- IPhone 18 -Ophones tip to use A20 chips
- These CPUs could be based on an enhanced 2nm process
- It means faster, more effective chips
While the iPhone 18 series is not launched for another year and a half, we have already heard several predictions about it – and the latest suggests that all four models in the range receive a significant upgrade of services.
This comes from respected apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has repeated a prediction he put forward six months ago: that the A20 chipset, intended for iPhone 18-hand sets, will use a 2-nanometer production process.
The current iPhone 16 devices use A18 processors made with 3NM technology. A shift from 3nm to 2nm essentially means that more transistors can be packed inside a processor – making it faster and more efficient.
Of course, iPhones become faster every year, but a change in the manufacturing process as this means significant benefit gains, in addition to the usual increases. This should mean that the iPhone 18 can offer treatment effect at the next level.
Still a way away
Repeating my prediction from six months ago: The 2H26 new iPhones (iPhone 18) will be powered by TSMCS 2NM chips. Worth notes, TSMCS 2NM F&U experimental outcome reached 60-70% three months ago and they are now well over it. https://t.co/zowxfqfunsMarch 22, 2025
There is still some ambiguity about whether the chips for each iPhone 18 model get this 2nm upgrade. KUO now seems more optimistic about this than he was in September, but it can be an upgrade just for the Pro and Pro Max models.
This follows reports earlier this week from another industry analyst, Jeff PU at GF Securities. PU initially suggested the A20 chipset would be based on a 3NM process before he revised his prediction to say that the 2NM A20 Silic was an option.
It would be that even Apple and its supply chain partners are not sure yet. The iPhone 18 hand sets will not see the light of day until September 2026, so there is a lot of time yet for the manufacturing processes to be refined.
In the meantime, we have the iPhone 17 series to look forward to, which should be revealed in September 2025. These phones will have to get upgrades to the A19 processors -but they will be built using the existing 3NM process technology.
