Apple announced the A20 Pro chip, the company's first processor based on TSMC's 2nm N2 process node. This marks the most significant manufacturing advancement for Apple silicon since the transition to 3nm with the A17 Pro in 2023. Samsung has already entered the 2nm market with its Exynos 2600.
The A20 Pro is expected to be integrated into the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Apple's first foldable iPhone. These devices are linked to the "Surprise and Shine" event scheduled for September 9, 2026.
The N2 process is projected to provide a 10-15% increase in speed at the same power levels compared to the N3E node. Alternatively, it may offer a 25-30% reduction in power consumption while maintaining current performance levels.
The chip introduces WMCM (Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module) packaging, expanding the memory bus from 64-bit to 96-bit. This results in an approximately 50% increase in memory bandwidth using LPDDR5X memory. The A20 Pro is expected to feature a 7-core GPU and improved thermal management.
While Apple relies exclusively on TSMC, Samsung produces its Exynos processors in-house. Qualcomm has not yet announced a 2nm component. A successful 2nm iPhone chip typically suggests the arrival of a 2nm Mac chip within 12 to 18 months.