Apple cuts back on Samsung’s role in SoC Manufacturing
Word is starting to percolate that the Cupertino company is finally taking concrete steps to reduce its reliance on Samsung.
It is being reported that Apple’s next processor, the A8 will be manufactured by Samsung, but in limited capacity. The report comes from a Taiwanese paper that says that while Samsung will still be manufacturing the next-gen SoCs that will power future Apple devices, it will only do so in a limited capacity.
The main bulk of the manufacturing will be handled by Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) but not all of it. The reason for Samsung still being on board is their expertise in the 20nm manufacturing process, which is something TSMC is yet to get a hang of. Apple had signed a deal with the company back in June, bringing them on board as the primary manufacturer of their SoCs from 2014 onwards.
What is somewhat surprising is that after Samsung manufactured the A7 chips that power the iPhone 5S, Apple is continuing to rely on the Korean electronics giant, given the stained history between the two companies. The legal battle that currently rages on between the Cupertino Company and Samsung is the stuff that gets penned down in history books, yet the two continue their association.
Regardless of Samsung’s role in the manufacture of the next chip, there is no doubt that Apple will be reducing its reliance on the company that has come to be its biggest rival.
Source: GSM Arena