Although Apple manufactures its own chips, it does not do so directly, and it has suppliers that supply these components, so, in a way, the final price of an iPhone does not depend only on them, but on a chain made up of other companies.
Among them is TSMCwho would have commented that their processors, from now on, will be more expensive, and there will be a price increase for the companies it supplies, among which is Apple and all its chips, from the A16, A17 or A18 to the latest M5 for computers.
Price increase in Apple chips
TSMC, the world's leading chipmaker and a key supplier to Apple, has informed the company that it will increase prices for its most advanced manufacturing processes, especially those that use technologies below 5 nanometers. The increase will be applied starting next year and It is estimated between 8% and 10%according to sources close to the matter, or at least that is what MacRumors cites.
The move will also affect the development of next-generation chips based on 2nm technology, which could cost at least 50% more than current 3nm chips. This increase is due to the enormous investment costs in new plants, machinery and materials, in addition to the technical challenges that TSMC faces in maintaining high production yields in the first months of manufacturing.
Apple is expected to use these future 2nm chips in its A20 series for the iPhone 18 and in the M chips intended for your MacBooks and iPads. However, the estimated prices (which could reach $280 per unit) would represent a considerable jump compared to the current ones, such as the A18 chip that cost around $45, which will have an impact on the end customer, who will be the one who has to bear the difference.
This increase could also have a significant impact on Apple's profit margins, since the company may also assume part of that increase, so as not to launch an iPhone 20 with a difference of $200 compared to the previous ones, which could mean a failure in sales.
Industry analysts believe that, at least initially, Apple could limit the use of 2nm technology to the most premium modelssuch as the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, while the rest of the line would continue to use cheaper versions of chips, thus being able to give the customer a choice if they want to pay that increase, or stay with a base model that could not be touched by the price.
And you, would you pay more for this new type of chips, or do you think that the increase does not justify the difference in performance, since the current ones work very well, and that extra cost is not necessary? The important thing is to see if they will really maintain the price in base models, letting the user choose whether to pay more or not, since if they finally apply it to everyone, they could lose many sales in favor of other brands that do not do it.
