The competition for 2nm: Apple, Nvidia, and MediaTek projects for 2025.

The year 2025 is anticipated as the time when we will see the arrival of the first 2-nanometer System on Chip (SoC) chips. This technological progress promises not only superior processing speeds but also a significant improvement in energy efficiency. This will translate into mobile devices capable of using more advanced artificial intelligence applications and with longer battery life. Additionally, Nvidia and MediaTek are expected to enter the laptop market, offering ARM-based solutions, which will intensify competition in this segment. Recently, Qualcomm has also made its entry with the Snapdragon X Elite.

Apple has big plans for 2025, especially with the launch of the iPhone 17 and its line of Mac computers. However, the company faces a crucial decision regarding the use of 2nm processors. In this race, TSMC, the Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer, plays a key role, as it was essential in Apple's transition in 2020, enabling the company to move away from its reliance on Intel and to employ its own chipsets.

Reports suggest that Apple may begin incorporating 2nm chipsets in the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models, manufactured by TSMC. However, in its other devices, it may continue using 3nm versions, such as in the M5 chipset, which is expected to appear in products like the iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and its augmented reality glasses, Apple Vision Pro. The production of these new M5 chipsets is expected in the second half of 2025, with launches anticipated toward the end of that year.

In Nvidia's case, the company is projected to expand its presence in the personal computer processor sector. This move would represent a significant challenge for industry giants like Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, who already have experience in the market. Nvidia will partner with ARM to develop a CPU based on Cortex-X5, featuring a Blackhawk architecture and a Nvidia Blackwell GPU; they are expected to utilize 3nm technology from Intel or TSMC. The company also plans to introduce its new range of graphics cards, the RTX 5070, 5080, and 5090, with high expectations; particularly, the RTX 5090 could offer impressive capabilities with 32GB of GDDR7 RAM and 21,760 CUDA cores.

On the other hand, MediaTek is already working on its first 2-nanometer SoC, following the success of the Dimensity 9400 chip, which is being adopted in several high-end smartphones. The Dimensity 9500 is expected to position MediaTek as the first manufacturer to implement TSMC's 2nm technology, which will also be working on chipsets for Apple. Additionally, it has been reported that MediaTek will join the ARM chipset offering for Windows Copilot+ laptops, a field where AMD and Qualcomm are already present. These ARM chipsets are aimed to be available in 2025, just as the exclusivity agreement between Microsoft and Qualcomm ends.