TSMC May Supply 30% of A9 Chip Orders for Next-Generation iPhone

earlier month, report indicated samsung produce a9 chip next-generation iphone. now, kgi securities analyst ming-chi kuo, reliable source on apple's future plans, says expects taiwan semiconductor manufacturing company (tsmc) supply 30% of chip orders next-generation iphone. latest turn in has become back-and-forth affair in determining companies supply a9 chips next-generation iphones.

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we believe key reasons in apple's (us) last minute decision recruit tsmc are: (1) unstable yield rate @ globalfoundries (us); (2) tsmc's 16nm finfet turbo has exceeded apple's expectations in yield rate , performance; , (3) concerns of insufficient 14nm supply samsung lsi (kr) due better-than-expected market feedback of galaxy s6 , s6 edge, uses in-house 14nm finfet-manufactured application processor exynos 7420.

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kuo notes globalfoundries, samsung's manufacturing partner, has far had unstable yield rate of 30% a9 chip, below 50% yield rate required mass production. bringing tsmc chip-supplying fold calms of uncertainties of apple. additionally, tsmc's 16-nanometer process has exceeded apple's expectations.

alternatively, cupertino company worried success of the samsung galaxy s6 , s6 edge, use samsung's advanced 14-nanometer process chips, mean apple won't able book enough chips samsung next-generation iphone. thus, apple turning toward tsmc complement supplies both samsung , globalfoundries.

however, on past couple of months there has been confusion , conflicting reports on production of a9 chip in apple's next-generation devices. in december, a report indicated samsung had begun producing a9 chips. in same month, another report indicated tsmc main supplier a9 chips in next iphone. then, in january, kuo expected tsmc provide a9x chips next-generation ipad. finally, earlier month, another report indicated samsung , partner globalfoundries become supplier a9 chip.

article link: tsmc may supply 30% of a9 chip orders next-generation iphone

 

not sure why these rumors persist. they've never been proven have same chip fabbed @ different houses before, , it's unlikely because development time doubles. they'd have have design ready never intend use unless 1 supplier has insufficient yield.

 

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