New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Apple Said to Be Stopping Use of TLC NAND Flash in iPhone 6 and 6 Plus After Reported Issues

Friday November 7, 2014 3:31 am PST by Richard Padilla
Apple will switch from using TLC (triple-level cell) NAND flash to MLC (multi-level cell) NAND flash in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus after users have experienced crashing and boot loop issues with the higher capacity versions of both devices, reports BusinessKorea.

iphone6_6plus_laying_down
Sources have told the paper that flash memory firm Anobit, which Apple acquired in 2011, is to blame for the manufacturing defects. Apple will reportedly switch to MLC NAND flash for the 64GB iPhone 6 and the 128GB iPhone 6 Plus, and will also address crashing and boot loop issues with the release of iOS 8.1.1. Apple has used MLC NAND flash before, in previous-generation iPhones.
TLC NAND flash is a type of solid-state NAND flash memory that stores three bits of data per cell. It can store three times as much data as single-level cell (SLC) that stores one bit of data, and 1.5 times as much as multi-level cell (MLC) solid-state flash memory that stores two bits of data. On top of that, TLC flash is more affordable. However, it is also slower than SLC or MLC in reading and writing data.
Apple released its first iOS 8.1.1 beta to developers earlier this week, although the company did not specify whether the included bug fixes addressed boot loop and crashing issues on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Users who are experiencing an unusual amount of boot loops and crashes with their iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus are recommended to bring their devices back to an Apple Retail Store for a replacement.

[ 533 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
Tubebaum
62 months ago

Nandgate?


Rating: 106 Votes
Avatar
RoelJuun
62 months ago
You should test your stuff first before using it in your products and sell said products for obscene prices.
Rating: 90 Votes
Avatar
Markiie
62 months ago
Take it back to the Apple Store and replace it with what? Another phone with the same kind of problems? I think a recall is in order here.......
Rating: 40 Votes
Avatar
az431
62 months ago

You should test your stuff first before using it in your products and sell said products for obscene prices.


Read the entire article before making baseless comments.
Rating: 40 Votes
Avatar
Tubamajuba
62 months ago

Read the entire article before making baseless comments.



But you don't understand. Any time anything goes wrong with an Apple product, it's because Apple didn't test it. They randomly pick products and say, "Skip the testing on this one. Just sell it." So for some reason, they explicitly picked the iPhones with TLC flash to not test.

Yep, that's how one of the richest companies in the world got to where they are today.

(just in case I laid it on too thick... /s)
Rating: 36 Votes
Avatar
joelba
62 months ago
Nandgate?
Rating: 34 Votes
Avatar
MacDarcy
62 months ago
Yet another reason to wait after the launch of a new product until the bugs are worked out.
Rating: 32 Votes
Avatar
Ciclismo
62 months ago
I've been waiting so long now for my iPhone 6+ 64GB in SG that I don't care if it has MLC or TLC or can't stop chasing waterfalls, there's no scrubs of my order planned, 'cause Baby-Baby-Baby that phone is CrazySexyCool.
Rating: 28 Votes
Avatar
Waxhead138
62 months ago
Make Way!

You should test your stuff first before using it in your products and sell said products for obscene prices.


The parade of know-it-alls has this thread reserved until at least 8am PST. Please be advised and clear a path.
Rating: 23 Votes
Avatar
Iconoclysm
62 months ago

I wish apple would stop forcing their employees to come on these forums and quickly respond with, "It didn't do that for me... Mine is perfectly fine...". I get tired of those posts.


I wish Samsung would stop sending their employees here to make posts like yours...
Rating: 17 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]