Apple fans who were hoping for a major performance boost in the iPhone 17 series will need to wait a little longer. According to a well-known tech analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, the 2nm chip that was expected to power the iPhone 17 will not arrive until the iPhone 18, which will launch in 2026. This means that iPhone won’t see the performance improvements that many were expecting.
iPhone 17 Will Use 3nm Chip Technology
There were earlier reports suggesting that Apple had a deal with TSMC, its chip manufacturer, to use 2nm chips in the iPhone 17. This led people to believe that the iPhone 17 could be the first to have the next-gen 2nm chip. However, Kuo recently stated that the iPhone 17 series, including the rumored iPhone 17 Air, will still use the current 3nm chips. The 3nm chip is already used in the latest iPhone models, so there won’t be a big leap in performance for the iPhone 17.
2nm Chip Delayed for iPhone 17
The 2nm chip will now be reserved for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, which will come out in 2026. Unfortunately, the non-Pro versions of the iPhone 18 will still use the older 3nm technology. This is likely because the newer 2nm chips are much more expensive to make. It requires advanced research and high-tech equipment to build these tiny and powerful chips, which makes them costly.
Pro Models Could See Price Increases
With the cost of making the 2nm chips going up, Kuo suggests that Apple’s Pro models will see a price increase. The standard iPhone models, on the other hand, will stick with the 3nm chip to keep prices lower. This helps Apple offer a variety of iPhone models at different price points to cater to a wider audience.
Conclusion
While the 2nm chip won’t be seen in the iPhone 17 series, it is expected to make its debut in the iPhone 18 Pro models in 2026. Apple is carefully balancing cost and innovation, ensuring that their high-end models stay ahead in performance.