TSMC 2nm processor won't arrive until the iPhone 18 Pro

TSMC is developing a 2nm process

As recently as April 2024, reports were saying that the new and faster 2 nanometer processors would be produced for Apple in 2025, and that they would appear first in the iPhone 17 Pro. TSMC did commit to a 2025 launch, but a new claim says that volume production will be too late for that year's iPhone launch.

The claim comes a leaker called "Mobile phone chip expert," on the Weibo Chinese social media site. The claim was in response to apparent industry media reports that chips made with the 2nm process would be ready in early 2025.

"This is nonsense fake news," writes the leaker (in translation), "After reading the production capacity planning table, I know that this is another report by the unscrupulous media."

Then the leaker specifies that the iPhone 17 Pro will still use 3nm processors. And that the iPhone will not have 2nm until the iPhone 18 range.

The industry report that the leaker hopes to refute also says that Apple's M5 processor is expected to be mass-produced in 2025. The leaker doesn't directly comment on this claim, and previous reports have said Apple is already working on that M5 chip.

Leaker "Mobile Phone Chip Expert" has a generally good reputation for accuracy. However, most of his or her claims concern issues that will take years to confirm.

They may also never be confirmed. For instance, a recent claim from the leaker says that Apple has a secret plan to develop AI processors for its data centers.