Apple Reportedly Signs Deal with Samsung for 14-nm A9 Chips Starting in 2015

apple_a6_chipThe Korea Economic Daily reports that Apple and Samsung today officially signed an agreement that will see the two companies working together on future A-series chips for Apple's iOS devices, with the deal specifically covering A9 chips based on a 14-nanometer process node starting in 2015. The claim comes just weeks after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) confirmed a deal with Apple to begin producing A-series chips in 2014.

Samsung Electronics had supplied the AP [application processor] to Apple since 2007 but lost the contract to supply 20 nano AP A8 chips to Apple to Taiwan's TSMC last year when it was engaged in patent disputes with Apple. Samsung Electronics developed state-of-the-art 14 nano models ahead of its rival TSMC, regaining the order from Apple.

A previous report about Apple's agreement with TSMC had indicated that it was a three-year deal covering not only Apple's future A8 chip but also A9/A9X chips. The Wall Street Journal's report had indicated that Samsung would remain Apple's primary supplier through next year as TSMC began ramping up its production.

As a result, it is unclear whether today's deal will see both TSMC and Samsung producing A9 chips for Apple or if Apple has already shifted gears to return to Samsung as its primary supplier as part of its long-term roadmap.

Apple has reportedly been seeking to reduce its reliance on Samsung as a component supplier as the two companies have become fierce rivals in both the mobile marketplace and in the courtroom. The two companies have, however, continued working together in several areas, particularly where Samsung's competitors in the component market are unable to match its technology, production capacity, or pricing.

The shift to TSMC for production of the high-profile main chips for Apple's iOS devices had been viewed as breaking one of the most significant remaining ties between Apple and Samsung, but it appears that Samsung has been able to bring Apple back into the fold by leading the charge to 14-nm chips. With partnerships with both Samsung and TSMC, it appears that Apple should be well-positioned to take advantage of whichever company takes the lead in developing the latest technologies.

Late last week, it was reported that Apple had bought into a fab, perhaps with an eventual goal of producing its own chips for its mobile devices, although any such move is almost certainly years away given the need to ramp up expertise and facilities for such production.

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Top Rated Comments

dagamer34 Avatar
156 months ago
Samsung is evil.

Companies are not people. Stop assigning them feelings as if they have temperaments like one.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
irDigital0l Avatar
156 months ago
Samsung is evil.

So are the A4, A5, and A6 chips in your iOS devices.

THEY'RE ALL EVIL!!!!

lol
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
YesILoveTech Avatar
156 months ago
Apple probably guesses 2015 is the year people realize Samsung's phones suck, and this will be their way of keeping them afloat as they sit there and watch Sammy suffer.

What in the delusional fanboy hell did I just read? LOL!!! Dude at the end of the day Apple made a business decision in their best interest and it just so happened to be with Samsung. That's it and that's that. Gosh these explanations are so entertaining.

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Apple and Samsung are successful companies that have somewhat of a symbiotic relationship. Yes they are competitors and marketing will tout their respective products as superior to their counterparts...but at the end of the day you better believe there is a level of respect between the two...fanboys/girls are just too emotionally invested to realize this.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
156 months ago
Apple probably guesses 2015 is the year people realize Samsung's phones suck, and this will be their way of keeping them afloat as they sit there and watch Sammy suffer.
If this story is true about Apple signing a new deal with Samsung, then I'd say Apple needs Samsung more than Samsung needs Apple.

My guess is Apple realized TSMC couldn't meet Apple's demands/needs/requirements for the A chips and realized they better have Samsung pick up the slack.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Brandon263 Avatar
156 months ago
Samsung is evil.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PollyK Avatar
156 months ago
HAHAHAAAA..... sorry had to laugh at this news. So many Apple enthusiasts jumped at the chance to bag Samsung when they heard of the TSMC deal. "Samsung is doomed", "Apple doesn't need Samsung", "that'll teach Samsung." Almost anything that could have been said by a fan boy was pretty much said. And now what? it's back pedal city. Never understood how people let their misguided hate get in the way of rational thinking.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)