJ or EU trade board to get involved soon…


I am just here to see the old folks go crazy ? ? about how they hope they can disable the neural engine for AI. LOL!
Let's fix that, shall we?!

”I am just here to see the *smart* folks wisely figure out how they can disable the neural engine for AI.”

Some of us prefer not emulate ostriches! ?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jb310 Avatar
17 months ago
2nm chips? Scrolling through social media is going to be extremely snappy in 2025. ?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
asiga Avatar
17 months ago
If "debut" means that it will be available to buy in Macs before the end of 2025, then I'd find it very weird that no new M4 Macs are released this summer.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
17 months ago

It looks like we are going back to one year cycle for the higher volume devices and two year cycle for lower volume (ex. desktop computers). The M4 will be the start of this. It is interesting that the iPad led the way with the M4 but that could be due to the chip volume that was available this summer.

So we are looking at M4 for Macbook Pro this fall followed by Macbook Air and Mini next spring. Then the Studio and Mac Pro at WWDC next summer (much to the chagrin of those looking for these). The Ultras systems will always have a 1 year delay due to the more complex chip design. Then rinse and repeat next fall for the M5, with the Desktops skipping the M5.
The only real “pattern” we’ve seen so far in Mac silicon is no pattern. I wouldn’t bet on the timing of anything.

For example, based on Apples love of “another record quarter…” above seemingly all else, I buy the guess that M4 Ultra will hit next… and sooner than Fall. Those Macs may not sell on volume but they have highest profit per unit sold, yet only really appeal on the apparent schedule for up to about 5 months, when Mnext MAX hits. But we’ll see.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MayaUser Avatar
17 months ago
and some users thought TSMC will be stuck for 5 years on 5nm
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chouseworth Avatar
17 months ago
"TSMC remains the only company capable of manufacturing 2nm and 3nm chips at the scale and quality Apple requires."

In the meantime, it's not a question of if China will invade Taiwan, but when. This weighs heavily on Apple but as well as several other customers, including the AI world's current darling, Nvidia.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)