Apple's Next-Gen Chip Technology on Track for 2025 Debut

[MacRumors]

Apple chip supplier TSMC is on track to deliver 2nm chip technology next year, BusinessKorea reports.

Apple is expected to move its custom silicon to the 2nm process next year to leverage TSMC's advancements. TSMC is said to be confidently progressing with the 2nm node. The chipmaker's Vice President of Process Development, Zhang Xiaogang, announced that "the development of the 2nm process is progressing smoothly" and mass production is on track for 2025.

Some rumors suggested that TSMC may be forced to delay full-scale mass production of its 2nm process until 2026 due to technical challenges associated with the first-time application of Gate-All-Around (GAA) technology. These rumors were dispelled by Zhang, who confirmed that "the yield when applying GAA has reached 90 percent of the target," indicating substantial progress. Jeff Williams, Apple's Chief Operating Officer, recently made a discreet visit to Taiwan to meet with TSMC President Wei Zhejia and secure supply of 2nm chips.

The iPhone 15 Pro is powered by the A17 Pro chip, which is manufactured with TSMC's 3nm process. This process allows for more transistors to be packed into a smaller space, delivering improvements in performance and efficiency. Apple's M4 chip, which just debuted in the new iPad Pro, uses an enhanced version of this ‌3nm‌ technology. The transition to 2nm chips should bring further improvements, with projected performance gains of 10 to 15 percent and power consumption reductions of up to 30 percent compared to the ‌3nm‌ process.

TSMC remains the only company capable of manufacturing 2nm and 3nm chips at the scale and quality Apple requires. For its ‌3nm‌ chips, Apple booked all of TSMC's available chipmaking capacity, and the chipmaker plans to triple its production capacity for the node by the end of the year to meet soaring demand. 2nm chips could first appear in 2025's iPhone 17 lineup.

Article Link: Apple's Next-Gen Chip Technology on Track for 2025 Debut

 

[MayaUser]

and some users thought TSMC will be stuck for 5 years on 5nm

 

[asiga]

If "debut" means that it will be available to buy in Macs before the end of 2025, then I'd find it very weird that no new M4 Macs are released this summer.

 

[SBlue1]

I am just here to see the old folks go crazy about how they hope they can disable the neural engine for AI. LOL!

 

[hoodlum90]

If "debut" means that it will be available to buy in Macs before the end of 2025, then I'd find it very weird that no new M4 Macs are released this summer.

It looks like we are going back to one year cycle for the higher volume devices and two year cycle for lower volume (ex. desktop computers). The M4 will be the start of this. It is interesting that the iPad led the way with the M4 but that could be due to the chip volume that was available this summer.

So we are looking at M4 for Macbook Pro this fall followed by Macbook Air and Mini next spring. Then the Studio and Mac Pro at WWDC next summer (much to the chagrin of those looking for these). The Ultras systems will always have a 1 year delay due to the more complex chip design. Then rinse and repeat next fall for the M5, with the Desktops skipping the M5.

 

[jb310]

2nm chips? Scrolling through social media is going to be extremely snappy in 2025. 👀

 

[Saturn007]

TSMC remains the only company capable of manufacturing 2nm and 3nm chips at the scale and quality Apple requires. For its ‌3nm‌ chips, Apple booked all of TSMC's available chipmaking capacity

Anti-trust division of DOJ or EU trade board to get involved soon…

I am just here to see the old folks go crazy 🙈 🔥 about how they hope they can disable the neural engine for AI. LOL!

Let's fix that, shall we?!

”I am just here to see the *smart* folks wisely figure out how they can disable the neural engine for AI.”​

​

Some of us prefer not emulate ostriches! 😁

 

[bollman]

”I am just here to see the *smart* folks wisely figure out how they can disable the neural engine for AI.”

One very carefully placed screwdriver and a pretty hard "tap" with the iHammer.

 

[Wrylachlan2]

Apple is expected to move its custom silicon to the 2nm process next year to leverage TSMC's advancements. TSMC is said to be confidently progressing with the 2nm node. The chipmaker's Vice President of Process Development, Zhang Xiaogang, announced that "the development of the 2nm process is progressing smoothly" and mass production is on track for 2025.

2nm being ready for mass production in 2025 and 2nm being ready for mass production in June or July of 2025 (which is what they would need to hit a September iPhone launch) are very very different things. I’ve not seen it reported anywhere that TSMC is tracking towards availability of 2nm in a timeframe that would make it feasible to go into an iPhone. It could possibly go into a much lower volume M series chip announced in mid October and shipping in November, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up for iPhones.

 

[Superhai]

If "debut" means that it will be available to buy in Macs before the end of 2025, then I'd find it very weird that no new M4 Macs are released this summer.

I feel that is more a MacRumors-rumor. The source only claim mass-production starts mid-late 2025. But maybe it is possible we get a M5 launch in late 2025 for MBP as we got for the M3. More interestingly is that Samsung is expected to announce a faster route to 1 nm, possibly ready as early as 2026, in June.

 

[EntropyQ3]

It looks like we are going back to one year cycle for the higher volume devices and two year cycle for lower volume (ex. desktop computers). The M4 will be the start of this. It is interesting that the iPad led the way with the M4 but that could be due to the chip volume that was available this summer.

iPads have higher volume than Macbooks, so I don’t think low chip supply is why we don’t see the M4 introduced in Macbooks. Inventory/contractual volume agreements of recently introduced M3 models is more likely.
N2 volume manufacturing was always scheduled for 2H 2025. It would be interesting if it could be leveraged as soon as H1 2025 for iPhone SoCs, but of course that would also require that Apple has designs ready for that eventuality. Which would be cool, but perhaps not very likely. But production of M-series chips 2H 2025 would be neat as well. Nice with such a positive report on N2 node progression!

 

[Frantisekj]

One off topic question. Do you think Apple is working on quantum computing as well?

 

[CausticSoda]

One off topic question. Do you think Apple is working on quantum computing as well?

I doubt it. They don't even seemed to have kept up with AI developments.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

It looks like we are going back to one year cycle for the higher volume devices and two year cycle for lower volume (ex. desktop computers). The M4 will be the start of this. It is interesting that the iPad led the way with the M4 but that could be due to the chip volume that was available this summer.

So we are looking at M4 for Macbook Pro this fall followed by Macbook Air and Mini next spring. Then the Studio and Mac Pro at WWDC next summer (much to the chagrin of those looking for these). The Ultras systems will always have a 1 year delay due to the more complex chip design. Then rinse and repeat next fall for the M5, with the Desktops skipping the M5.

The only real “pattern” we’ve seen so far in Mac silicon is no pattern. I wouldn’t bet on the timing of anything.

For example, based on Apples love of “another record quarter…” above seemingly all else, I buy the guess that M4 Ultra will hit next… and sooner than Fall. Those Macs may not sell on volume but they have highest profit per unit sold, yet only really appeal on the apparent schedule for up to about 5 months, when Mnext MAX hits. But we’ll see.

 

[Superhai]

The only real “pattern” we’ve seen so far in Mac silicon is no pattern. I wouldn’t bet on the timing of anything.

I agree, and I think that Apple doesn't want a (clear) pattern, to avoid people knowing when they should buy a new machine. I think they see it is fine for iPhone, as the volume is large enough and more people upgrade each year, than for the computers where volume is much lower and the upgrade cycle for most customers are not typically yearly.

At the same time I believe Apple is testing waters as a their own silicon is something new, and production and component orders may not have been as expected, especially after the COVID years where computer demands was more than usual.

But at the same time, people are also holding back purchases because they still expect the newest and greatest.

And all this have to balanced to the commercial wish for attention from spreading launches throughout the year.

 

[anthogag]

When demand is demanding.

 

[Pezimak]

So according to Mark Gurman, the Mac Pro and Mac Studio will not get M4 chips until the END of 2025, but by then according to this article Apples next gen chips will have already launched.

Someone somewhere has no clue about what they are saying or is lying or mis-read their information....

 

[shadowboi]

I am just here to see the old folks go crazy about how they hope they can disable the neural engine for AI. LOL!

Not that old tbh but would have really liked to disable something I don’t need, with the features associated with it. Would rather used this chip for something other, for example to increase performance even more

 

[turbineseaplane]

The only real “pattern” we’ve seen so far in Mac silicon is no pattern. I wouldn’t bet on the timing of anything.

Agreed

It's so odd -- I, for some reason, thought this would all be more methodical with Apple controlling the chips (vs Intel)

Instead it is a much harder to track, all over the place, situation than ever

 

[Rigby]

Anti-trust division of DOJ or EU trade board to get involved soon…

Why would they? TSMC got to where they are through nearly flawless execution for the last few years. Besides, after years of lagging behind Intel seems to be on track to catch up next year with their 18A process, which should restore real competition in this field.

 

[chouseworth]

"TSMC remains the only company capable of manufacturing 2nm and 3nm chips at the scale and quality Apple requires."

In the meantime, it's not a question of if China will invade Taiwan, but when. This weighs heavily on Apple but as well as several other customers, including the AI world's current darling, Nvidia.

 

[ChrisA]

Agreed

It's so odd -- I, for some reason, thought this would all be more methodical with Apple controlling the chips

Your assumption was wrong, no one thought it would be "methodical". Everyone predicted it would move FASTER. Faster usually means harder to track and predict.

Change now happens as it can. If this 2nm stuff happens in 2025, then it is used in 2025 if not later. We can't predict if TMSC will run into problems or not or if demand for iPhones will pickup or decline in China

What I'm assuming is that eventualy they will move from 2nm to 1nm and then the next logical thing is "zero" and then in the 2030s we will see negative nanometers. We will have to wait and see.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Your assumption was wrong

Yes...I think I admitted that Chris

I still thought it would make more sense, even if moving faster.

It's all over the place per platform and device

 

[thewill586]

I agree, and I think that Apple doesn't want a (clear) pattern, to avoid people knowing when they should buy a new machine. I think they see it is fine for iPhone, as the volume is large enough and more people upgrade each year, than for the computers where volume is much lower and the upgrade cycle for most customers are not typically yearly.

At the same time I believe Apple is testing waters as a their own silicon is something new, and production and component orders may not have been as expected, especially after the COVID years where computer demands was more than usual.

But at the same time, people are also holding back purchases because they still expect the newest and greatest.

And all this have to balanced to the commercial wish for attention from spreading launches throughout the year.

I feel that is more a MacRumors-rumor. The source only claim mass-production starts mid-late 2025. But maybe it is possible we get a M5 launch in late 2025 for MBP as we got for the M3. More interestingly is that Samsung is expected to announce a faster route to 1 nm, possibly ready as early as 2026, in June.

😂 @samsung rumor

 

[name99]

I doubt it. They don't even seemed to have kept up with AI developments.

My brother in Christ, you would do well to try to separate wild claims you have heard in the media from actual reality...