A20 and A20 Pro Chips (2nm) Expected to Debut in These iPhone Models

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There will be two versions of the A20 chip for the iPhone 18 series, according to the latest rumor shared on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.

A20 Chip Feature 2
Apple is planning both A20 and A20 Pro chips manufactured with TSMC's latest 2nm process, according to a post today from Weibo account Mobile Phone Chip Expert, which has shared some accurate details about Apple's chip plans in the past.

The standard iPhone 18 will be equipped with the A20 chip, while the iPhone 18 Pro models and Apple's long-rumored foldable iPhone will be equipped with an A20 Pro chip, the post said. However, the post did not mention which chip the entry-level iPhone 18e or second-generation iPhone Air would use, should there be such models.

Given there were A18 and A18 Pro chips, as well as A19 and A19 Pro chips, this rumor that Apple is allegedly planning both A20 and A20 Pro chips is not very surprising. But, it still helps to set expectations for the iPhone lineup moving forward.

A20 and A20 Pro chips are expected to be the first iPhone processors manufactured with TSMC's 2nm process, whereas the A17 Pro through A19 Pro chips were all fabricated with TSMC's series of 3nm processes. This would result in greater year-over-year performance improvements and power efficiency gains for iPhones than usual.

According to a previous rumor, at least some A20 chips will have RAM integrated directly onto the same wafer as the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine, rather than being adjacent to the chip and connected via a silicon interposer. This design change may result in the chips being smaller, and it would likely contribute to improved efficiency.

Apple is expected to split up its iPhone launches starting next year.

The following new iPhone models are expected to be released in September 2026:

  • iPhone 18 Pro
  • iPhone 18 Pro Max
  • iPhone Fold

It is not entirely clear if there will be a second-generation iPhone Air, but if there is, that device would presumably also be released in September 2026.

The following models are expected to follow around March 2027:

  • iPhone 18e
  • iPhone 18

If so, the A20 Pro chip would be announced next year, and the A20 chip would follow in 2027.

Related Roundup: iPhone 18
Tag: Phone Chip Expert
Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

now i see it Avatar
now i see it
6 weeks ago
New processors are dandy but whatever TSMC giveth, the future OS will taketh away.
This maxim has been true since the advent of personal computing.
The original slogan decades ago was, "What itel giveth, Microsoft taketh away"
i.e. .. faster new processor but slower new OS
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
joshwithachance Avatar
joshwithachance
6 weeks ago
“It is not entirely clear if there will be a second-generation iPhone Air.”

Yikes…
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
magicschoolbus Avatar
magicschoolbus
6 weeks ago
Will it have Apple Intelligence?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tyrnnsrs Avatar
tyrnnsrs
6 weeks ago
I'm not sure why it is a rumour that there would be two versions of the A20 chip when that's what they have been doing now for years now? I feel like that is just what to expect now, and it would be more newsworthy if they opted to just do one chip for the A20 line?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Taq'aix Avatar
Taq'aix
6 weeks ago
The iPhone Fold will meet the same fate as the iPhone Air, commercial failure driven by misreading market demand.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bodonnell202 Avatar
bodonnell202
6 weeks ago
This lines up with the rumors of the base iPhone 18 coming in the spring of 2027 and makes sense with the initial production of 2 nm chips being expensive and lower yield. By the time the smaller A20 is in production yields will have improved and costs will have come down. Also means that the iPhone 17 will be the base flagship iPhone for the next 18 months.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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