TSMC trims the 2nm wafer premium to 10–20% while raising 3nm prices. Mass production in 2025; Apple, Qualcomm, MediaTek lead. Expect pricier phones and laptops.
© D. Novikov
TSMC’s leading-edge customers can breathe a little easier: the latest hike for 2‑nm wafers isn’t as steep as once feared. Instead of the 50% premium floated in earlier reports, the difference versus the 3‑nm generation now lands around 10–20%. The gentler slope, however, looks like deliberate price choreography.
Sources say TSMC plans to raise prices on existing 3‑nm wafers at the same time to smooth the step up to the next node. The effect is simple: while 2‑nm remains expensive — roughly $30,000 per wafer — the gap appears smaller than it truly is, more a matter of optics than generosity.
Mass production of 2‑nm chips (N2) is expected to begin in late 2025. Early customers are said to include Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek, all of which already tap 3‑nm processes N3E and N3P. By nudging up older‑node pricing, the move makes the jump to N2 pencil out, even if it’s a push rather than a choice.
Analysts note this strategy helps TSMC both quicken the rollout of new nodes and tighten its hold on the market. For smartphone and laptop makers, the takeaway is straightforward: higher chip costs are set to flow through to final device prices.