Apple to Still Rely on Samsung for A6 Production?

POST

MAIL

Posted October 17, 2011 at 3:13pm by iClarified

Despite the massive legal battle between Samsung and Apple, it appears that the two companies will still work together to produce the A6 processor, according to a KoreaTimes report.

"Apple has been in talks with Samsung over shipment of its A6 quad-core mobile processor (AP) chips to be used in the next iPhone. It appears that Apple clearly has concluded that Samsung remains a critical business partner," an executive from an Apple parts supplier based in Korea told the Times.

There had been speculation that Apple ditch Samsung in favor of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC).

"The manufacturing process at TSMC hasn't been stabilized. Considering Apple's previous patterns of adopting qualified technologies, Apple isn't taking risks. Samsung offers better pricing and capacity commitment for the A6 mobile APs," said an official from a different Apple supplier.

"Samsung Electronics will apply its advanced 28-nanometer processing technology to produce qualified A6 mobile APs. TSMC will provide customized chips with designs from Apple, however, the volume will be very small."

Read More [via 9to5Mac]

Apple to Still Rely on Samsung for A6 Production?

Follow iClarified

yiyopr - October 17, 2011 at 8:20pm

Yes... except that this is a company. Companies do not care about honor or loyalty they care about profit maximization and it is obviously cheaper to buy the cpu rather than build it...

Reply · Like

Nobo1 - October 18, 2011 at 11:46am

perhaps it is cheaper, but wouldn't buying a CPU maker further enhance their devices? as apple would have even greater control and at the same time screw over their rivals by denying them one less supplier of components?