TSMC’s advancements in 2nm technology have garnered considerable attention, particularly as the company recently achieved a remarkable milestone with a yield of over 60% for its innovative manufacturing process. According to recent reports, TSMC is poised to initiate full-scale production by accepting orders for its 2nm wafers starting April 1. The demand for these wafers reportedly surpasses that of the 3nm predecessors, suggesting a robust customer interest in acquiring the initial production batch.
Apple to be First in Line for 2nm Wafers, A20 Chip Set for iPhone 18
Two primary facilities are dedicated to ramping up the production of 2nm wafers: Kaohsiung and Baoshan. A production expansion ceremony is scheduled for March 31 in Kaohsiung, with the first batch expected to arrive at Baoshan, Hsinchu, by late April. Orders for the cutting-edge technology will be open on April 1, and indications suggest that Apple will be the first to secure these wafers, consistent with previous trends.
Apple plans to utilize this advanced manufacturing process for its A20 chip, specifically crafted for the upcoming iPhone 18 series, anticipated to launch in the latter part of 2026. Besides Apple, other major players such as AMD, Intel, Broadcom, and AWS are also expected to be among the first to place orders for TSMC’s 2nm wafers. TSMC aims to produce 50,000 wafers per month by the end of 2025, with projections suggesting a potential to scale this output to 80,000 monthly wafers.
For TSMC to reach these production targets, both the Kaohsiung and Baoshan facilities must be fully operational. While estimates indicate that each wafer could cost around $30,000, TSMC has announced plans to introduce a ‘CyberShuttle’ service by April, aimed at lowering costs for clients by allowing them to test their chips on the same wafer, thereby minimizing excessive overhead expenses.
With TSMC’s ambitious timeline, the first 2nm products are expected to debut in 2026, showcasing improvements in performance and efficiency from products like Apple’s A20 chip. Further updates on this technology will be closely monitored.