A20 Chip for iPhones Said to Remain 3nm [Retracted Rumor] - MacRumors
Skip to Content

A20 Chip for iPhones Said to Remain 3nm [Retracted Rumor]

Update — March 20: GF Securities has retracted this information, and it expects the A20 chip to be manufactured with TSMC's 2nm process. The original story follows.

While the iPhone 17 series is still around six months away, a rumor pertaining to next year's iPhone 18 series has already surfaced.

iOS 18 Siri Personal Context
In a research note with investment firm GF Securities today, analyst Jeff Pu said the A20 chip for the iPhone 18 models will be manufactured with TSMC's third-generation 3nm process, known as N3P. That is the same process that is expected to be used for the A19 and A19 Pro chips coming in the iPhone 17 models, so the iPhone 18 models could have relatively small overall performance improvements compared to the previous generation.

Pu does expect the A20 chip to have one upgrade that he said will benefit Apple Intelligence capabilities. Specifically, he said the chip will use TSMC's so-called Chip on Wafer on Substrate (CoWoS) packaging technology, which would allow for tighter integration of the chip's processor, unified memory, and Neural Engine.

If this information is accurate, the first iPhone chip to use TSMC's 2nm technology would be the A21 chip in 2027 at the earliest.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple Intelligence Comes Under Fire Feature

Mac Users Reclaim 12GB+ of Storage With Apple Intelligence Removal Tool

Monday October 5, 2026 4:12 am PDT by
A new open-source tool is making waves in the Mac community by helping users reclaim valuable storage space taken up by Apple's AI models. Called "RemoveMacAI," the command line tool disables Apple Intelligence on macOS 27, removes its downloaded models, and prevents them from being downloaded again. In macOS 27, Apple removed the toggle to disable Apple Intelligence wholesale, and simply...
Apple TV Sans Remote Feature

tvOS 27.2 Code Hints at Apple Intelligence for New Apple TV

Monday October 5, 2026 1:45 pm PDT by
Apple's latest tvOS 27.2 beta adds weight to rumors that the next Apple TV will have Siri AI and Apple Intelligence support. Code suggests Apple is adding an Improve Siri & Apple Intelligence toggle to the tvOS Settings app. "Help improve foundation models and Siri by allowing Apple to collect and use your text and audio interactions with Siri, Dictation, and Translate," the text reads....
apple tv siri ai

Older Apple TV 4K Models to Gain Apple Intelligence and Siri AI Support

Tuesday October 13, 2026 8:16 am PDT by
Apple today said that second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models will gain Siri AI in beta with tvOS 27.2. Siri AI on the Apple TV adds conversational entertainment searches, follow-up questions, and personal context through a paired compatible device. Setup requires the Home app's home owner to have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad running the latest software, with Siri AI...

Top Rated Comments

21 months ago

Silicon atoms are 0.2nm

Presumably you’d need at least two to make a transistor.
The whole 3nm, 2nm is just a bunch of marketing bs that now describes a “process” instead of a real measurement. Historically the nm actually corresponded to a physical size (normally a transistor gate pitch, the distance between the center of adjacent transistors), but thats ancient history. Back in 2022, TSMC said the gate pitch for their 3nm process was in fact 45nm. That was N3. I have no idea what N3P is.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DocMultimedia Avatar
21 months ago
How is the 1mm chip coming along? I think we need at least five years of rumors. 🤣 Why stop at 2mm?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kerr Avatar
21 months ago
Think I have this right:

2023 - A17 3nm, N3B (Pro models)
2024 - A18 3nm, N3E (all models)
2025 - A19 3nm, N3P (all models)
2026 - A20 3nm, N3P (all models)
2027 - A21 2nm, N2?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_nm_process#3_nm_process_nodes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_nm_process#2_nm_process_nodes
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThaRuler Avatar
21 months ago
I’m waiting for 0nm chips
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Neil J. Squillante Avatar
21 months ago
In 2027, Apple should take advantage of the 20th anniversary to sync up the iPhone, SOC, and iOS version numbers. It’s all the “S” models that messed everything up. They should all have the same number.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BorisDG Avatar
21 months ago

In a research note with investment firm GF Securities today, analyst Jeff Pu said the A20 chip for the iPhone 18 models will be manufactured with TSMC's second-generation 3nm process, known as N3P.
First of all, it's 3rd generation. 1st is N3B, 2nd is N3E and than we have N3P and probably N3X. Anyway I'm pretty sure Apple will use N2 for A20. The competition is not sleeping and they can't skip 2nm for A20.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
New Apple TV 4K and iPad Mini: RAM Amounts Revealed
New Apple TV 4K and iPad Mini: RAM Amounts Revealed
1 hour ago
Apple Executive Comments on New iPad Mini Lacking 120Hz Display
Apple Executive Comments on New iPad Mini Lacking 120Hz Display
5 hours ago
Here's a Hands-On Look at HomePod Mini 2's New Two-Tone Colors
Here's a Hands-On Look at HomePod Mini 2's New Two-Tone Colors
6 hours ago
Apple Lowers App Store Fees in Taiwan Starting October 31
Apple Lowers App Store Fees in Taiwan Starting October 31
7 hours ago
HomeView Pre-Order Returns to $289.99 on Amazon
HomeView Pre-Order Returns to $289.99 on Amazon
7 hours ago
Apple Avoids Showing Pinched Fingers on iPad Mini Page in South Korea
Apple Avoids Showing Pinched Fingers on iPad Mini Page in South Korea
7 hours ago
Old 'Popcorn Time' App Left Hundreds of Thousands of Macs at Risk
Old 'Popcorn Time' App Left Hundreds of Thousands of Macs at Risk
9 hours ago
You Can Turn Off the New MacBook Pro's Touchscreen Functionality
You Can Turn Off the New MacBook Pro's Touchscreen Functionality
9 hours ago
MacBook Pro Mini-LED vs. OLED Buyer's Guide: Every Difference
MacBook Pro Mini-LED vs. OLED Buyer's Guide: Every Difference
10 hours ago
Where to Pre-Order Apple's New MacBooks, iPad Mini, and iMac
Where to Pre-Order Apple's New MacBooks, iPad Mini, and iMac
12 hours ago
Apple Releasing HomePod Mini 2 Tomorrow With These New Features
Apple Releasing HomePod Mini 2 Tomorrow With These New Features
13 hours ago
How macOS Adapts Its Controls for Touch on the New MacBook Pro
How macOS Adapts Its Controls for Touch on the New MacBook Pro
14 hours ago
Just Got an iPhone Duo? Try These Features First
Just Got an iPhone Duo? Try These Features First
15 hours ago
Apple Announced Scott Forstall's Departure 14 Years Ago Today
Apple Announced Scott Forstall's Departure 14 Years Ago Today
16 hours ago
Best Buy Opens Pre-Orders for PROLED XDR MacBook Pro With $100 Bonus Gift Cards
Best Buy Opens Pre-Orders for PROLED XDR MacBook Pro With $100 Bonus Gift Cards
1 day ago
Here's Everything Apple Announced This Week
Here's Everything Apple Announced This Week
1 day ago
Here's a Real-World Look at the New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo
Here's a Real-World Look at the New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo
1 day ago
How Accurate Were Rumors About Apple's OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro?
How Accurate Were Rumors About Apple's OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro?
1 day ago
Apple Has 8 New Products Available for Pre-Order
Apple Has 8 New Products Available for Pre-Order
1 day ago
iPhone Duo: Turn the Hinge Into an App Launcher
iPhone Duo: Turn the Hinge Into an App Launcher
1 day ago
OLED MacBook Pro vs. Mini-LED MacBook Pro: Size and Weight Compared
OLED MacBook Pro vs. Mini-LED MacBook Pro: Size and Weight Compared
1 day ago
Best Buy Offering Up to $100 Gift Cards With iPad Mini 8 and M6 MacBook Pro Pre-Orders
Best Buy Offering Up to $100 Gift Cards With iPad Mini 8 and M6 MacBook Pro Pre-Orders
1 day ago
Adding Touch Didn't Cost the MacBook Pro Any Battery Life
Adding Touch Didn't Cost the MacBook Pro Any Battery Life
1 day ago
Apple Releases Redesigned Mac Chargers and 'World Travel Adapter Kit'
Apple Releases Redesigned Mac Chargers and 'World Travel Adapter Kit'
1 day ago
Apple Executives Explain Why the MacBook Pro Finally Has a Touch Screen
Apple Executives Explain Why the MacBook Pro Finally Has a Touch Screen
1 day ago
New MacBook Pro Features Deeper Bass and Improved Closed-Lid Audio
New MacBook Pro Features Deeper Bass and Improved Closed-Lid Audio
1 day ago
New MacBook Pro Offers Up to 16TB of Storage, Double Previous Limit
New MacBook Pro Offers Up to 16TB of Storage, Double Previous Limit
1 day ago
Apple's New Touchscreen MacBook Pro Costs Up to $14,549
Apple's New Touchscreen MacBook Pro Costs Up to $14,549
1 day ago
Apple Brings Dynamic Island to Mac for the First Time
Apple Brings Dynamic Island to Mac for the First Time
1 day ago
Mac Studio With M5 Ultra Now Available With 512GB RAM for $22,299
Mac Studio With M5 Ultra Now Available With 512GB RAM for $22,299
1 day ago