The cost of memory and SSDs is set to increase， and now， CPUs are expected to follow suit. This upcoming price hike is closely linked to advancements in TSMC’s 2nm process technology.
Previously， it was reported that TSMC’s N3P process would see a price increase of 16-24%， with an average increment of around 20%. This adjustment is anticipated to affect processors like the Apple A19， MediaTek Dimensity 9500， and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5.
Looking ahead to next year， TSMC is slated to begin mass production of its 2nm process. The price increase for this cutting-edge technology is projected to be even more substantial. It is estimated that the quoting price will rise from $20，000 for the 3nm process to $30，000 for the 2nm process， marking a significant 50% jump. Furthermore， it appears there will be no room for negotiation or discounts， reflecting TSMC’s strong market position and confidence in its technological lead.
Apple is expected to be the first to adopt TSMC’s 2nm process next year. The M5 series processors and the A20 processor， scheduled for release in the latter half of next year， will likely utilize this technology and are anticipated to consume nearly half of the available production capacity. The remaining capacity will then be allocated to other high-end processors， such as the MediaTek Dimensity 9600 and the tentatively named Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 6.
It is unlikely that AMD， Intel， and NVIDIA will adopt the 2nm process for their GPUs next year. Commercial availability for these components using the 2nm technology is more probable in the year after. However， NVIDIA is expected to unveil its next-generation AI GPUs， codenamed “Blackwell” (which uses the 2nm process)， at their GTC conference in March.
If the projected 50% price increase for the 2nm process materializes， consumers can likely expect smartphones to become more expensive next year due to the considerable rise in manufacturing costs.
In response to these rumors of price increases， TSMC issued a statement to the media indicating that the company does not comment on market rumors or pricing issues.
TSMC further emphasized that its pricing strategies are consistently guided by a strategic approach rather than opportunistic considerations， and that the company remains committed to close collaboration with its clients to deliver value.
While this response is formal and standard， the lack of a direct denial suggests that the price increases are indeed likely. The price adjustments are expected to be implemented， with the exact magnitude varying for each client based on their specific circumstances and the nature of their orders.
