The new year has begun and with it the advent of next gen smartphones have also started. First to go was BlackBerry that launched its flagship device, the all-touch Z10, on January 30th then LG announced its collection of phones at the Mobile World Congress 2013 including the much talked about handset Optimus G Pro. Later HTC released its next big thing the HTC One and finally on March 14 Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S IV the fourth generation of its famous S series phones. So by now all major smartphone manufacturers have announced their flagship models except for Apple. Therefore, all eyes are now looking at the California-based tech giant and according to the latest update Apple’s manufacturing partner, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company also known as TSMC, is just giving final touches to the next gen processor for future iPads and iPhones before it will hit the manufacturing line.
Digitimes was the first to report that TSMC is fine tuning the A7 chip for Apple before putting it up for manufacturing during this month. Once the TSMC will be done with the final touches the A7 chip will be ready for pilot production this summer, whereas its commercial production is likely to begin in the first quarter of next year. TSMC will use its most advanced 20-nanometer manufacturing process to build the A7 chip. Therefore, Apple has also started designing its products according to the 20-nanometer process of its manufacturing partner, says CNET’s sources, which are aware of TSMC’s future plans.
Previously, South Korean electronics giant Samsung was Apple’s manufacturing partner for producing it’s A series processors. In fact the latest A6 chip, that is being used in the iPhone 5 and latest iPads, is also produced by the Galaxy smartphone maker. However, a legal battle between the two companies has further impaired their relationship and finally Apple has decided to part ways with Samsung, as the Cupertino-based company found a new partner in the form TSMC to develop its future chipsets.
But this time Apple is not going to limit itself to just one company, as it is expected that Intel may also join hands with late Steve Jobs’ company to manufacture its chips. Already there is a speculation whirling in the tech world according to which Intel will start manufacturing chips for Apple by using its 14-nanometer process quite possibly in 2014.
Besides this there is another rumour which says that Apply may give a limited order to Intel, which it will manufacture on its current 22-nanometer process.
Source: CNET
Photo: Selectism
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