iPhone 17 leaks start surfacing online, Pro models likely to launch with 2nm chipset by TSMC

iPhone 17 leaks start surfacing online, Pro models likely to launch with 2nm chipset by TSMC

Is it too soon for speculations and rumours about the iPhone 17? Yes. But are people talking about the expected specifications and features of the iPhone 17? Also yes. We are months away from the launch of iPhone 16, but that won’t stop people from not only talking about the phone, but its successor as well. It was earlier reported that the iPhone 17 Pro iPhone models will come with high refresh-rate displays and the Always-On feature. And now, recent leaks say that the iPhone 17 Pro will come with a chipset built on a 2nm processor.Â

As per a report by DigiTimes, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which is Apple’s primary chip supplier, announced recently that it will start building 2nm processors by the end of this year. Furthermore, the processors are expected to be produced in large quantities in 2025. After this announcement by TSMC, reports started surfacing that said that the iPhone 17 will be amongst the first few devices to be powered by these processors.Â

The report also added that TSMC is also working on an upgrade for the processor, called “N2P” And this chip is expected to be used in the iPhone 19 and might likely be ready by 2026.Â

Earlier, a report from South Korean publication The Elec had said that Apple is gearing up to introduce high refresh-rate displays and the Always-On feature to the vanilla iPhone 17 in 2025. If that happens, it will be the first time that the base variant of the iPhone got the upgrades. Usually, high refresh rate and Always On feature is only available in Pro models of the iPhone.Â

Currently, the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus maintain a 60Hz refresh rate, while the Pro models boast a smoother 120Hz ProMotion display. This discrepancy has been a point of contention for some users, who argue that Apple’s standard iPhones offer a less fluid user experience compared to competitors that offer higher refresh rates even at lower price points.

To address this, Apple is also reportedly considering a complete transition from Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon (LTPS) displays to Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide (LTPO) displays for the iPhone 17 series. This transition is significant because LTPO displays enable the ProMotion feature in Pro models, allowing the refresh rate to dynamically adjust between 1Hz and 120Hz depending on the displayed content. This not only enhances the user experience with smoother scrolling and animations but also contributes to better battery life by reducing the refresh rate for static content.

In addition to the higher refresh rate, another anticipated feature expected to extend to standard iPhones in 2025 is the Always-On display. Currently exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max, this feature enables users to view the time, date, widgets, and a dimmed version of their wallpaper even when the phone is locked. Apple may make Always-On Display a prominent feature across its 2025 lineup by leveraging the low refresh rate capabilities of LTPO displays.

However, these changes will be reserved for the iPhone 17, meaning the upcoming iPhone 16 models in 2024 will continue to maintain a distinction between standard and Pro models. The upcoming iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are still expected to utilise 60Hz LTPS displays.