Yes, but economy is part of the response
only a strong economy can fight against this pandemic
New products are part of this
but I’m okay it’s not the priority right now
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TSMC Reportedly 'On Track' to Begin Volume Production of A14 Chips for iPhones Despite Pandemic
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Yes, but economy is part of the response
only a strong economy can fight against this pandemic
New products are part of this
but I’m okay it’s not the priority right now
People just want to be dramatic about current events. They thrive on it. Larger picture, the overwhelming majority would benefit from companies trying to push forward and not fold up shop where possible.
Even if this sticks around for a while, we have to adapt. If we all have to go to work in hazmat suits, so be it.
People need jobs, people need money, and people need things to do.
Even though Foxconn and TSMC are both Taiwanese company, unlike Foxconn, TSMC is firmly based in Taiwan.
Taiwan gov't has done a stellar job so far during this pandemic so that life in Taiwan is largely unaffected. And I guess it is reason TSMC's timeline has not been swayed by the outbreak.
Taiwan has been screening flights from Wuhan since Dec 31st of 2019.
Taiwan gov't has done a stellar job so far during this pandemic so that life in Taiwan is largely unaffected. And I guess it is reason TSMC's timeline has not been swayed by the outbreak.
Taiwan has been screening flights from Wuhan since Dec 31st of 2019.
If the A14 comes out with the iPhone 12 in the Q4/20 timeframe, then the A14X won't be available until March 2021. Assuming they use a version of it (A14Z?) in the first Arm powered Mac in March 21 too, we'll have to wait for the A15X in 2022 for usb4. Does anyone know when TSMC is planning on transitioning to 3nm?
TSMC is "on track" to begin volume production of 5nm chips in April, despite "recent speculation" indicating that the foundry had been requested by Apple to defer production of A14 processors by one or two quarters, according to DigiTimes.
A paywalled preview of the report claims that TSMC's manufacturing lines remain fully booked for 5nm chips amid the current pandemic.
TSMC has been Apple's exclusive supplier of A-series chips since 2016, and its chips have gradually become smaller as it continues to refine its manufacturing process, benefitting performance, battery life, and thermal management on iPhones.
Apple plans to introduce four high-end iPhone 12 models with 5G support in the fall, including one 5.4-inch model, two 6.1-inch models, and one 6.7-inch model, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Due to the ongoing pandemic, however, there have been conflicting reports on exactly when Apple will unveil its latest iPhones.
Article Link: TSMC Reportedly 'On Track' to Begin Volume Production of A14 Chips for iPhones Despite Pandemic
Not to be too downer about the situation, but the supply chain is only strong as its weakest link. While Taiwan and TSMC maybe ready and raring to go with the chips, I am more wary about the hundreds of other subcomponents that have to come together to form an iPhone. Any disruption in any one of those items may mean iPhone assembly gets delayed and TSMC gets to ship jack squat.
That’s not necessarily true at all. Time frame depends on whatever they negotiate and plan.
For example, A8X came out one month after A8, and A12X came out 1 month after A12
Will be interesting to see what kind of performance bump, or jump, the A14 / A14X delivers. I’m more interested in what they do for the next iPad Pro, than for iPhone use, as I’m not sure I need an iPhone that is faster or more powerful. My 11 Pro Max already has more performance than I am using...not that my A12X iPad Pro is suffering in any way either. But given it’s bigger day to day workload, improvements will be more noticeable and usable, imho.
Battery? The iPhone X launched 30 months ago, it might be getting long in the tooth by now.
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Yes I know, but I don't think Apple had launched any iPad in March of the same years. I can't see them launching an A14X seven months after the 12Z. Buyers would be seriously miffed.
Meh. I see no big problem with them releasing another iPad Pro in November 2020, 8 months later. The March 2020 release is a reasonable release, but in many ways it is a maintenance release, missing both 5G and A14X. Those two features are both things that can be implemented in 2020, so they may as well do it.
If I wanted a WiFi version, I'd buy now, or at least in May when the keyboard is out. However, I would prefer a cellular version, and it seems a waste to spend all that coin now on an LTE version when Qualcomm in Apple iDevices are imminent. I suspect a lot of people are thinking like me, and Apple knows that.
I'm not saying Apple is guaranteed to release another 2020 iPad Pro, but I don't think March buyers being "miffed" is a good enough reason to stop Apple from doing so, as they've done it before: iPad 3 in March, and then iPad 4 in November.
The scenario I am thinking we could see is:
March 2020:
11" iPad Pro A12Z WiFi
11" iPad Pro A12Z WiFi + LTE
12.9" iPad Pro A12Z WiFi
12.9" iPad Pro A12Z WiFi + LTE
November 2020:
11" iPad Pro A12Z WiFi <-- No change, but Apple would continue to sell it.
11" iPad Pro A14X WiFi + 5G
12.9" iPad Pro A12Z WiFi <-- No change, but Apple would continue to sell it.
12.9" iPad Pro A14X WiFi + 5G
Why would they do this when they can put the A14X in all the versions for basically the same cost?
Well, that's just it. It wouldn't be the same cost.
Anyhow, I will admit I'm biased by Jon Prosser's rumour tweets.
Actually this makes sense. Apple always tries and maximises the use of its CPU across devices. They wouldn't have developed a 12Z just for 9 months.
They'll probably drag the 12Z along in the Wifi model until November 21 and swap it for the 14X at that with hardly a press release. The 12Z might then end up in an Apple TV or something.
There are varying levels of importance for each component, specifically where they are sourced. If one supplier for screws cant do it, someone else can. If the major components that have more limited suppliers can be produced, the phones will be shipped.
Yes, especially if it’s a more premium model. Absolutely more RAM to future proof it for more demanding applications we hopefully start seeing soon. That’s what going to obsolete The devices the soonest.
we are all hopeful that it will be a lot better, but I can see people back to work. But regardless, it will be difficult to wrap our heads over what happened and I don’t think there will be too many people rushing out to purchase a new $900 phone
I personally believe that A12Z is the same silicon as A12X, except with yields improved now so that the previously dormant eighth GPU core is now left active.
ie. I believe A12Z was actually the real chip all along, but deactivation of one of those GPU cores turned it into A12X. Yields would have been such that there would be a defect in one GPU core in a significant number of chips previously, so it made sense to just deactivate one core in all A12X chips they sold until the process matured.
Sales will undoubtedly be lower than 2019, but they should still be significant, esp. since this is a transition year for cellular technology. This will be the first 5G iPhone, and there will be pent up demand for such iPhones that will partially compensate for the loss in sales from COVID-19.
In my case, I have a ton of gift card cash I've been waiting to use. In fact, I've had it since September, but haven't had anything to buy with it, so I have even more incentive to spend money this year than in previous years. I was waiting to use it for a new iPad, but as it stands now it looks like it may be applied to a new iPhone first.
I've been skipping generations for years. Best argument: Don't need it, or particularly want it. What I do need is a laptop upgrade, but the 16 inch has more than I need, and thus costs more money than I'd prefer to spend, so I'm waiting for the 13, and I'd rather spend money on that than something which would only replace a perfectly functional, and still amazing iPhone 8.
And what company is Apple’s alternate source for the 5 nm A-series CPUs? The world is in crisis, a once in a century opportunity presents, an all-powerful leader rules an ascendant China, and there sits Taiwan, the “renegade” province.
That's not what that post was about. That person was suggesting that Apple shouldn't release any iPhones at all this year, so nobody can buy them this year, because of the pandemic.
Confirmed, A12X actually has 8 cores, with one deactivated.
The Apple A12Z Bionic SoC is just a renamed A12X with an enabled GPU core
We get to learn that the Apple A12X Bionic has eight physical GPU cores, but one of those cores is disabled. The disabled core is enabled in the new A12Z Bionic that powers the 2020 iPad Pro. While there could be several reasons for this decision, the most convincing explanation is that it would...
"Yuzo Fukuzaki, one of TechInsights’ Senior Technology Fellows, has confirmed that yes A12X physically has 8 GPU cores.
As for the A12Z, we are planning to conduct floorplan analysis to confirm any differences from the A12X."
Despite the rumours, I am not sure we will see an A14X this year, has Apple ever dropped an 'X' model at the same time as the standard chip?
I wouldn't be surprised to see "just" a 4G => 5G upgrade and then an A14X in early 2021. Another RAM upgrade to 8gb would be nice at the same time, if the pro is getting "desktop-class" software then it might need the memory.
I wouldn't be surprised to see "just" a 4G => 5G upgrade and then an A14X in early 2021. Another RAM upgrade to 8gb would be nice at the same time, if the pro is getting "desktop-class" software then it might need the memory.
A14 in a cellphone but A12 in iPad Pro computer replacement. Even more reason to wait on the iPad cycle. That being said if Apple will release the iPhone on time this year, I am only expecting them to release a minor upgrade next year to milk the cow.
Basically all the people skipping the 2020 model, Apple will make up for it by selling basically the same model in 2021 with slight upgrade.
Basically all the people skipping the 2020 model, Apple will make up for it by selling basically the same model in 2021 with slight upgrade.
The iPad Pro launched October 2018 with the A12X, just a month after the A12 debuted on the iPhone Xs.