iPhone 18 Lineup Expected to Showcase Apple’s 2nm Chipsets, Analyst Suggests SoC Upgrade for All Models, Eliminating Differentiation

Apple is expected to unveil its first 2nm chipset, likely dubbed the A20, along with a potential higher-tier A20 Pro model exclusive to the premium iPhone 18 lineup. Initially, anticipation waned after an analysis by GF Securities’ Jeff Pu suggested that the 2026 iPhone models would incorporate silicon manufactured using TSMC’s third-generation 3nm process. Fortunately, another analyst has confidently asserted that the 2nm upgrade could debut as early as next year, potentially equipping the entire range of the iPhone 18 with this advanced chipset.

Improved Yields at TSMC Heighten Expectations for iPhone 18

Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities recently shared insights indicating that Apple’s upcoming 2nm chipset is set to launch alongside the iPhone 18 series in the latter half of 2026. Kuo has previously indicated that due to increased production costs, only select models may be outfitted with the cutting-edge technology. He theorizes that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature the new hardware exclusively, while the more budget-friendly models could retain the 3nm N3P system-on-chip (SoC).However, Kuo’s use of the term “iPhones”suggests a possibility that the entire iPhone 18 range might benefit from the A20 chipset.

There may still be notable differences among the models, with the standard A20 and the A20 Pro differentiated by the number of GPU cores. This aligns with Apple’s previous strategy observed in the iPhone 16 series, where various configurations of the A18 chipset were deployed. For instance, the iPhone 16e uses an A18 processor, albeit with a 4-core GPU—fewer than the 5-core configuration in the standard A18. Kuo seems optimistic about his forecasts, backed by TSMC’s advancements in its 2nm manufacturing process.

Reiterating my prediction from six months ago: the 2H26 new iPhones (iPhone 18) will be powered by TSMC’s 2nm chips.

Worth noting, TSMC’s 2nm R&D trial yields reached 60–70% three months ago, and they’re now well above that.https://t.co/ZoWXFqfUnS

— Ming-Chi Kuo (@mingchikuo) March 22, 2025

Previously, we reported that TSMC’s trial production of this cutting-edge lithography process achieved a 60% yield, with Kuo suggesting that this figure could have significantly improved since then. This enhanced production capability positions TSMC to ramp up monthly wafer production, thereby ensuring adequate 2nm shipments for Apple. As we look toward the end of 2023, the A19 and A19 Pro will likely be manufactured using TSMC’s 3nm ‘N3P’ technology. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether Qualcomm and MediaTek will also embrace the 2nm process in their upcoming technologies to close the competitive gap.

News Source: Ming-Chi Kuo

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