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

[t0rqx]

Indication that Siri will work , so not next year.

 

[iBluetooth]

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.

They can wait until moving onto 2nm as they have an advantage with their CPU's currently. By using chiplets now they can focus on providing more powerful GPU, neural engine etc. The cost of moving onto 2nm would decrease their advantage as the costs would result in price increases.

 

[Populus]

What happens once we hit 1 nm? 1 nm Plus? 1 nm Pro?

Why so many people come up with this type of comments whenever a piece of news or report talks about future process nodes? Don’t they know this 3nm, 2nm thing is pure marketing?

Also, don’t they know that even for marketing purposes, there’s a smaller unit called Angstrom?

@contacos , you’re a long time user on this site, it really surprises me to see you coming with this.

And for anyone else: Yes, there’s silicon life after the 2nm process node (again, not the actual size, just a commercial name): Look at Intel and their upcoming 14A (1.4nm) lithography.

 

[Populus]

The can wait until moving onto 2nm as they have an advantage with their CPU's currently. By using chipsets now they can focus on providing more powerful GPU, neural engine etc. The cost of moving onto 2nm would decrease their advantage as the costs would result in price increases.

Yeah, I also think it makes perfect sense to stick with the successive 3nm generation improvements (refinements) that TSMC provides while focusing on improving instructions per clock, better GPU architecture (M4 is using roughly the same as the M3), a better suited Neural Engine for Apple Intelligence, overall bandwidth and latency… those are just a few ideas, mere examples of what they can do while still using similar lithography on the 3nm family.

And yes, it makes sense to stay one more year in the 3nm node, wether it’s on the N3P which is going to be used on the A19, or the newer N3X, although I’ve read somewhere that this process is aimed at high performance silicon so maybe it isn’t the best for a smartphone SoC that needs to be efficient.

We’ll see, but it doesn’t seem crazy to have to wait until 2027’s A21 to see the first 2nm processor. I don’t think any company will release a similar technology earlier so… why rush it? Rushing the 3nm tech wasn’t the best idea, with the low yields the N3B process had, so…

 

[NightFox]

Apple Intelligence*

*Requires iPhone 16 17 18 or newer for full functionality.

 

[adrianlondon]

ok ill wait for the iPhone XX.

Aww. Love you too! xx

 

[hoodlum90]

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

I wonder if the A20 Pro will have N2, similar to what happened with the A17.

 

[ksec]

I wonder if the A20 Pro will have N2, similar to what happened with the A17.

Likely. May be even A19 Pro. N2 only moves to mainstream in A21.

 

[wbeasley]

I’m waiting for 0nm chips

there's a 100% tariff on them...

 

[eliteoOSX27]

.. what is Apple intelligence?

 

[blastdoor]

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.

I don’t understand this — the neural engine and processor are on the same chip. How can it get more tightly integrated than that?

 

[falainber]

And Intel is releasing chips with 18A (1.8nm) process this year. Should Apple switch back to Intel?

 

[BorisDG]

They can wait until moving onto 2nm as they have an advantage with their CPU's currently. By using chiplets now they can focus on providing more powerful GPU, neural engine etc. The cost of moving onto 2nm would decrease their advantage as the costs would result in price increases.

Apple won't stay on the same node for 2 years/generations. Mark my words. A20 will be on N2.

 

[DeftwillP]

I'm never getting a new iphone again. I can't stand knowing that next year's phone might have a smaller nm process than the once I just bought!! Safari will be so snappy, it will be envy inducing.

 

[adrianlondon]

I'm never getting a new iphone again. I can't stand knowing that next year's phone might have a smaller nm process than the once I just bought!! Safari will be so snappy, it will be envy inducing.

The new phones will be so fast, Safari will open the webpage before you've even thought about which site you want. Powered by Apple Intelligence.

It'll be the wrong website, but it'll be fast!