TSMC offers 2 nm chips to Apple

TSMC, the world's largest contract chip processing company, is expected to supply 2 nm chips for iPhone 17.

According to Financial Times, TSMC just presented the results Chip testing results using the 2 nm process for two partners Apple and Nvidia. Previously, the company said it could mass produce chips of this type from 2025. Mobile devices are the priority target, while chips on personal computers will be improved, some features adjusted and launched. later.

It is expected that the first 2 nm chip will be the A19 Pro on the iPhone 17 generation. Currently the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are using the chip A16 Bionic 4 nm process, two 15 Pro models use chip A17 Pro 3 nm process. Apple representatives have not yet commented.

In the chip field, nm (nanometer) is a unit of measurement for transistor size. The smaller the size, the more transistors the processor can contain, thereby tending to achieve high performance and save more energy. TSMC claims that research is on track and that the 2 nm chip, when completed, will become "the most advanced technology product in the semiconductor industry". In addition, the company also added GAA (Gate all ground) - a technology considered a turning point in microprocessor production - to help significantly reduce electricity leakage and increased performance for 2 nm chips.

TSMC chip processing company headquartered in Taiwan. Photo: TSMC

Statista's 2023 statistics show that TSMC leads the chip processing segment with more than 50% market share, far surpassing the second competitor, Samsung Foundry, with about 10%. However, according to PhoneArena, this gap may be narrowed due to recent advances by the Korean technology company. Specifically, Samsung has applied GAA technology to 3 nm chips (SF3) and is capable of producing 2 nm chips (SF2) in the next two years.

"Samsung can mass-produce SF2 and is also a leader in transforming GAA technology. Therefore, we expect the transition from SF3 to SF2 will go smoothly", said a representative of the Korean company.

In addition to Samsung, TSMC also faces competition from Intel in the new generation chip race. In March, Intel announced plans to launch the world's first 1.8 nm 18A chip in 2025.

Also according to PhoneArena, the activities of Samsung and Intel provide many options for technology companies in the market. In July, some of TSMC's long-time partners revealed they wanted to look for new suppliers to increase initiative. "Complete dependence on TSMC poses many risks", said Leslie Wu, CEO of consulting company RHCC.

C.C Wei, CEO of TSMC, affirmed that the company is capable of defending its position. In October, responding to JPMorgan analyst Gokul Hariharan, Wei said that the 2 nm chip technology at TSMC will have a better level of maturity and quality than Intel's 18A 1.8 nm process. Meanwhile, Lucy Chen, Vice President of Isaiah Research, assessed that the competition between companies does not have much meaning if it cannot really improve chip performance.