While the iPhone 17 series is still three months away from launching, rumors about next year’s iPhone 18 models live on the surface.
The latest word comes from Apple Analyst Jeff Pu. In a research note with equity research firm GF Securities this week, PU said that she hopes to fold the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and so -called iPhone 18 folds that they will be equipped with Apple’s A20 chip, and they believe that the chip will be some significant design changes on A18 and will lead the A19 chips.
First, PU reiterated that the A20 chip will be manufactured with 2 Nm of TSMC. The current A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro model is coined with the second generation of TSMC’s second generation of TSMC, while the A19 Pro Chip for the iPhone 17 Pro model is expected to use the TSMC’s third generation 3Nm process. The speed ranging from 3Nm to 2nm with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 fold models will allow for more transistors in each chip, which helps to promote performance. In particular, previous reports indicated that A20 chips should be faster by up to 15% and 30% more power than A19 chips.
Overview of current and expected iPhone chips:
- A17 Pro Chip: 3Nm (TSMC’s first generation 3Nm process N3B)
- A18 Chips: 3Nm (TSMC’s second generation 3Nm process n3e)
- A19 Chips: 3Nm (TSMC’s third generation 3nm process N3p)
- A20 Chips: 2NM (TSMC’s first generation 2Nm process N2)
Keep in mind that these nanometer sizes are only TSMC marketing words rather than actual measurements such as 3Nm and 2Nm.
Apple Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is also expected to expect the A20 chip 2Nm, which is not very surprising to look at the iPhone chip trajectory.
There is another perceived change that will be more notable. In addition to the 2Nm process, PU stated that it expects the A20 chip to use TSMC’s new Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) chip packaging technology. With this new design, RAM will be integrated directly on the wafer of the chip with CPU, GPU and nerve engine, rather than being around the chip and is associated with a silicon interpreting.
This packaging changes can contribute to a wide range of benefits on previous models for iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18, including overall functions and rapid performance for Apple Intelligence, long battery life and better thermal management. The A20 chip may result in a smaller footprint than previous chips, which can free the space inside iPhones for other uses.
This packaging change for the A20 chip has also been rumored earlier.
Among all, the A20 chip is shaping a large upgrade to the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 fold model, which should be launched in September 2026.
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