Apple prepares a new chip every year for the latest iPhones, but the A20 Pro chip, dedicated to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra expected to launch this fall, looks very special.

First iPhone chip with 2nm manufacturing process

It is always expected that Apple will deliver improvements with each new generation of its chips, but some years see bigger upgrades than others, and the A20 Pro chip is expected to be among the most notable.

This is because Apple will use the new 2nm technology from TSMC in manufacturing the A20 Pro, according to a report by technology news site 9to5Mac, seen by Al Arabiya Business.

The transition from the current 3nm process to 2nm means the A20 Pro chip will be able to deliver higher performance and greater efficiency while maintaining roughly the same chip size.

Whenever there is a significant advancement in chip manufacturing technologies, such results are expected. That is why Apple works years in advance to secure TSMC's latest technologies, which helps it maintain its lead in the chips that power not only iPhones but also iPads, Macs, and other devices.

It is not yet known which aspects Apple will focus on improving in the A20 Pro, but thanks to the 2nm technology, the company will have more room for improvements than usual.

Adopting a new packaging technology will bring additional gains

In addition to the advantages of the 2nm process, the A20 Pro is also expected to get another improvement thanks to a new packaging technology known as 'Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module'.

This will be the first time this packaging technology is used in iPhone processors, allowing the integration of different components, such as the system-on-chip (SoC) and DRAM memory, directly at the wafer level, before being divided into individual chips.

This technology uses a method that connects electronic dies without the need for an interposer or substrate, which can offer advantages in heat dissipation and signal integrity.

In other words, the distinction of Apple's next-generation chip will not be limited to its small size and high energy efficiency thanks to the 2nm process, but it will also be physically closer to its integrated memory, enabling better performance and lower power consumption in tasks such as AI processing and advanced gaming.

With this new packaging technology, the A20 Pro is expected to have superior AI capabilities, which is not surprising, as iOS 27 heavily focuses on AI technologies.

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