Apple’s 1.4nm A22 Pro Chip Is Coming in 2028 — Here’s Why It’s a Bigger Deal Than It Sounds

Two more years, two more node shrinks, and Apple is quietly setting up its biggest performance leap yet.

Apple fans love to obsess over camera bumps and titanium frames, but the real magic happens at a scale you can’t even see — inside the chip. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple will transition from 2-nanometer chips to 1.4-nanometer chips with its high-end 2028 iPhones — and this one’s worth paying attention to.

The Roadmap at a Glance

The anniversary models, codenamed V73 and V74, will succeed the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, and both the anniversary and second-generation foldable models will run on a 2-nanometer A21 chip internally dubbed Naxos. The real leap arrives the year after.

Why 1.4nm Actually Matters

It’s easy to glaze over at the mention of nanometers, but the gains here are real. TSMC’s A14 node will bring up to 15 percent better performance than chips built on its N2 2nm node — alternatively, the chips will offer the same performance but with 30 percent power savings.

Translation: either a noticeably snappier iPhone, or significantly better battery life depending on how Apple tunes it. For a deeper look at how chip advancements are shaping the smartphone race, check out our coverage of the latest flagship processor comparisons.

Each 1.4nm wafer from TSMC is estimated to cost a steep $45,000 — a number that underscores just how expensive bleeding-edge silicon has become, even for a company as cash-rich as Apple.

TSMC Stays in the Driver’s Seat, But Intel Is Circling

TSMC will make the majority of Apple’s A22 Pro chips, but Apple is also considering having Intel make some of them. This isn’t entirely new — Apple has been aiming to diversify its chip supply chain, and current rumours suggest Intel will make lower-end chips for devices like the iPad and Mac, with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan focused on reviving the company’s manufacturing arm through more advanced process nodes.

Intel is developing its own 14A node for 1.4nm chips, expected to reach production in 2028, with prior rumours suggesting Intel could make non-Pro iPhone chips that year. It’s a small but symbolic crack in TSMC’s near-total dominance over Apple’s silicon.

For more on TSMC’s role in the global chip supply chain and how it affects pricing for Indian consumers, see our related coverage.

What This Means for the Naming Confusion

It’s worth noting there’s no confirmation yet on whether the standard A22 will also be fabricated on the 1.4nm process — TSMC is reportedly building billion-dollar facilities to scale up the new node regardless. So when the chip eventually launches, expect the “Pro” suffix to matter more than usual.

The Bottom Line

Two years out, Apple is already laying the groundwork for its next real architectural leap. While 2026 and 2027 iPhones settle into the 2nm era, 2028’s A22 Pro is shaping up to be the actual headline moment — smaller, faster, and more power-efficient, with TSMC and possibly Intel sharing manufacturing duties for the first time. As always with Gurman reports, treat the exact date as fluid — but the direction is clear.

Sources: MacRumors | 9to5Mac | AppleWorld.Today