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Apple is said to plan the launch of its newest main mobile processor, made using a 2nm process, in 2026. This follows Samsung's introduction of the 2nm Exynos 2600 last December. However, the creation of this new processor could lead to higher costs for future iPhone models. A report highlights that Apple might have to spend more on chips due to the increasing prices of silicon wafers. The company is anticipated to unveil four models in September 2026 — the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, a new version of iPhone Air, and iPhone Fold 2. These expected devices might run on the A20 or A20 Pro chip, which will be manufactured using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's 2nm process. A recent report from Taiwan states that TSMC is raising the prices of silicon wafers, which serve as the base for the chips. For the 2nm process, a 12-inch wafer is typically used, consisting of 100 layers, which costs around $30,000 (approximately 27 lakh).

To give some context, a wafer for the 3nm production costs about $20,000 (around Rs. 18 lakh). As a result, Apple is likely to pay nearly $280 (around Rs. 25,200) for the A20/A20 Pro, marking an 87 percent increase compared to what it spent on the current A19 Pro chip, which was $150 (approximately Rs. 13,500). The amount suggested is six times higher than the $50 (approximately Rs. 4,500) for the A18 Pro processor. The report indicates that Apple has two options — either take on the extra cost and reduce profits or raise the prices of the iPhone models in 2026. In comparison, it is reported that Samsung charges about 33 percent less than TSMC for the 12-inch silicon wafers. Samsung's cost for the 2nm GAA technology is said to be $20,000 (approximately 18 lakh), similar to the pricing for TSMC's 3nm production. However, TSMC is believed to have a slightly better production output as well.