TSMC reportedly hikes 2-nm chip prices: Could make future Apple iPhones, iPads, and Macs more expensive

Apple fans may soon have to pay more for their gadgets as one of its key manufacturing partners reportedly hikes chip prices. According to tipster Yeux112, TSMC has told its clients, including Apple, that sub-5 nm fabrication would cost up to 10 percent more starting in 2026.

The Taiwanese company produces many processors used in Apple's current and upcoming iPhones, iPads, and Macs, including the A15, A17, A18, A19, and A20. TSMC also supplies or is expected to supply the M3, M4, and M5.

A report by China Times indicates the upcoming 2 nm node might be the most expensive ever to make. The publication estimated a per-unit cost of up to $280. In comparison, the current-gen 3 nm A-series reportedly costs $45 per chip.

Rising chip prices have become an industry-wide concern. Semiconductor makers are riding on the AI wave and are shifting their focus and resources toward high-bandwidth memory (HBM). This is creating a scarcity of mobile-grade LPDDR5x RAM, driving up smartphone component costs.

Goldman Sachs recently estimated that phone makers now spend 16 percent of their bill of materials (BOM) on memory, up from 10 percent a year earlier.

If the latest report about TSMC is true, Apple may have no choice but to increase the prices of its upcoming products. However, the Cupertino-based company could opt to accept compressed margins by absorbing some of the increased sourcing costs.