Commercial Times –Taiwanese newspaper (via Yonhap News) is reporting that Apple has already requested Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to produce 28-nanometer (nm) A6X processors.
This news comes as the rivalry between Apple and Samsung intensifies. Previously, Samsung has been the sole supplier of Apple’s processors. TSMC is scheduled to pilot the production in 1Q 2013. The application processor (AP) is likely to equip Apple’s new iPad and iPad mini to be released this year. I
Industry experts are expecting Apple to change its AP supplier from Samsung Electronics to TSMC as early as 2H 2013, according to the Commercial Times report. It is also anticipated that TSMC will supply 20nm A7 processors to Apple, though this would depend on the quality of the AP supplied.
“TSMC is the world’s largest dedicated independent semiconductor foundry. The trial that will be underway during the first quarter will presumably be in-place to see if the company can keep with Apple’s high demand, which must be appeased with devices in stock,” Jake Smith writes for 9to5 Mac. “Past the powerful A6X chip, Apple has been rumored to make the switch to TSMC’s 20nm process for quad-core processors over the next couple of years in the iPad, “iTV” (Apple TV?), and MacBook, while iPhone’s will remain with duo-core chips.”
Source: Yonhap News
