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Samsung Starts Manufacturing Apple's A9 Chip for 2015 iOS Devices

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Manufacturing of Apple's A9 processor is reportedly underway in Samsung's Austin, Texas plant, according to Korea's ET News (via The Verge). Samsung is believed to be handling the bulk of the orders for the A9 using its 14-nanometer chip process, with rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) contributing a supplementary supply.

tsmc_samsung_logo-800x278.jpg

Samsung and TSMC have been competing for Apple's lucrative A9 processor contract after Apple in 2013 signed a multi-year deal with Taiwan's TSMC to supply A-series processors for Apple's iOS devices. TSMC took lead on the A8 chip, fabricating the SoC for both the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. The Taiwanese company also reportedly landed the contract to produce Apple's A8X chip, which is found in the new iPad Air 2.

Samsung semiconductor head Kim Ki-nam last month confirmed the company would begin producing 14-nanometer processors for Apple in a supply chain deal that will have a positive impact on Samsung's profits. A report from last year suggestsed TSMC would replace Samsung as Apple's lead chip supplier, but Samsung's technological progress with its 14-nanometer process may have swung the pendulum back in its favor.

Article Link: Samsung Starts Manufacturing Apple's A9 Chip for 2015 iOS Devices
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/12/12/samsung-manufacturing-a9-soc/
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I'm more curious about next year's A9X chip than the A9. This year's A8X chip was the first to surprise me in a while.
 
Samsung is going to slow down the processor when animation transitions begin so they can come to these forums to see people bitch.
 
The A-series of chips don't get enough recognition IMO.

They are incredible to say the least. Bespoke, super fast, tiny and get consistently better with each iteration, rivalling and often out-performing even the most experienced players in the mobile processor market seemingly with ease.

They are the core of Apple's most successful product lines and deservedly so, too. Congratulations to Apple and all those involved for such a truly innovative technological marvel. :apple:
 
bkends35 said:
*Que all the hate how samsung is better than apple because they make their chips*
Click to expand...

I think it's pretty clear Apple is using superior ARM chip designs that are more appropriate for phones and tablets than Samsung is for their phones...

Traverse said:
I'm more curious about next year's A9X chip than the A9. This year's A8X chip was the first to surprise me in a while.
Click to expand...

That's hard to say without knowing what the A9 will be like. The A9X might just be a 3 core A9, or it might be an A9 with improved GPU, etc. Most of the new features and "things to talk about" will be part of the A9.
 
Jsameds said:
The A-series of chips don't get enough recognition IMO.

They are incredible to say the least. Bespoke, super fast, tiny and get consistently better with each iteration, rivalling and often out-performing even the most experienced players in the mobile processor market seemingly with ease.

They are the core of Apple's most successful product lines and deservedly so, too. Congratulations to Apple and all those involved for such a truly innovative technological marvel. :apple:
Click to expand...

Well said!

Many forget the hot and cold years of the G3, G4, and G5 which saw Apple arrive at the bleeding edge only to fall back into obsolescence. Not a few forum members will recall the liquid-cooled PowerBook G5. ;)

To see them lead the entire industry, year after year, with custom silicon is a sight to behold.
 
bobenhaus said:
Of course Apple needs Samsung. Apple knows where Superiority is located :)
Click to expand...

Clearly not in your schooling. Do you guys actually come on here to bitch about Apple and expect us to care? Or are you paid by the post as you do make a lot of Anti-Apple - pro Samsung posts. You ain't fooling anyone.

Actually I am not feeding you... go away.
 
Starting production on the A9 so soon after the A8's introduction suggests that we might actually see the mythical iPad Pro/Air Plus sometime between April and June as recently rumored.

I personally think such a device could be shown at WWDC alongside some pro apps developed for iOS.

The A8X is a great achievement, and I can't wait to see what the A9 and theoretical A9X can do.
 
TMay said:
That would be with Thunderbolt 2...and Lightning!
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LOL, that was pretty funny.

For anyone that doesn't get the joke: The A-10 is officially called the "Thunderbolt". And the F-35 is officially called the "Lightning II". The original "Lightning" was the P-38, a twin-engine WW2-era fighter.

But frankly, hardly anyone uses the official name for the A-10. It's almost universally known as the "Warthog".
 
That's a very confusing name

"A9" name is already taken by ARM Cortex processor, which could also be found in mobile phones.
That's sad case of confusion, because it would take more time to google the A9-related things
 
AppleMacFinder said:
"A9" name is already taken by ARM Cortex processor, which could also be found in mobile phones.
That's sad case of confusion, because it would take more time to google the A9-related things
Click to expand...

Googling Apple A9 instead really doesn't take anymore time.

I don't think it'll cause any confusion, because the people who care about CPUs will know the difference, and the rest of the world doesn't care what's in an iPhone.
 
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