TSMC Has Reportedly Started Production Of Apple's Next-Generation A8 Chip
by Brent Dirks
March 5, 2014
Apple’s new chip partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has already started production of the next-generation A8 chip.
That’s according to news from The Commercial Times, which was translated by AFP:
The world's leading contract microchip maker last month started producing the A8 chip, which is tipped to power the expected iPhone 6, the Commercial Times reported. The report, which cited supply chain sources, said TSMC had won most of the manufacturing orders for logic and power management integrated chips for the new handset.And interestingly, long-time Apple chip partner Samsung has apparently been left out in the cold. That backs up information first reported in February. The same report also said that the iPhone 6 will sport a 4.7-inch screen and be released sometime in the third quarter of this year. An A8 chip is also expected to power the upcoming generation of the iPad Air. Along with the new chip, the iPhone will reportedly ditch Corning and its Gorilla Glass for a sapphire display. Broadcom’s new 5G 802.11ac chip could also make an appearance in the handset. In January, The Wall Street Journal also indicated that a new pair of iPhones will appear in 2014. One will feature a screen larger than 4.5 inches while the second version would be bigger than 5 inches.
