TSMC Opens Orders for 2nm Wafers as Customers, Including Apple, Expected to Pay $30,000 Each

The manufacturing of TSMC’s cutting-edge 2nm technology is set to kick off by the year’s end. As previously reported, the Taiwanese semiconductor leader began accepting orders starting April 1, a date that has now passed. Recent updates reveal that customers are eager to secure their spot for these highly anticipated wafer shipments, even at a staggering price of $30, 000 per unit. Additionally, significant advancements have been reported from both the Hsinchu and Kaohsiung facilities. Let’s delve deeper into these developments.

TSMC’s Production Capacity and Recent Developments

While initial estimates suggested that TSMC could achieve a monthly wafer production of 50, 000 units across its two Taiwanese plants—potentially increasing to 80, 000 by the end of 2025—more recent insights from DigiTimes paint a different picture. Current projections indicate that the monthly output is likely to reach about 30, 000 wafers. Notably, the Kaohsiung plant is ahead of its schedule and is poised to begin production shortly.

The Hsinchu facility, meanwhile, has ramped up its monthly output from 3, 000 wafers in mid-2024 to approximately 8, 000 wafers today, with an ambitious target of 22, 000 units by the close of 2025. Sources within the supply chain hint that there is a strong demand from customers eager to place orders for these advanced lithography wafers, although specific client names remain undisclosed.

Customer Predictions and Market Dynamics

Historically, Apple has enjoyed the privilege of receiving the first batch of TSMC’s next-generation wafers, which suggests that they will likely be at the forefront in accessing the initial 2nm shipment. Reports indicate that this cutting-edge technology will be utilized in Apple’s forthcoming A20 chip, expected to debut alongside the iPhone 18 series in the latter half of 2026.

Moreover, Qualcomm is rumored to also be placing orders with TSMC for the 2nm process. Speculation includes plans for two custom chipsets leveraging this advanced production node, one of which could potentially be the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3. It is essential to consider that DigiTimes does not have the most reliable track record for accuracy in their reports, so these claims should be approached cautiously. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide further updates.

For more information, refer to the original report by DigiTimes.

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