Ahead of next year’s iPhone 6 release, latest reports have suggested Apple is looking to reduce its reliance on Samsung as a component supplier for its next-gen phone.
With the iPhone 5S having launched earlier this month with the Samsung manufacturer 64-bit A7 processor in tow, reports out of Samsung’s native Korea have hinted that Apple could look to phase out its rival as a component supplier for the iPhone 6 bound A8 CPU.
Citing claimed insider sources, The Korea Economic Daily has suggested that the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) has already been employed to produce the iPhone 6 processor. However, due to mooted difficulties in the fabrication process, Apple is said to have been forced into reducing the level of Samsung’s involvement rather than abandoning the Samsung Galaxy S4 maker entirely.
According to the reports, Samsung will now produce between 30 and 40 per cent of the A8 processors destined for the iPhone 6 and possible new iPad updates, down considerable on its current role as the sole provider.
Despite the on-going patent disputes between the two companies and Samsung’s increased position as Apple’s leading smartphone and tablet rival, the Galaxy Note 3 producer has supplied the processing unit’s for all of Apple’s iPhone handsets to date. On top of this, Samsung has been used as a component supplier for RAM modules and display units in the past.
Although the phone is still close to a year away, a number of iPhone 6 rumours have already started circulating, with the phone widely expected to adopt an all new design and, potentially, an increased screen size.
“The electronics giant has begun evaluating a plan to offer iPhones with screens ranging from 4.8 inches to as high as 6 inches,” claimed “people familiar with the matter” have suggested in recent iPhone 6 rumours.
Component suppliers have added that: “Apple has been particularly interested in recent tests for a 4.8-inch screen.”
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Via: AppleInsider
