iPhone 18 Lineup To Feature Apple’s 2nm Chipsets

iPhone 18 to Feature Apple’s 2nm Chipsets Across All Models

• Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that the entire iPhone 18 lineup, launching in the second half of 2026, will utilize Apple’s new 2nm chipsets, manufactured by TSMC.

• This prediction is based on Kuo’s understanding that TSMC’s 2nm production yields have significantly improved, exceeding 60-70%, thus enabling mass production to meet Apple’s demands.

• While there might be variations in GPU core counts between a base A20 and a higher-end A20 Pro model, mirroring the approach used with the iPhone 16 series, all iPhone 18 models are expected to receive the 2nm upgrade.

• This contrasts with earlier predictions suggesting that only the higher-end iPhone 18 Pro models would feature the 2nm chip, potentially eliminating a key differentiating factor between the various iPhone 18 models.

Apple is expected to introduce its first 2nm chipset, likely named A20, with a possible A20 Pro variant exclusive to more expensive models in the iPhone 18 lineup. There was initial disappointment among some analysts about the silicon for 2026 models being tied to TSMC’s third-generation 3nm process. However, optimistic forecasts suggest the 2nm upgrade may arrive sooner, likely in the second half of 2026, impacting all models rather than being limited to the Pro variants.

TSMC’s production yields for the 2nm process have reportedly improved significantly since initial trials, raising expectations for the iPhone 18 series to be powered by this advanced chipset. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has indicated that the 2nm A20 will likely feature across the entire iPhone 18 range, despite earlier hints that only certain models like the iPhone 18 Pro line would receive the latest silicon due to cost considerations. Notably, there may still be differences in GPU configurations, similar to the current generation iPhones where the A18 and A18 Pro are differentiated by the number of GPU cores.

Kuo’s projections are supported by TSMC’s advancements in the 2nm process, with trial yields reportedly climbing above 60-70%. This yield improvement is pivotal as it enhances TSMC’s capability to efficiently produce wafers, enabling timely delivery of 2nm chips to Apple. In the meantime, the upcoming A19 and A19 Pro chips are set to be manufactured using TSMC’s 3nm ‘N3P’ technology, but it remains uncertain whether competitors like Qualcomm and MediaTek will also adopt the 2nm process concurrently.