The iPhone 17 Pro will be equipped with the A19 Pro chip and use TSMC's 3nm enhanced N3P process
Apple recently released the iPhone 16 Pro model, which is equipped with Apple's customized 3nm A18 Pro chip, with minimal performance differences from the previous generation model's A17 Pro. It is expected that Apple will launch an iPhone 17 Pro model equipped with the A19 Pro chip next year. But according to the latest information, the SoC will adopt TSMC's 3nm enhanced architecture.
Analyst Guo Mingchi pointed out that next year's iPhone 17 series will use processors manufactured using TSMC's 3nm enhanced N3P process. Recently, there have been reports that Apple plans to shift the focus of the iPhone 17 series from 3nm to 2nm chips. However, it seems that Apple will continue to use 3nm chips for a longer period of time, but due to plans to switch to TSMC's advanced N3P process, the performance improvement may be significant.
The manufacturing technology of 2nm or 3nm chips varies in design and the processes based on them. Nano refers to the size of transistors, and the smaller the size, the higher the performance and efficiency of the device. In addition, the smaller the size, the more transistors can be accommodated within a single chip.
Guo Mingchi not only shared the details of the N3P process 3nm chip installed in next year's iPhone 17 Pro, but also claimed that only some models of the iPhone 18 series will switch to 2nm process in 2026. At present, the A18 Pro chip in the iPhone 16 Pro adopts N3E (second-generation 3nm) technology, which is built around energy efficiency and improved yield, and may be a safe route for Apple's shipments this year. Conversely, TSMC's advanced N3P process will place greater emphasis on improving equipment performance while maintaining similar efficiency levels.
Due to the more complex manufacturing process of N3P, it is expected that its output will be lower than 3nm chips based on N3E technology. This may increase the price of chips, and Apple may ultimately pass it on to end users.
It is expected that N3P technology will bring significant performance improvements to the iPhone 17 series, but the 2nm chip will be the highlight of the iPhone 18 series.
The manufacturing technology of 2nm or 3nm chips varies in design and the processes based on them. Nano refers to the size of transistors, and the smaller the size, the higher the performance and efficiency of the device. In addition, the smaller the size, the more transistors can be accommodated within a single chip.
Guo Mingchi not only shared the details of the N3P process 3nm chip installed in next year's iPhone 17 Pro, but also claimed that only some models of the iPhone 18 series will switch to 2nm process in 2026. At present, the A18 Pro chip in the iPhone 16 Pro adopts N3E (second-generation 3nm) technology, which is built around energy efficiency and improved yield, and may be a safe route for Apple's shipments this year. Conversely, TSMC's advanced N3P process will place greater emphasis on improving equipment performance while maintaining similar efficiency levels.
Due to the more complex manufacturing process of N3P, it is expected that its output will be lower than 3nm chips based on N3E technology. This may increase the price of chips, and Apple may ultimately pass it on to end users.
It is expected that N3P technology will bring significant performance improvements to the iPhone 17 series, but the 2nm chip will be the highlight of the iPhone 18 series.