14 DAY TRIAL // Lending more credence to reports about TSMC scrambling to win processor orders for the next-generation iPhone, sources in the chip industry reveal that Samsung has secured most of the A9 chip manufacturing for Apple’s next smartphone.
Likely to be dubbed iPhone 6S, Apple’s upcoming iPhone refresh will be powered by an all-new chip, believed to be the A9 AP (applications processor). Manufacturing orders for the SoC (system on a chip) have gone to Samsung, according to people with knowledge of the matter cited by Re/code.
Apple prefers 14nm process
Samsung reportedly won Apple over thanks to its ability to churn out considerable amounts of chips made on a 14nm FinFET process that allows the silicon die to be smaller and more power efficient. Both these aspects are crucial in the smartphone industry where each year customers demand thinner form factors and increased battery life.
According to the sources, “Samsung holds a technological edge over TSMC when it comes to the latest manufacturing process.” The latter is still stuck at 20 nanometers, but according to recent industry chatter TSMC is already planning its next move.
As we reported yesterday, TSMC wants to woo Apple with an InFO-WLP technology for the A10 processors destined to go into the iPhone 7. It hopes to do so using a 16 nanometer process, and even plans to bolster the manufacturing technology to reach a 10 nanometer process on 2017.
iPhone 6S launch likely on par with previous S-releases
Although there have been some scant rumors regarding a potential spring launch, Apple hasn’t left any actual clues that it wants to speed up the iPhone’s refresh process.
In other words, there’s no reason not to expect the iPhone 6S to debut around the same time all other recent iPhone upgrades debuted, namely the fall period. However, with Samsung beginning chip manufacturing so early, those early-refresh rumors suddenly seem more plausible.