TSMC 2nm Nodes: Hidden Risks for Apple, MediaTek, Qualcomm 2027

Key Takeaways

1. Apple’s upcoming A20 chipsets will utilize 2 nm nodes, moving from the previous 3 nm nodes in A18 and A19 models.
2. The shift to 2 nm wafers could provide a 15% performance boost without increasing power consumption.
3. Qualcomm plans to implement similar 2 nm nodes for their Snapdragon 8 Elite 3 chipset.
4. TSMC’s production of 2 nm nodes is significantly more expensive, likely leading to higher prices for upcoming flagship devices.
5. MediaTek is expected to introduce the Dimensity 9600 as their first 2 nm chipset, following the Dimensity 9500 and 9500+ models.

The news about TSMC’s N2 manufacturing process being embraced by major smartphone companies is well-known. Nevertheless, Digital Chat Station has shared fresh perspectives on how this new technology might influence future flagship devices. To summarize, Economic Times Daily mentioned at the end of last month that Apple’s upcoming A20 chipsets will utilize 2 nm nodes, marking a shift from the 3 nm nodes found in the A18 and A19 models.

Performance Enhancements

It appears that moving from 3 nm to 2 nm wafers could provide a 15% boost in performance within the same package size, all without increasing power consumption. Shortly after, Digital Chat Station indicated that Qualcomm plans to implement similar nodes for their Snapdragon 8 Elite 3, codenamed ‘SM8950’.

Future Predictions

Currently, the leaker maintains that 2026 is the expected launch period for these new chipsets. They have also included MediaTek among the firms that will adopt TSMC’s N2 nodes. Additionally, Digital Chat Station claims that producing this new node is costing TSMC ‘significantly’ more than the older 3 nm versions. It is expected that these increased costs will be transferred to consumers, leading to higher prices for upcoming flagship models like the Apple iPhone 18, Oppo Find X10, Samsung Galaxy S27, and Vivo X400 series, to name a few.

MediaTek’s Plans

According to MediaTek’s existing launch timeline, the company is set to release the Dimensity 9500 this fall, followed by a refresh with the Dimensity 9500+ in the spring of 2026. In past years, MediaTek’s mid-cycle updates have typically offered only slight enhancements, such as the Dimensity 9300+ found in devices like the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus (currently priced at $849.99 on Amazon). Therefore, it is likely that the first chipset based on 2 nm technology from MediaTek will actually be the Dimensity 9600 instead of the Dimensity 9500+.

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