A new report claims that while Apple Silicon chips based on TSMC's 3nm processors will remain in shorter supply than usual, there is reason to expect that the launch of 2nm processors in the next MacBook Pro will improve the situation. During Apple's latest earnings call, Tim Cook warned that the current memory shortage will be a growing problem, and the expectation is that iPhone and Mac prices will increase.
See also: Samsung warns that RAM shortage could worsen next year
However, demand from AI companies is such that companies like Apple may not be able to buy enough memory or processors at any price, and a new report suggests that this situation will continue. According to Digitimes, Mac supply will remain limited until TSMC can ramp up its production to 2 nanometers.
Apple is expected to use TSMC's 2nm processor in its upcoming OLED MacBook Pro, which was slated for late 2026. Recent reports have suggested that this MacBook Pro is now delayed until 2027. During the earnings call, Cook mentioned that Apple had managed to mitigate the impact of rising memory prices by maintaining inventory, buying supplies before prices increased.
See also: The basic Mac Mini is sold out from the Apple Online Store
Specifically for the next fiscal quarter, the restrictions will mainly affect the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and the new MacBook Neo, more than the iPhone. However, it has been separately reported that the upcoming iPhone 18 series will be affected by TSMC's price increases. The iPhone 18 series is expected to use the A20 and A20 Pro processors, both of which are 2-nanometer designs. In August 2025, it was reported that Apple will take half of TSMC's 2-nanometer processor capacity.
More recently, Apple has reportedly lost its status as TSMC's largest customer, which appears to have shifted to Nvidia, which supplies processors for AI data centers and is expected to use TSMC's 2-nanometer designs from 2027. Given this expectation and the new report, it is likely that the "carry-in" program mentioned by Cook includes existing orders for 2-nanometer processors.
This would explain why the supply of the upcoming MacBook Pro is expected to be better than what Apple is currently experiencing with the rest of its lineup. However, this does not mean that Apple's entire Mac lineup will see improvements. Tim Cook specifically stated on the earnings call that he expects "the Mac mini and Mac Studio to take several months to reach supply-demand equilibrium."
See also: Framework announces Laptop 13 Pro for Linux users
He also said that Apple is continuing to assess the situation and that “we will be looking at a range of options.” Cook did not specify what those options are, but it has been previously reported that Apple may partner with companies like Intel to manufacture some of its older processors.
