The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are set to be the exclusive smartphones this year featuring a cutting-edge application processor (AP) manufactured using the highly advanced 3nm process node. Smaller process nodes enable chips to have more transistors, resulting in increased power and energy efficiency.
Let’s take a look at the previously released iPhone models, starting with the iPhone 11 series from 2019. During that time, Apple utilized the same chipset for the entire series, with all three iPhone 11 models being powered by the A13 Bionic, which contained a remarkable 8.5 billion transistors. This chip, manufactured by TSMC, utilized their second-generation 7nm node known as N7P. Fast forward to today, and the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone Pro Max feature the powerful A16 Bionic chipset created using TSMC’s 4nm process, with each chip boasting an impressive 16 billion transistors.
Due to the high cost of $20,000 per wafer slice required to produce 3nm chips, most phone manufacturers have decided to hold off on adopting this technology for this year, with the expectation of lower wafer prices next year as the next generation of 3nm production comes into effect. However, even more exciting news is that TSMC is currently conducting trial production of 2nm chips, as reported by
Wccftech. However, it should be noted that the availability of iPhone units equipped with 2nm chips will take some time, as several generations of 3nm production will occur first.
Most phone manufacturers are opting out of 3nm chip production in the first year due to the high costs of wafers.
In 2024, TSMC plans to transition 3nm production to its N3E process node, which will offer a more cost-effective solution for manufacturers. However, an individual known as “Mobile phone chip master” on Weibo has made a bold claim suggesting that the 3nm N3E process node may result in reduced performance compared to this year’s 3nm chips manufactured using the N3B process node. Generally, each generation of a process node brings improvements in performance and energy efficiency.
In a recent report by
Commercial Times, it has been mentioned that NVIDIA, one of TSMC’s top customers, is also looking to reserve production of 2nm chips. Apple, being the highest revenue generator for TSMC, accounts for 25% of the foundry’s annual gross income.
It’s important to note that only the iPhone 15 Pro models will feature the advanced 3nm A17 Bionic chipset this year. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will continue to be powered by the A16 Bionic chipset. The upcoming iPhone 16 series is expected to be the first to incorporate 3nm SoCs across all four models.
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Deepak Sen is a tech enthusiast who covers the latest technological innovations, from AI to consumer gadgets. His articles provide readers with a glimpse into the ever-evolving world of technology.
