A20 Chip for iPhones Said to Remain 3nm, But With Key Upgrade for Apple Intelligence

A rumor has surfaced about the iPhone 18 series, which is expected to be released next year. Analyst Jeff Pu claims that the A20 chip for the iPhone 18 models will be manufactured using TSMC's third-generation 3nm process, known as N3P. This is the same process expected to be used for the A19 and A19 Pro chips in the upcoming iPhone 17 models. As a result, the iPhone 18 models may have relatively small overall performance improvements compared to the previous generation. However, Pu expects the A20 chip to have an upgrade that will benefit Apple Intelligence capabilities. The chip will use TSMC's Chip on Wafer on Substrate packaging technology, allowing for tighter integration of the processor, unified memory, and Neural Engine. This technology is expected to enhance the chip's performance in certain areas. The iPhone 18 series is still around a year away, with the iPhone 17 series expected to be released first. The first iPhone chip to use TSMC's 2nm technology is expected to be the A21 chip, which may not be released until 2027. This information is based on a research note from analyst Jeff Pu and has not been officially confirmed by Apple.