The iPhone 7 used processors made exclusively by one company. Image: Apple
The release of the iPhone 8 is just around the corner. With that, rumors and speculations have already begun circulating regarding its successor, the iPhone 9. The latest of which suggests that its direct competitor, Samsung, may be making processors for iPhones again.
According to a report on Korean publication The Investor, Samsung recently purchased a new fabrication plant that specializes in making 7-nanometer mobile processor chips. Apparently, this purchase was made to win over Apple into ordering iPhone processor chips from Samsung again.
Mobile processor production for iPhones was previously split between Samsung and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC). However, TSMC gained exclusivity when it came to producing processor chips for the iPhone 7.
The report adds that Samsung co-CEO Kwon Oh-hyun played a key role during talks when he paid a visit to Apple headquarters in June.
While TSMC has already secured orders for iPhone processors in 2018, Samsung may be getting a cut of the orders now that they are also equipped to make 7-nanometer processors.
Meanwhile, 7-nanometer processors would be ideal for future smartphones because they are smaller—yet more powerful and more battery efficient than previous processors. Phone makers can get more performance and even add more features on their devices without drastically changing the current form factor. Alfred Bayle/KI