Apple could put the brakes on iPhone performance in 2025, with the aim of limiting the cost of the iPhone 17.
Apple has reportedly decided to delay the use of TSMC’s 2nm chips for its iPhone 17 Pro models, due to high production costs and limited production capacity. Initially, these chips were considered to improve the performance of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but recent reports indicate that the company has chosen to postpone their integration.
Apple’s decision follows concerns about the cost of manufacturing 2nm chips and challenges with TSMC’s production capacity. Although production trials were initiated at the Baoshan factory in Hsinchu, Taiwan, the results proved disappointing. The chip yield rate is only 60%, which means that almost 40% of the chips produced are defective. Given the high cost of each wafer, estimated at $30,000, it appears that production costs are too high to allow Apple to integrate these chips into future models. Especially since the new TSMC factory in Arizona produces for much more.
As a result, the commercialization of 2nm chips has reportedly been pushed back to 2026, with a launch planned for the iPhone 18 Pro models. Until then, the iPhone 17 range should continue to use TSMC’s 3nm chips, already present in the current iPhone 16 range. However, the 2nm chips should offer significant gains in terms of performance and Energy efficiency, with up to 15% more transistors compared to 3nm chips, without increasing power consumption.
Although this technology promises progress, Apple seems to judge that the cost and difficulties of large-scale production made the integration of 2nm chips unviable in the short term, especially since it would risk impacting the price of sale of iPhones. The decision to postpone their use, if proven, therefore appears to be a strategic measure to maintain the balance between innovation and profitability.
Tech
