iPhone 18 to Use Enhanced 2nm Chip Tech Integrating 12GB RAM

Apple's 2026 iPhones will use TSMC's next-generation 2-nanometer fabrication process in combination with a new packaging method that will integrate 12GB of RAM, a reputable source of accurate predictions about Apple's plans has claimed.

Apple Silicon Teal Feature
In a Weibo post on Tuesday, Chinese-language user "Phone Chip Expert" said Apple's A20 chip in iPhone 18 models will switch from the previous InFo (Integrated Fan-Out) packaging to WMCM (Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module) packaging, while memory will be upgraded to 12GB.

In terms of the differences in packaging method, InFo allows integration of components, including memory, within the package but focuses more on single-die packaging where memory is typically attached to the main SoC (such as DRAM placed on top or near the CPU and GPU cores). It's optimized for reducing the size and improving the performance of individual chips.

WMCM, on the other hand, excels at integrating multiple chips within the same package (hence the "Multi-Chip Module" part). This method allows more complex systems, such as CPUs, GPUs, DRAM, and other custom accelerators (e.g., AI/ML chips) to be tightly integrated in one package. It provides greater flexibility in arranging different types of chips, stacking them vertically or placing them side by side, while also optimizing communication between them.

As for memory, all current iPhone 16 models feature 8GB of RAM, which is considered to be the minimum requirement for Apple Intelligence. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said he expects next year's iPhone 17 Pro to feature 12GB of RAM, so it could be that Apple will make it a new standard across the succeeding iPhone 18 series.

Having said that, Kuo also believes that only "Pro" models in the iPhone 18 series are likely to use TSMC's next-generation 2nm processor technology because of cost concerns. Meanwhile, it's not clear whether the fabrication tech and the memory size are indelibly intertwined in Apple's plans.

Nanometer Generations

Terms like "3nm" and "2nm" describe generations of chip manufacturing technology, each with its own set of design rules and architecture. As these numbers decrease, they generally indicate smaller transistor sizes. Smaller transistors allow more to be packed onto a single chip, typically resulting in increased processing speed and improved power efficiency. This year's iPhone 16 series is based on an A18 chip design built using a second-generation "N3E" 3nm process.

TSMC plans to start manufacturing 2nm chips in late 2025, and Apple is expected to be the first company to receive chips built on the new process. TSMC generally builds new fabs when it needs to increase production capacity to handle significant orders for chips, and TSMC is expanding in a major way for 2nm technology.

The leaker "Phone Chip Expert" has a track record of accurate predictions. They were first to correctly reveal that the standard iPhone 14 models would continue to use the A15 Bionic chip, while the more advanced A16 chip would be exclusive to the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro models. More recently, they were the first source of information about Apple developing its own AI server processor using TSMC's 3nm process, targeting mass production by the second half of 2025.

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Top Rated Comments

Greenmeenie Avatar
27 weeks ago
This will be Apple’s new way of getting people to upgrade each year. Last years iphones won’t be able to fully run next years A.I. features. Luckily I don’t care about A.I. ?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
McWetty Avatar
27 weeks ago
“A reputable source”… so not Mark Gurman?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B.A.T Avatar
27 weeks ago
I just put a new battery in my 12 mini and it acts like a brand new phone. Hopefully I can wait until 2026 to upgrade.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
segfaultdotorg Avatar
27 weeks ago
Lame! Bring out the 10mm tech, that’s like five times better.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Justin Cymbal Avatar
27 weeks ago
12 GB of ram will be absolutely insane

Definitely looking forward to any potential power efficiency improvements with the new 2 nm chips
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
StoneJack Avatar
27 weeks ago
Apple needs to refresh design of iPhones. Chips are very good but design-wise the iPhone is very stale.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)