According to a new China Times report, while the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and M6 Macs will move to a new 2nm manufacturing process, Apple is opting to skip the absolute “latest and greatest” version of that technology to keep costs under control (via MacRumors).
(Image via Reuters)
Apple is expected to use TSMC’s base 2nm process (known as N2) for its 2026 chips, meaning the A20 and M6 processors will miss out on the “N2P” variant, an enhanced version of the tech that offers even better performance.
Apple has a long history of being the first to adopt TSMC’s newest nodes, but the jump to 2nm is proving to be incredibly expensive. Reports indicate that a single 12-inch silicon wafer using 2nm technology costs roughly $30,000 USD. To put that into perspective, that is a massive jump from the $20,000 price tag for the current 3nm wafers.
By sticking with the base N2 process instead of the more advanced N2P, Apple can avoid some of these skyrocketing manufacturing costs. The performance difference between the two is also relatively small, roughly 5%, which likely isn’t enough to justify the price hike for most daily users.
Interestingly, this decision might give Android competitors like Qualcomm and MediaTek a rare opening. These companies are expected to jump straight to the higher-performance N2P process for their flagship chips, potentially closing the speed gap with the iPhone for the first time in years.
Current estimates suggest the iPhone 18 Pro’s A20 chip could be up to 15% faster while using 30% less power than the current A19. For users, this translates to longer battery life and a phone that stays much cooler during intense tasks like gaming or video editing.
Because these 2nm chips are so difficult and expensive to make, Apple is reportedly changing how it launches its phones. Rumors suggest that only the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and the highly anticipated “iPhone Fold” will launch in the fall of 2026.
The standard, more affordable iPhone 18 models might be delayed until the spring of 2027. This staggered release allows Apple to focus its limited supply of 2nm chips on its most expensive, high-margin devices first.
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2nm, yeesh. We’re gonna be in Angstrom territory soon.