The iPhone 7 could run on A9 chips made using Samsung’s 14 nanometer manufacturing process
The iPhone 7 (or iPhone 6S) will apparently run on chips made by Samsung, according to a new report. This is consistent with another report from last week that indicated Samsung would be making most of the chips for Apple’s next generation iPhone.
Samsung to make iPhone 7 chips
The iPhone 7 (or probably the iPhone 6S) is expected to run on Apple’s next generation A9 chips, which Dawn Chmielewski and Ina Fried of Re/Code report will be made by Samsung. They cite unnamed sources who have knowledge of Apple’s plans.
Apple has been trying to move away from relying so heavily on its top competitor for the major components in its iPhone but has been unsuccessful so far. The iPhone maker gave Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) the greatest majority of chip orders for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, shifting the balance of power away from Samsung for the 2014 models.
[drizzle]Samsung’s chip technology advances
However, Samsung is now capable of manufacturing chips using 14 nanometer technology, which is more advanced than the 20 nanometer technology TSMC is still using. The smaller the number of nanometers on a chip, the more power is crammed into a smaller amount of space.
Samsung has invested $21.4 billion in its display and semiconductor manufacturing facilities in just the last year alone. The Korean electronics giant intends to spend even more this year on its foundries in Austin, Tex. and South Korea. Samsung also brought its 14 nanometer manufacturing process to its Saratoga Springs, N.Y. factory last year as well through its partnership with GlobalFoundries.
What to expect in the iPhone 7 (or iPhone 6S)
There have been plenty of rumors about what to expect in the iPhone 7 or iPhone 6S or whatever Apple calls it. One rumor we’ve heard a couple of times now is that both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 6S will be released this year, with the iPhone 6S coming in April with the Apple Watch and the iPhone 7 being launched in September.
As far as the specs go, it’s been suggested that the iPhone 7 will have a camera that takes photos that are of the same quality as a DSLR. If this is true, it would be a big-time upgrade from the 8-megapixel camera that is in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The report suggest the iPhone 7’s camera will have 21 megapixels and a dual-lens system.
There have also been reports that Foxconn will be supplying an OLED display for the smartphone, although some have suggested that Apple will use more than one supplier for the displays.
Additionally, it’s been suggested that Apple will finally catch up with competitors and bump up the RAM in the iPhone 7 from 1 gigabyte to 2.
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