Roger Fingas
Taiwan's TSMC is set to become the exclusive manufacturer of an Apple "A10" processor for next-generation iPhones, cutting Samsung out of the loop, according to a new rumor.
Production will begin in March next year using a 16-nanometer process, the China Times claimed. The chip is said to use InFO (integrated fan out) architecture, offering advantages such as cutting costs and streamlining manufacturing.
It could also potentially allow Apple to switch to a system-in-package arrangement similar to the S1 in the Apple Watch. That might make the "A10" more efficient, and allow future iPhones to either shrink further or make room for other upgrades like bigger batteries.
The A9 processor in the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus is reportedly being manufactured by both Samsung and TSMC. For several years Samsung was the exclusive maker of A-series chips at a factory in Austin, Tex., but sheer demand and/or Apple's desire to distance itself from Samsung may have led to TSMC entering the picture. TSMC is expected to keep producing A8 chips for devices like the Apple TV and iPad mini 4.
Apple has yet to even ship the 6s and 6s Plus, which are due on Sept. 25. The iPhone development process is typically long and drawn out however, and Apple needs to have parts ready well before assembly begins.
Next-generation iPhones — presumably an "iPhone 7" and "7 Plus" — aren't expected to ship until a year or more from now. Versions of the "A10" should also make their way into future iPads.
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
42 Comments
Why do analysts keep trying to predict Apple will split orders for the same Ax chip to two foundries? TSMC and Samsung use different fab technologies which will give slightly different performance and electrical characteristics. You don't want that in your main processor because you need might two different tests to qualify them. It is not going to happen.
They are not only predicting this to happen in the future, they are also reporting this to have happened in the past. And we know from various other components that Apple is frequently using two manufacturers for one component. One example is display panels, just google for "display lottery" and "Apple".
And in other breaking news, Apple is rumored to be thinking about introducing new phones in 2017 and 2018. More on this as soon as we can make stuff up.
I wonder if these constraints are the reason the ATV does not use the A9X? I would have expected the ATV to have the fastest A? processor for games, but they could not make enough to support the iPhone, iPad Pro and the ATV at the same time.
I wonder if these constraints are the reason the ATV does not use the A9X? I would have expected the ATV to have the fastest A? processor for games, but they could not make enough to support the iPhone, iPad Pro and the ATV at the same time.
Probably both price point and availability. My guess is that Apple will do a future upgrade in two years, and it will be an A10X System in Package by then. Truth be told, no one really has any idea on how big gaming will turn out to be on the AppleTV.
My own thought is that there might be a AxxG version in the future for the AppleTV that will exploit more GPU cores; Apple will be able to justify a larger die at a previous generation node without the worry of energy efficiency that other iOS devices require. Likely Apple could charge a $50 premium for this with 4K out as the next generation AppleTV, further separating all of the other streaming devices on the market, and pushing yet farther into Console territory.