Samsung Said to Supply Memory Chips for Next-Generation iPhone

iphone6_6plus_newSamsung Electronics has inked a deal with both Apple and LG to supply advanced DRAM memory chips in next-generation iPhones and the LG G4 respectively, according to sources "familiar with the deal" for The Korea Times.

The deal, rumored to be worth billions of dollars, would see Samsung produce at least half of the memory chips that Apple would need for its next-generation iPhone lineup. The report claims that Apple could ask Samsung to ramp up manufacturing of the chips if needed, with the alleged contract lasting at least a year.

"Under the agreement, Samsung will start providing LG Electronics with 100 percent mobile DRAM chips it needs for LG G4 smartphone, which will be unveiled in April. Also, Samsung will handle at least half of the amount that Apple needs for its new iPhone ― tentatively named iPhone 6S," an industry official who is familiar with the deal told The Korea Times.

The agreement was reached just a few months after Samsung began mass production of new 20-nanometer 8-Gigabit LPDDR4 memory chips, which are said to offer more than double the density and performance compared to its 4-Gigabit LPDDR3 predecessor. The sources say that on the LG side of things, Samsung will be providing 100 percent of the chips for the company's flagship G4 smartphone, set to be unveiled in the Spring.

Though Apple and Samsung have partnered in the past for manufacturing purposes, the two companies have been fierce rivals for several years. The two companies have dropped litigation against each other outside of the United States in recent months, however, and this agreement further suggests that the tech giants have an improved working relationship as of late.

While not expected to launch until September, news and rumors about the so-called "iPhone 6s" have begun circulating recently, with Samsung reportedly responsible for the majority of A9 chip production based on its 14nm process. Conflicting reports suggest that TSMC may supply Apple with the remaining chip orders.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

m5 macbook pro deal

Why You Shouldn't Buy the Next MacBook Pro

Tuesday February 10, 2026 4:27 pm PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works. We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3

Wednesday February 11, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out in September. The new software comes almost two months after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes, ...
Apple Logo Zoomed

Apple Expected to Launch These 10+ Products Over the Coming Months

Tuesday February 10, 2026 6:33 am PST by
It has been a slow start to 2026 for Apple product launches, with only a new AirTag and a special Apple Watch band released so far. We are still waiting for MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the iPhone 17e, a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip, long-rumored updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini, and much more. Apple is expected to release/update the following products...
iPhone 16e Bottom Crop

Apple Reportedly Unveiling a New iPhone Next Week

Tuesday February 10, 2026 1:51 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report said the iPhone 17e will be announced in a press release on the Apple Newsroom website, so do not expect an event for this device specifically. The iPhone 17e will be a spec-bumped successor to the iPhone 16e. Rumors claim the device will have four key...
Apple Logo Black

Apple Acquires New Database App

Wednesday February 11, 2026 6:44 am PST by
Apple acquired Canadian graph database company Kuzu last year, it has emerged. The acquisition, spotted by AppleInsider, was completed in October 2025 for an undisclosed sum. The company's website was subsequently taken down and its Github repository was archived, as is commonplace for Apple acquisitions. Kuzu was "an embedded graph database built for query speed, scalability, and easy of ...

Top Rated Comments

maflynn Avatar
143 months ago
I don't get why Apple relies on others to keep them going when they got all this money sitting in the bank that they can use to build their own manufacturing plants. Talk about being a cheapskate.

Because no other fabricator can produce the quantities apple needs at the costs they expect.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
143 months ago
Apple: We'd like some 2GB chips for our new iPhones please.

Samsung: Sorry, we can only do 512Mb and 1GB at the moment.

Apple: Ok that'll have to do.....

;)
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
143 months ago
I love these kinds of threads. Some people get so offended that Samsung supplies Apple with parts for their iPhone's.
Try to be a little understanding, this is a very traumatizing experience for them.

To some people, Apple is synonymous with God, and when they read that God is relying on lower life forms to produce the next Godly device, it shakes their core and they question their very existence.

I hope in the future you won't be so insensitive to others. ;)
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
143 months ago
I don't get why Apple relies on others to keep them going when they got all this money sitting in the bank that they can use to build their own manufacturing plants. Talk about being a cheapskate.

The fact that you imply Apple is being a cheapskate for not making their own memory chips illustrates that you know very little about business 101.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gnasher729 Avatar
143 months ago
I don't get why Apple relies on others to keep them going when they got all this money sitting in the bank that they can use to build their own manufacturing plants. Talk about being a cheapskate.
It's called acting responsibly with the money that Apple worked hard for.

More than entering the auto manufacturing industry?
There is risk, and there is reward. What would be the reward from building a memory chip factory when Apple can easily buy the chips, other than pleasing the fanboys?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
143 months ago
Who got offended here ? The only one speaking in this terms is you.....

----------


Do you feel somewhat "superior" ?

Did you recognize yourself in my post?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)