Apple has been first in line for every new TSMC manufacturing process for years, first with 3nm, first with each iteration since. A report out of Taiwan claims that streak breaks this year, and the company cutting in line is Google.
Economic Daily News, a Taiwanese trade publication, reported that TSMC’s 2nm process entered mass production and that Google’s upcoming Tensor G6 chip, expected to power the Pixel 11 series, will be built on it. Google has scheduled its Made by Google event for 12 August. Apple’s A20, also expected on TSMC’s 2nm node, isn’t due until the iPhone 18’s September unveiling. If both timelines hold, Google ships a 2nm chip roughly a month before Apple does.
What’s Actually Confirmed, And What Isn’t
TSMC has confirmed its N2 process began volume production in the fourth quarter of 2025. That part isn’t in dispute. Whether Tensor G6 specifically uses that process is still unconfirmed by both Google and TSMC. Earlier reports floated the possibility that Google might instead use TSMC’s more established N3P process, a 3nm variant, rather than jumping straight to 2nm. Until Google confirms the chip directly, or someone tears down a retail Pixel 11, this remains a supply chain leak.
It is important to note that being TSMC’s first customer for a process and having the first smartphone on shelves using it are two different claims. Samsung’s Exynos 2600, built on Samsung Foundry’s own separate 2nm process, already shipped in some devices earlier this year. Google’s chip, if the report holds, would be the first phone chip on TSMC’s 2nm node specifically, not the first 2nm phone chip in general.
Everyone Else Is Close Behind
This isn’t really about Google getting some kind of enduring lead. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit lands 22 August, where the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 is expected, reportedly in standard and Pro variants. MediaTek is targeting a third-quarter launch for its next flagship chip, likely branded Dimensity 9600, also expected on TSMC’s 2nm process.
Within a matter of weeks, four major chipmakers will have shipped or announced 2nm silicon. Google’s advantage, if it holds, is measured in weeks, not months.
Apple Coming In Second?
Apple’s position as TSMC’s earliest and largest customer for new nodes hasn’t just been a bragging right, it’s shaped how the entire industry reads Apple’s chip roadmap, first access effectively meaning first mover on performance and efficiency gains each year.
If Google actually lands a shipping 2nm chip a month ahead of Apple, it’s a minor but real crack in an assumption the industry has treated as fixed for over a decade. Whether that translates into anything Pixel owners actually notice is a separate question, chip node numbers rarely map cleanly onto real-world performance, and Google has reportedly prioritised battery efficiency and on-device AI over raw speed gains this generation anyway.
