Apple plans to shift its flagship iPhone lineup to a 1.4‑nanometer process in 2028, after moving from 3‑nanometer to 2‑nanometer chips last year. The new A22 Pro will be built mainly by TSMC, with a possible Intel partnership. This transition follows the company’s push to squeeze more performance into smaller dies.

TSMC has been refining the 1.4‑nm node for years, promising up to 15 % performance gains over its 2‑nm N2 process or equal speed with 30 % lower power draw. Every node shrink raises fabrication costs and limits output, a tension sharpened by the high demand from AI server makers like NVIDIA.

Apple’s 2026 earnings call revealed that the 2027 iPhone 18 series, slated for a 2‑nm chip, faced supply constraints, with the CEO noting shortages of A19 chips. Diversifying the supply chain, Apple is courting Intel to produce Arm‑based chips on its 14A 1.4‑nm node, potentially for lower‑tier devices such as the iPad.

The move to 1.4‑nm chips signals Apple’s intent to keep the iPhone edge as competitors close performance gaps. For consumers, the change could translate to sharper displays and longer battery life, while the industry must juggle escalating fabrication costs against the growing appetite for high‑efficiency processors.