At its September event, Apple announced the new iPhone 15 Pro models with the new A17 Pro chip. While the standard models still feature the A16 Bionic chip, the A17 Pro is based on TSMC's 3nm process that has a performance and efficiency advantage over the prior. While it is still early, the company has started working on its next-gen Apple Silicon for the iPhone and Mac lineup. According to a new report, TSMC has showcased its new 2nm chips to Apple, which will be mass-produced in 2025.

TSMC readies 2nm chips for mass production in 2025, likely to be part of the iPhone 17 Pro's release

Soon after the A17 Pro's debut, Apple released the M3 series of chips for the Mac, which are also based on TSMC's 3nm process. We have seen various tests of how the chips perform under load, and the results are surprising. A new report from the Financial Times published this week highlights Apple's plans for its custom chips. TSMC's 2nm chips will be first available on the iPhone 17 Pro models in 2025.

Apple is TSMC's biggest client, as it produced custom silicon for the iPhone and the Mac. The iPhone maker bought TSMC's entire supply of 3nm chips in 2023, allowing the company to offer the technology before any of its competitors. The supplier will begin mass production of the 2nm chips in 2025, with the iPhone 17 being the first device to enjoy the latest upgrade.

TSMC, which dominates the global market in processors, has already shown the process test results for its “N2” — or 2 nanometre — prototypes to some of its biggest customers, including Apple and NVIDIA, according to two people with direct knowledge of the discussions.

TSMC confirmed to Financial Times that it is working on 2nm fabrication, which will be mass-produced in 2025. The company also stated that it is progressing and the deadlines will be met for volume production. Additionally, it will be the "most advanced semiconductor technology in the industry" regarding transistor density and power consumption.

As mentioned, TSMC's launch time frame for the mass production of 2nm chips tally with Apple's iPhone 17 Pro launch. Apple will use the same technology to develop its M-series of chips for the Mac. Note that these are mere speculations at this stage, and the new chip could see various delays depending on the production challenges TSMC faces. 2nm chips will bring significant performance gains, similar to the M3 chip, and better efficiency.