A number of recent reports have hinted at Apple's somewhat aberrant launch strategy for the iPhone 18 lineup, one that would see the upcoming variants bifurcated between the fall of 2026 and spring of 2027. Now, TSMC's WMCM packaging capacity ramp-up has provided the clearest signal yet as to Apple's staggered launch strategy for the iPhone 18 lineup.
TSMC is set to double its WMCM packaging capacity to 120,000 wafers per month by 2027, hinting at Apple's concentrated launch of the cheaper and more popular iPhone 18 variants in the spring of 2027
According to a recent report out of Taiwan, TSMC's WMCM packaging capacity will increase from around 60,000 wafers per month in 2026 to a whopping 120,000 wafers per month in 2027. To do so, TSMC is not only upgrading equipment at its Longtan factory - which is a heavyweight when it comes to the last-gen InFO packaging tech - but also building a new WMCM production line at AP7 in Chiayi. The Taiwanese chip fabrication giant has also roped in its partners, ASE and Xintec, to help with wafer sorting and final testing.
For the benefit of those who might not be aware, Apple intends to power the iPhone 18 lineup with its A20 chip, which is based on TSMC's 2nm process and entails a switch from InFO packaging to WMCM, allowing for the combination of multiple individual dies - such as the CPU, GPU, and the Neural Engine - onto a single package (Redistribution Layers or RDLs) that then provides an unprecedented level of flexibility due to the sheer number of die configurations that become available. This change would also free up space for other components, including perhaps a larger battery, by:
- Reducing the need for separate components by integrating the RAM directly into the module.
- Eliminating the need for a traditional interposer or substrate by using RDLs instead.
- Using Molding Underfill (MUF), which helps to reduce material consumption and the number of processes.
Coming back, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman noted back in November 2025 that Apple would launch the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the much-anticipated iPhone Fold in the fall of 2026. Then, come the spring of 2027, the Cupertino giant would launch the base iPhone 18, the iPhone 18e, and possibly the iPhone Air 2. Do note that recent reports have indicated that Apple might still launch the iPhone Air 2 either in the spring of 2026 or the spring of 2027.
Now, as TSMC is all set on doubling its WMCM advanced packaging capacity by 2027, when Apple's cheaper iPhone 18 variants are slated to hit the shelves, entailing a much higher sales volume in the process, Gurman's tidbit about Apple's staggered launch strategy for the next iPhones appears to be getting vindicated.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
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