TSMC’s 2nm process will be showcased for the first time, with Apple being one of the recipients to leverage this technology in its upcoming A20 and A20 Pro. While the move from the 3nm ‘N3P’ node to the 2nm ‘N2’ will improve efficiency by a decent margin, Apple’s expertise in chip design will ensure that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max deliver record battery life.
A20 and A20 Pro efficiency cores could once more come to the rescue as Apple showcased incredible ‘performance per watt’ with the A19 Pro
Even though Qualcomm and MediaTek will overtake Apple in one technological aspect by utilizing TSMC’s improved 2nm ‘N2P’ process, designing custom cores is an area where the Cupertino firm continues to shine, thanks to having years of experience under its belt. Apple’s rivals have to target higher clock speeds and add additional cores to achieve higher multi-core scores, but the obvious downside of this approach is increased power draw.
Later this year, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro is rumored to be tested at clock speeds of 5.00GHz, and while that’s impressive, Apple manages to obtain similar performance at reduced frequencies. For mobile devices, gaining bragging rights by running at unsustainable clock speeds is hardly an achievement, but what about being able to increase performance without adversely affecting performance?
Apple achieved this with the A19 Pro’s efficiency cores last year, and this approach is exactly what will likely be practiced with the A20 and A20 Pro, but the difference between the two generations could be higher.
Apple made its A19 Pro’s efficiency cores more powerful than A18 Pro while maintaining the same power draw - Here’s how
The A19 Pro has a smaller die size compared to the A18 Pro, lowering manufacturing costs for Apple, and based on numerous tests, the flagship SoC can achieve up to a 29 percent performance improvement without increasing power consumption. These improvements are a testament to Apple’s chip design and how architectural changes can contribute more to a smartphone SoC than switching to a newer lithography.
Looking at this comparison, both the A20 and A20 Pro can also sport a smaller die size, but offer better performance and a lower power draw. On top of that, the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s rumored battery capacity in the 5,100mAh to 5,200mAh range for the eSIM version is going to be no slouch in runtimes, giving buyers yet another reason to upgrade to this year’s flagships.
Of course, it’s important to note that actual test results and a deeper dive into the A20 and A20 Pro will provide us with a proper look at what improvements Apple has introduced, but the company’s past changes suggest that we’re in for a treat.
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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