Semiconductors

Samsung to supply around 75 percent of A9 chips for the next iPhone?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Apple's forthcoming S-refresh of the iPhone — let's call it an ‘iPhone 6s’ — is likely going to run an in-house designed ‘A9’ mobile processor and as much as 75 percent of the chips will be manufactured by Samsung, Reuters reported Monday citing a story in the South Korean newspaper Maeil Business.

Samsung is going to make the chips from its factory in Austin, Texas though it's unclear how much the contract is worth (likely billions) and which supplier has picked up the remaining 25 percent of orders.

Following record Q4, TSMC migrates to finer 10nm tech and allegedly picks up A9X orders in 2015

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 15, 2015

Apple supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) on Thursday announced record profits in the fourth quarter of 2014 buoyed by its lucrative chip-making deal with Apple for the new iPhones.

In addition, the firm announced migrating to a much finer 10-nanometer process technology this year after being among the first to adopt 20-nanometer chip-making technology in 2014.

According to KGI Securities analyst Ming Chi-Kuo, TSMC would not only pick up 100 percent of orders for Apple's “A9X” chip, which should be used in an iPad refresh this Fall, but also get to produce an “S2” processor for a second-generation Apple Watch and an “A10” chip that should power a 2016 iPhone model, likely to be called “iPhone 7”.

CES 2015: Intel unveils new Broadwell chips bound for MacBook Pros and that rumored Retina Air

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 5, 2015

Monday, chip giant Intel took the wraps off a range of “Broadwell-U” processors poised to find their way into a MacBook near you. The fifth-generation Intel Core processor family utilities Intel’s 14-nanometer manufacturing process to deliver more speed and lower power consumption.

The new chips could possibly pave the way to a rumored MacBook Air model with a Retina display measuring twelve inches diagonally (the current Air models come in 11.6 and 13.3-inch varieties).

First HomeKit certified chips now shipping to smart home device makers

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 4, 2014

Although Apple hasn't officially launched its HomeKit yet (they're still finalizing the protocol), first certified chips that run a beat version of the upcoming HomeKit firmware have begun shipping to smart home device vendors such as makers of connected climate controls, lighting, security cameras and door locks, Forbes reported Tuesday.

The iPhone maker requires that accessory makers use officially certified Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chips from Apple-approved chipmakers Texas Instruments, Marvell and Broadcom, which have now started shipping HomeKit chips to device vendors. By all accounts, there shouldn't be too long a wait until first HomeKit-certified smart home devices arrive.

TSMC reportedly lands contract to build A8X processor for iPad Pro

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 15, 2014

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's leading independent semiconductor foundry, has landed a contract to fabricate Apple's upcoming A8X mobile processor, Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes reported Wednesday.

The chip, which leaked on claimed photographs earlier this week, is said to feature faster graphics.

In addition to an improved GPU, it reportedly incorporates twice as much RAM as its A8 counterpart, which powers the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. As such, the A8X should power Apple's rumored 'iPad Pro' tablet with an ultra high-resolution 12.9-inch screen.

Samsung confirms building 14nm A9 processors for 2015 iPhones and iPads

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 2, 2014

Echoing previous rumors, Samsung of South Korea confirmed to reporters Thursday that it will start churning out mobile processors for Apple before end of the year, ZDNet reported. The chips, likely to be branded under the “A9” moniker, will be manufactured on Samsung's cutting-edge 14-nanometer process technology.

The confirmation came through the mouth of Kim Ki-nam, president of Samsung's semiconductor-making arm and head of System LSI business.

Speaking to reporters at company headquarters in Seoul, Ki-nam quipped that his company's fortunes “will improve positively” once sales are boosted thanks to the lucrative Apple chip deal. The new mobile processor should make their way into 2015 iPhone and iPad devices.

Apple’s new A8 chip: 20% faster CPU, 50% faster graphics

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 9, 2014

Apple's new iPhones — the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus — come outfitted with Apple's in-house designed A8 system-on-a-chip which has an astounding two billion transistors, twice as many as its predecessor, the A7.

The second-generation 64-bit mobile processor is fabricated on a smaller 20-nanomenter process technology making it more power-friendly and thirteen percent smaller than the A7.

Scratch that: iPhone 6 ‘Phosphorus’ component likely barometric pressure sensor

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

An eagle-eyed member of the MacRumors forum says the "Phosporus"component destined for the iPhone 6, leaked on Monday, isn't a next-generation version of Apple's M7 co-processor, but instead a barometric pressure sensor. It makes sense given the several rumors that have cropped up in recent months with word Apple plans a barometer used to measure atmospheric pressure in the iPhone 6.

Rumor: low-powered M7 successor code-named ‘Phosphorous’ to collect health and fitness data (Updated)

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 30, 2016

An Apple chip internally code-named 'Phosphorous' has been identified on leaked schematics and thought to replace the M7, a motion coprocessor which debuted inside the iPhone 5s last Fall. (Update: It's looking like a barometer pressure sensor instead.)

It's said to include the M7's motion tracking functions and thought to be able to collect a number of health and fitness data from various health and fitness accessories and specialized medical devices.

This apparently includes heart rates, calories burned, cholesterol levels, blood sugar and more. It's believed the chip works in tandem with iOS 8 and the new Health app, which allows users to enter a number of health and fitness-related data manually, or automatically collect these from various HealthKit-friendly accessories and wearables.

Assembled iPhone 6 logic board apparently leaks, but crucial component obfuscated

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 14, 2014

In late-July, a claimed iPhone 6 circuit board leaked on the web. As it lacked the actual chips (it only showed the pin layout), it left watchers guessing as to whether the handset might include much-rumored NFC capability for a rumored Apple-branded mobile payment service.

Today, a photo purportedly showing a fully assembled logic board of the iPhone 6 has surfaced. Published by a Taiwanese blog, it reveals several semiconductor components such as a Toshiba flash chip and a Wi-Fi module...

Rumor: Apple’s A8 chip boasts frequencies of 2.0GHz or more per core

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 29, 2016

Given Apple's past mobile processor patterns, it's fairly safe to assume that the new iPhones and iPads - when they drop this Fall - will feature a new A8 chip, designed by Apple and manufactured by both Samsung and Taiwanese chip foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).

We also heard whispers that the A8 chip focuses primarily on power efficiency and thus yields only marginal CPU speed increases. However, if a new report out of China is anything to go by, that may not be the case after all as the new 20-nanometer chip is said to boasts clock frequencies of 2.0GHz or more per core...

WSJ: TSMC starts shipping 20nm A8 chips to Apple

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 10, 2014

It's been long rumored that Apple for years has been working with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest independent chip foundry, on building its in-house designed processors that power the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Apple TV devices.

Thus far, several conflicting reports have indicated that TSMC has been running test production of the upcoming A8 processor for months now, with other sources insisting that the Taiwanese chip foundry was unsuccessful kickstarting mass-production over ongoing yield issues.

A report Thursday by The Wall Street Journal has it on good authority that TSMC finally began shipping its first batch of microprocessors to Apple in the second quarter...