Half of Apple's A9 and A9X chips to come from TSMC?
Every year, we hear different stories regarding the production of the chips that power the Apple iPhone and the Apple iPad. About a week ago, we told you that Samsung and Globalfoundries would be responsible for 70% of the A9 chips employed by Apple on the next iteration of the iPhone. After turning out 100% of the A8 and A8X chips, the report says that TSMC will be responsible for just 30% of A9 and A9X production.
But that report has been thrown in doubt thanks to a new forecast made by UBS analysts Eric Chen, Samson Hung and Sunny Lin. The trio expects TSMC to manufacture 50% of A9/A9X chips for Apple.
Samsung does have a major advantage thanks to its head start on producing chips using the 14nm FinFET process. Chips turned out using this technology are 20% more powerful but still use 35% less energy that the prior-generation silicon. TSMC will just start its 16nm FinFET production next quarter.
source: Barron'sAsia via GforGames
Samsung does have a major advantage thanks to its head start on producing chips using the 14nm FinFET process. Chips turned out using this technology are 20% more powerful but still use 35% less energy that the prior-generation silicon. TSMC will just start its 16nm FinFET production next quarter.
Don't take this to be the final word, especially since it is coming from three analysts. Also, you can bet that before the Apple iPhone 6s is released, other stories will come along that will give TSMC higher and lower percentages of Apple A9 and A9X production.
source: Barron'sAsia via GforGames
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