Apple Targets 1.4nm A22 Pro in 2028 as AI Chip Demand Chokes 2nm Supply

Q: Is Apple's costly leap to 1.4nm chips about securing supply or pricing out its rivals?

Apple’s move is mainly about securing supply, though it also has the side effect of squeezing rivals. The core problem is capacity, not just performance. TSMC’s leading-edge lines are under heavy pressure from AI and high-performance computing customers, and even Apple is no longer insulated from shortages. TSMC has said AI-driven demand will outstrip supply for years, while physical capacity expansion takes time. With Apple shipping more than 240 million iPhones in 2025, any disruption at 2nm or below would directly threaten product volumes. That is why Apple is pushing early into TSMC’s 1.4nm A14 node for the A22 Pro in 2028, after adopting 2nm N2 and N2P in 2026 and 2027. The economics are harsh—sub-2nm wafers are estimated around $45,000, and High-NA EUV tools are extremely expensive—but Apple can absorb those costs better than most customers. In effect, it is paying to lock in access before AI chip buyers crowd the node. This strategy will also disadvantage competitors. Early adoption typically gives Apple priority on initial output, and reports suggest it could capture most early 1.4nm capacity. That would leave less room for Qualcomm, MediaTek, AMD and others, while also raising the cost of keeping pace. Still, the evidence points to supply security as the main driver. Apple already has a strong chip design lead; the urgency now is to avoid being boxed out of future production. Pricing out rivals is a consequence of that strategy, not the primary motive.

1 articles · Updated · Wccftech · Jun 28

Apple is preparing to move its A22 Pro to TSMC’s 1.4nm process in 2028, limiting its time on 2nm to avoid the supply crunch AI customers are expected to create.
TSMC has already pushed 3nm output up by as much as 175,000 wafers a month, yet capacity remains tight, underscoring why Apple does not expect preferential access even as a major customer.
The shift comes despite steep costs—TSMC’s sub-2nm wafers are estimated at about $45,000—and reflects supply security more than a need to outgun Qualcomm, MediaTek or Samsung on chip performance.
Apple is expected to use TSMC’s 2nm N2 this year and N2P in 2027 before the 1.4nm jump, betting its scale—more than 240 million iPhones shipped in 2025—justifies locking in the next node early.