Android chipmakers eye TSMC 2 nm N2P to rival Apple

The race for leadership in mobile chipmaking is moving into a new phase. According to media reports, Qualcomm and MediaTek aim to gain an edge over Apple by launching their flagship processors on TSMC’s refined 2 nm N2P process, while Apple is expected to be first to adopt the baseline N2 node for the A20 and A20 Pro.

Both companies are already preparing their next releases—Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Dimensity 9600—which would be the first mobile chips built on TSMC’s 2 nm architecture. Sources say Qualcomm’s processor will support LPDDR6 memory and UFS 5.0 storage, while MediaTek has completed the tape-out of its first 2 nm chip and is gearing up for a late-2026 rollout.

Although some insiders claim all three—Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek—will start on N2, mounting reports suggest Android-focused vendors will opt for N2P, which promises better energy efficiency and higher performance. That would be a strategic play, since Apple continues to hold the lead with custom CPU and GPU cores that deliver the strongest performance per watt. For comparison, the A19 Pro’s efficiency cores were reportedly 29% faster at the same power draw—an outcome competitors have yet to replicate.

Qualcomm, which shifted to custom cores after acquiring Nuvia, and MediaTek, which still leans on standard ARM designs, both need a meaningful technological leap. Adding pressure, TSMC is expected to face capacity limits—analysts project only 15–20 thousand 2 nm wafers per month by the end of 2025, with a significant share of early output reportedly reserved for Apple. That’s why Qualcomm and MediaTek are looking to jump straight to the upgraded N2P node, slated for volume production in the second half of 2026.

There are no official confirmations yet, but if the leaks are accurate, the shift to N2P could be a turning point—giving Android chipmakers a chance to challenge Apple not only on top-line performance but on efficiency as well. The timing may prove just as important as the node itself: bypassing N2 looks like the most pragmatic path to headline gains while capacity remains tight.