Seems like both electronics giants want to keep their symbiotic relationship alive after all…
Rumor. According to Korea Times, Samsung — despite the ongoing legal battle with Apple, will remain to be the Cupertino-based company’s major supplier of quad-core mobile A6 chips for use in their upcoming iOS devices including the fabled iPhone 5, which is said to be the last project of the late Steve Jobs.
It’s safe to say that the rumors spreading all over the internet stating that Apple has agreed to sign a contract deal with TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Co., Ltd.) for production of A6 chips, should be put to rest.
“Apple has been in talks with Samsung over shipment of its A6 quad-core mobile processor (AP) chips to be used in the next iPhone. It appears that Apple clearly has concluded that Samsung remains a critical business partner,” as stated by an Apple parts supplier executive based in Korea, “Samsung Electronics will apply its advanced 28-nanometer processing technology to produce qualified A6 mobile APs. TSMC will provide customized chips with designs from Apple, however, the volume will be very small,” he added.
Based on numerous reports, if Apple were to choose rival suppliers, the new chips that are to be implemented on their next-gen iOS devices will likely suffer from slight difference in reliability, performance, and other factors — including increased production costs. It’s pretty obvious that Apple’s doing this to make Samsung be aware of the fact that Apple has alternative suppliers, ready to lend their hands anytime.
However, it’s pretty clear that one of the main reasons behind Apple’s decision of choosing back Samsung over TSMC is that the manufacturing process at the Taiwan-based company is said to have not “yet been stabilized” and that “Samsung offers better pricing and capacity commitment for the A6 mobile AP.” as stated by Nho Geun-chang, Analyst at HMC Investment Securities.
Samsung is Apple’s primary supplier of their custom-designed mobile AP chips (A4 and A5 SoCs) that are implemented on the current iPod touches, iPads, and iPhones.
For starters, the A6 processor could be the SoC that the next iPhone will use, or the so-called iPhone 5, and Apple’s new tablet, the iPad 3. Rumors say Apple will start the iPad 3 production this year, and the device should arrive in March or April next year. The iPhone 4S and the iPad 2 are using the A5 chip, the dual-core processor.
Samsung Electronics is one of the biggest rivals of Apple in the smartphone market. In fact, Samsung’s Galaxy S II or S2 is possibly the biggest selling high-end Android smartphone to date. Samsung is also the company behind the upcoming Galaxy Nexus (or Nexus Prime) that will include Android Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box.
Rumor. According to Korea Times, Samsung — despite the ongoing legal battle with Apple, will remain to be the Cupertino-based company’s major supplier of quad-core mobile A6 chips for use in their upcoming iOS devices including the fabled iPhone 5, which is said to be the last project of the late Steve Jobs.
It’s safe to say that the rumors spreading all over the internet stating that Apple has agreed to sign a contract deal with TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Co., Ltd.) for production of A6 chips, should be put to rest.
“Apple has been in talks with Samsung over shipment of its A6 quad-core mobile processor (AP) chips to be used in the next iPhone. It appears that Apple clearly has concluded that Samsung remains a critical business partner,” as stated by an Apple parts supplier executive based in Korea, “Samsung Electronics will apply its advanced 28-nanometer processing technology to produce qualified A6 mobile APs. TSMC will provide customized chips with designs from Apple, however, the volume will be very small,” he added.
Based on numerous reports, if Apple were to choose rival suppliers, the new chips that are to be implemented on their next-gen iOS devices will likely suffer from slight difference in reliability, performance, and other factors — including increased production costs. It’s pretty obvious that Apple’s doing this to make Samsung be aware of the fact that Apple has alternative suppliers, ready to lend their hands anytime.
However, it’s pretty clear that one of the main reasons behind Apple’s decision of choosing back Samsung over TSMC is that the manufacturing process at the Taiwan-based company is said to have not “yet been stabilized” and that “Samsung offers better pricing and capacity commitment for the A6 mobile AP.” as stated by Nho Geun-chang, Analyst at HMC Investment Securities.
Samsung is Apple’s primary supplier of their custom-designed mobile AP chips (A4 and A5 SoCs) that are implemented on the current iPod touches, iPads, and iPhones.
For starters, the A6 processor could be the SoC that the next iPhone will use, or the so-called iPhone 5, and Apple’s new tablet, the iPad 3. Rumors say Apple will start the iPad 3 production this year, and the device should arrive in March or April next year. The iPhone 4S and the iPad 2 are using the A5 chip, the dual-core processor.
Samsung Electronics is one of the biggest rivals of Apple in the smartphone market. In fact, Samsung’s Galaxy S II or S2 is possibly the biggest selling high-end Android smartphone to date. Samsung is also the company behind the upcoming Galaxy Nexus (or Nexus Prime) that will include Android Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box.
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