The Korean chip maker is reportedly looking to snatch orders from Apple

Sep 13, 2013 14:45 GMT  ·  By

Apple has reportedly told Samsung to avoid making plans with new-generation A-series processors. The Korean chip maker, for its part, is now looking to win Apple back.

If this new report from DigiTimes holds any truth to it, Apple has informed Samsung that it wants a divorce.

“Apple is believed to have informed Samsung about not placing orders for 20nm A8, said Digitimes Research. The South Korea-based firm is still making other processors, including the new A7 chip, for Apple.”

Sensing that Apple wants to choose someone else for its next-generation A9 chips, “Samsung Electronics has put its R&D focus on 14nm FinFET process development, looking to snatch A9 chip orders from Apple,” according to analysts at Digitimes Research.

14nm is not even bleeding edge. It’s future bleeding edge. According to Wikipedia, “By current estimates the 14 nm technology is projected to be reached by semiconductor companies in the 2014 timeframe.”

Since Apple is Samsung's biggest foundry customer, any loss in A-chip orders will deal a huge blow to the Korean company’s bottom line.