TSMC Plans to Double 16nm Chip Production in Preparation for iPhone 7

[rp2011]

If this is true, (still to early to tell of course) then what would the 7 even offer? I'm genuinely concerned. Assuming that everything rumored so far, such as waterproofing, wireless charging, OLED, and dual lens, is saved for the 7S, what's left for the 7? Especially if it doesn't even get a major redesign?

Slightly faster processor and slightly better camera... And that's it? I really hope this isn't true, because that's a VERY disappointing iPhone especially for being the phone that comes out after their first ever decline.

For one, we know that it will be faster than the 6S, as all new iPhones tend to be. We know that it will surely be refined in every way. And sounds like the dreaded camera bump and bands are going away. So it's going to be a much nicer phone. But I think it's going to be like how car makers tweak body panels, bumpers and such until the new drivetrain is ready.

It may also explain why they are sticking with the 5S case for the SE. All three may be getting a huge makeover soon, but maybe not this year,

 

[vertsix]

Are you referring to auto layouts? I'm asking because Ars stressed that this was not the case for many of the A series and the blocks were laid out "by hand".

No. Speed jumps between the older and newer chips.

 

[Cwolk]

Good. Im stuck with the samsung chip in mine. They should have completely moved away from samsung years ago. Now, even samsung is benefitting off of every iphone purchase.

 

[dampfnudel]

I'm thinking this years iPhone is just a better 6, rather than a full fledged completely new device.

We have read that the dual camera is still a year away. That the 10nm chip is still a year away. That the new oled displays are still at least a year away. That the iPhone will be the exact same dimensions minus one mm in thickness due to an improved thinner display..
Also note that new 4" iPhone will be in a old case. I would imagine they would have crafted a completely new one unless it wasn't just a kind of placeholder until the next complete iPhone iteration.

I think Apple is working to to get all those things into the iPhone but they are just not quite ready.

I think the iPhone 7s or iPhone 8 (if Apple skips the 's' model next year) will be the more significant iPhone with the significantly more powerful A11, dual-lens camera on all models, possible OLED/mLED, real wireless charging "AirPower" (using the current feature AirPlay as a reference), etc. All of those features/hardware components will be available for full production in 2017. The iPhone 7 is sounding more like a placeholder for next year's iPhone with a slightly faster processor, slightly tweaked camera, no wireless charging or new display tech, other than a possible increase in resolution, similar looking body, etc. Maybe Apple wants to release the iPhone 8 in 2017 to avoid having a iPhone 7s with a lower number than the Samsung Galaxy S8. Marketing perception means a lot.

 

[kdarling]

According to a new report from Economic Daily News (via DigiTimes), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has plans to double the output capacity of its 16nm chip production from 40,000 12-inch wafers in February to 80,000 in March.

How many CPUs are on each wafer?

I.e. how many iPhones can be made each month with the doubled capacity?

 

[CEmajr]

People are acting surprised here. The iPhone 7 will sell primarily on its physical redesign rather than improved specs or features just as was the case with the other numbered models. The "S" versions are usually where we see large jumps in performance and the most significant new features.

 

[dampfnudel]

People are acting surprised here. The iPhone 7 will sell primarily on its physical redesign rather than improved specs or features just as was the case with the other numbered models. The "S" versions are usually where we see large jumps in performance and the most significant new features.

That has been the case in the past, but if the iPhone 7 looks almost like the 6/6s, with the only major differences being a flush camera lens and no more visible antenna lines, that would be disappointing to some people. It's possible that Apple wanted to release something really different this year, but because of some delay(s), it was "Plan B" for this year. Again, all speculation, but it seems like all of the rumors released so far are pointing in that direction. Also, the increasing negative perception with the s-model (blame the media) in which people view the 's' as standing for 'same' may push Apple to skip the 7s and call next year's iPhone the iPhone 8. That move would bring the iPhone 8 in line with Samsung's Galaxy S8. Believe it or not, but I think some "less-informed" people might actually think the S8 is more advanced because of its higher number than the 7s.

 

[NT1440]

No. Speed jumps between the older and newer chips.

Well yea, there's laws of physics in play. But I think you're discounting how well Apple has done to tailor their designs for the functions they are looking to have.