Apple is yet to release a new mobile device in this year, and its expected that this isn’t going to happen at least until the second half of the year. That’s because usually Apple launches new mobile devices in the last few months of the year, as evidently seen in 2013 with the launch of new iPads and iPhones. 2014’s crop of Apple mobile devices is expected to come with a whole new processor, the A8, which is apparently going to be mass produced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Rumors coming out of Taiwan suggest that TSMC has already started production.
For long it has been rumored that Apple wants to end its reliance upon Samsung for mobile chips, which is why the company is taking its business to TSMC. It doesn’t seem too farfetched, given that both companies have been dueling it out in court and are each other’s biggest rival. But the real reason might be more technical and not all that sensational.
Reports claim that the A8 is to be produced on the 20nm process and Samsung is apparently having yield problems with it. This is believed to be one of the primary reasons why Apple is going with another manufacturer, though its agreement with Samsung won’t be chucked out, Apple is expected to retain its chipset manufacturing contract with the Korean juggernaut.
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