Leaving rivalry behind, Samsung and Apple are now looking forward to a new collaboration with each other, regarding which the Korean tech giant will supply chips for iPhones in the US.
Apple announced that Samsung will supply chips for its next-generation products, including iPhones, in Texas. This new collaboration seems to be a part of a larger plan by Apple to invest more in American manufacturing.
Apple designs the main processor for iPhones, however, it usually relies on other manufacturers to make other parts. This time, Samsung’s factory will produce image sensor chips, which are essential for the iPhone’s camera. It’s a kind of victory for Samsung, since ritually, Apple relies on Sony for these specific chips.
Apple stated, “This facility will supply chips that optimize power and performance of Apple products, including iPhone devices.” However, currently it’s unclear whether Samsung’s chips will play an essential role in shaping Apple’s A series processors.
To date, Samsung doesn’t have any role in manufacturing any part of the iPhone’s A series processors, but it has historically manufactured Apple’s A series chipsets for iPhone, particularly from the A4 chip used on the iPhone 4 through to the A9 chip used in the iPhone 6s. Although right after the A9 chip, Apple moved its chip production to TSMC.
It will be interesting to see how efficient this new deal will turn out for Samsung. On the other side, reportedly, Apple is already looking forward to utilizing TSMC’s 3nm process for its A19 and A19 Pro chips, which will power the iPhone 17 lineup.
