iPhone 7 Processor to Be Manufactured Solely by TSMC [Updated]

[62tele]

Samsung has bigger problems than losing Apple's A10 business. Their mobile division is sucking sewage water.
As far Samsung vs Apple, is it really relevant anymore? Once Apple addressed it's biggest weakness (relatively) with consumers by offering a larger phone, Samsung lost their momentum. Samsung is just another player in the Android hardware business.
Apple has won the marketing war. The average consumer prefers the iPhone due to it's simplicity and brand identity. It still has cachet. I wish they would focus on providing a superior experience, stop being cheap with RAM and features. Nothing should differentiate the 4.7 and 5.5 except screen size. I don't care which supplier is used as long it provides a superior experience. If Samsung's AMOLED screen is better than the current screen then I want it. If you pay premium prices you should get premium devices.
However, I do understand the somewhat schadenfreude reaction Apple fans have to Samsung losing a part of Apple's business.

 

[patseguin]

I want my next iPhone to look like the ones from The Expanse.

 

[kdarling]

Apple is a huge customer. This will hurt.

Aren't Apple's CPUs usually made by Americans in Samsung's San Antonio foundry?

Hopefully Samsung's contract to make Qualcomm's Snapdragon will help keep up production there.

 

[American Hero]

As far Samsung vs Apple, is it really relevant anymore? Once Apple addressed it's biggest weakness (relatively) with consumers by offering a larger phone, Samsung lost their momentum. Samsung is just another player in the Android hardware business.

Don't tell that to the fans of the 3.5" or 4" screen. They think most people want a tiny phone. 4.7" is much too large to fit into the pockets of skinny jeans that expose your "junk" every second of the day.

The average consumer prefers the iPhone due to it's simplicity and brand identity

I'm between a power user and the "average consumer." While I might agree with you, I'm not exactly clapping my hands for the average consumer, and neither should you. The average consumer is an imbecile.

stop being cheap with RAM and features

It's all about the stockholders these days, which ruins the customer experience and customer service.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

It's risky, a bad manufacturing run would be devastating to iPhone stock.

Which should be a clue this story is false.

 

[Piggie]

I actually really wish Samsung would put some very high end hardware behind the Windows 10 Phone Platform.
It deserves so much more support than it's got up till now.
Many seem to love it and want it, but are held back due to the lack of devs developing apps.

 

[Doc C]

FWIW: After 7nm Quantum Uncertainty kicks in and get ready for tricks and gimmicks until carbon based polymers arrive to breach the barrier. You won't see improvements at 10nm to warrant people to be bragging versus 14nm FinFET.

Unless the Semiconductor industry has been hiding this news for years, this 10nm hype won't materialize for several more years.

TSMC is fixing their 16nm which is actually 20nm planar with FinFET strapped on presently. You think this goes live in June then people are truly dead where it matters most: between their ears.

I am quite uninformed when it comes to these processes and the limitations imposed by quantum mechanics - could you provide more details or a reference (for my education)?

Thanks

 

[MacBH928]

Japanese manufacturing giants? They are not even on the playing field of the SC industry, today its US, Taiwan and South Korea at the top and Japans biggest supplier, Toshiba, is losing ground.

Its true what you say but don't forget, Japan is the electronics manufacturing hub of the world: Sony, NEC, Hitatchi, Toshiba, Sharp, Panasonic, Fujitsu..etc etc

They can compete if they want...

 

[MasterRyu2011]

Will Samsung be left with a ton of unused production capacity now that they will be producing chips for Apple this year? Maybe that's why they are trying so hard to court Qualcomm; they already saw the writing on the wall.

So Samsung won the Qualcomm deal, but lost the Apple deal.

 

[macfoxpro]

What about those who want a Samsung chip in their iPhone? Apple can be so un-fair. Damn you, Apple!!

 

[MarkusL]

I thought Apple didn't like to put all their eggs in one basket.

1. TSMC is late with 10nm.
2. No A10 available in volume.
3. iPhone 7 delayed to 2017.
4. Apple is doomed.
5. Heads roll in iPhone design department.
6. Mass exodus of talent to the Mac dev teams.
7. New Mac mini confirmed!

 

[American Hero]

1. TSMC is late with 10nm.
2. No A10 available in volume.
3. iPhone 7 delayed to 2017.
4. Apple is doomed.
5. Heads roll in iPhone design department.
6. Mass exodus of talent to the Mac dev teams.
7. New Mac mini confirmed!

8. The stockholders have had enough and Tim Cook finally gets sacked.

 

[dec.]

What about those who want a Samsung chip in their iPhone? Apple can be so un-fair. Damn you, Apple!!

I thought it's known that Apple users are non-tech savvy, at least quite a few people around here like to say so, so I doubt that out there anyone really knows that Samsung provides chips for the iPhone in first place .

 

[munpip214]

So this is the turning point: finally mobile chips will be using more advanced manufacturing technology than desktop chips. Yes, I'm looking at you, Intel.

Intel's 14nm is at least a process generation in terms of density/performance ahead of TSMC 16nm. With a shrink to 10nm, TSMC may catch up to Intel 14nm, but wouldn't come close to Intel 10nm.

http://www.fool.com/investing/gener...tween-intel-corporation-and-taiwan-semic.aspx

 

[Andres Cantu]

Intel's 14nm is at least a process generation in terms of density/performance ahead of TSMC 16nm. With a shrink to 10nm, TSMC may catch up to Intel 14nm, but wouldn't come close to Intel 10nm.

http://www.fool.com/investing/gener...tween-intel-corporation-and-taiwan-semic.aspx

That may be, but when will Intel deliver 10nm? They have moved from a tick-tock cycle to one that includes a refresh year in between.

 

[routine_analyst]

Why do they have to place that camera at the top corner of the device? Is there some science here or user testing that makes a good point at offsetting the camera to one side? Can't be centered above the apple?

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has reached a deal with Apple to be the only manufacturer for the iPhone 7's processor, likely called the A10, reports The Electronic Times [Google Translate]. TSMC won over Apple largely because of its 10-nanometer manufacturing process. The chip will reportedly go into full production in June.

While TSMC's 10-nanometer process is one reason the company was awarded with a deal over rival Samsung, another likely has to do with the company's more advanced device packaging techniques, which allow for better power performance and efficiency. However, at its conference call last month, TSMC said that it was hoping to ramp up 10nm production in 2017, with a slow start to production coming in the second half of 2016.

Mockup of iPhone 7 case showing flush rear camera and no antenna bands across rear​

Apple used both Samsung and TSMC to manufacture the chips for the iPhone 6s, which caused some controversy as early benchmarks indicated that TSMC's A9 chip outperformed Samsung's in battery life. Apple revealed that, according to its internal testing, the variance in performance was only 2 to 3 percent.

The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are expected to debut in September, and new details about the devices have been steadily dripping out. Last week, MacRumors shared some details on the phone's design, including that it would have a flush rear camera and a lack of antenna bands on its back. Other rumors indicate that the 7 Plus may feature a dual-lens camera system and that it may be waterproof and not have a headphone jack.

Update: This article has been updated with information from TSMC's recent conference call, in which they stated that they hoped 10-nanometer production would ramp up in 2017 after getting a slow start in the second half of 2016.

Article Link: iPhone 7 Processor to Be Manufactured Solely by TSMC [Updated]

 

[62tele]

I'm between a power user and the "average consumer." While I might agree with you, I'm not exactly clapping my hands for the average consumer, and neither should you. The average consumer is an imbecile.

I wasn't extolling the wisdom or buying savvy of the average consumer. If we were referring only to the USA market I would say, judging by the political results, the average American is an imbecile.

 

[kds1]

Too many iPhones. They don't need to release a new effing phone every year. Otjer products are sufferimg. And for God's sake, who gives a **** about a car?
[doublepost=1455222655][/doublepost]

Why do they have to place that camera at the top corner of the device? Is there some science here or user testing that makes a good point at offsetting the camera to one side? Can't be centered above the apple?

It doesn't matter where it's placed.

 

[macfoxpro]

iPhones are just not that exciting anymore

 

[Tech198]

a slow start in 2016,, would this indicate a possible delay or set-back as well then ?

it probably doesn't really matter though.. if enough people buy them there won't be enough anyway. It always happens.

 

[tooltalk]

Samsung has bigger problems than losing Apple's A10 business. Their mobile division is sucking sewage water.
As far Samsung vs Apple, is it really relevant anymore? Once Apple addressed it's biggest weakness (relatively) with consumers by offering a larger phone, Samsung lost their momentum. Samsung is just another player in the Android hardware business.
Apple has won the marketing war. The average consumer prefers the iPhone due to it's simplicity and brand identity. It still has cachet. I wish they would focus on providing a superior experience, stop being cheap with RAM and features. Nothing should differentiate the 4.7 and 5.5 except screen size. I don't care which supplier is used as long it provides a superior experience. If Samsung's AMOLED screen is better than the current screen then I want it. If you pay premium prices you should get premium devices.
However, I do understand the somewhat schadenfreude reaction Apple fans have to Samsung losing a part of Apple's business.

If Apple's recent quarter growth is any indication, Apple isn't too far behind Samsung in terms of their growth (or lack thereof). Further, Samsung started falling before Apple's big phones and was destroyed in China -- where they had been #1 -- by Xiaomi and Huawei.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Bla,Bla,Bla....a.

Did somebody say something?
[doublepost=1455233679][/doublepost]

Why would that be bad? It would create rabid demand because Apple always makes the must-have products and people need themselves some iPhone.

It's great for consumers to have to wait for months to get a product they want.

 

[farewelwilliams]

Dude, do you even know what a dedicated chip foundry is? Guess not.

From Wikipedia: a dedicated foundry will never compete directly with its fabless customers (obviating a common concern of fabless companies)...

do you even know what a joke is? Guess not.

From Wikipedia: A joke is a display of humour...

 

[t0mat0]

"Now let me talk about the InFO. We have successfully completed InFO process installation in the new long time site and IM products, in product qualification stage right now. We are on track to start InFO volume production in second quarter 2016"

Beyond the A10, seeing as the Apple Watch is on 28nm, that's be one useful battery improvement...

What's the lead time between volume production in Q2, and getting into a product?

 

[journeyy]

"Now let me talk about the InFO. We have successfully completed InFO process installation in the new long time site and IM products, in product qualification stage right now. We are on track to start InFO volume production in second quarter 2016"

And this is a realistic timeline for the A10, in contrast to 10nm manufacturing. I really wonder why none of the reporting outlets point that out. A refined 16nm process with InFO is the most likely variant.