Skip to main content

Samsung’s SoC profits down as Apple chooses TSMC for A8, although rumor says it will produce processors for iPhone 7

Samsung has been having some issues lately, reporting falling profits in the most recent quarter. Although most of this is due to shrinking growth in phone sales, where Apple continues to dominate in terms of profit share, Apple has also affected Samsung’s income from its microprocessor production business. With TSMC having exclusivity over Apple’s A8 production, to be used in the upcoming iPhone 6, Samsung’s outlook for ‘logic chips’ is also gloomy, as The Wall Street Journal highlights in a new report.

Samsung executives admitted on a recent conference call that the outlook isn’t so bright for this business.

“Sales and profitability from System LSI (logic chip business) worsened as demand from main customers continued to decline,” Robert Yi, Samsung’s head of investor relations said last week. His comments confirmed, albeit indirectly, how Apple’s gradual shift away from Samsung as a customer of microprocessors was eating into its profits.

It has been widely reported that Apple and Samsung’s relationship in the courtroom has caused Apple to look for ways to distance itself from its rival. Until this cycle of iOS devices, however, all of Apple’s SoC’s (the A4 through A7) have been manufactured at Samsung foundries, for yield and technological reasons. The A8, though, will be manufactured by TSMC.

Sales of Samsung’s own line of mobile processor chips, the Exynos line, have also been weak. There is some potentially good news on the horizon, however. A new report posted by the Economic Daily News claims that Samsung has snagged production of Apple’s next-generation iOS processor, ostensibly named the ‘A9’. The validity of the rumor is very questionable at this early stage of course, as it is not clear why Apple would go back to Samsung so quickly. However, this rumor does corroborate with a DigiTimes study from July, which said Apple is looking to use 14 nanometer processes for the A9 SoC, something which Samsung foundries are already set up to do.

Last month, TSMC began shipping its A8 chips as part of the iPhone 6 production ramp. According to The Wall Street Journal, the chips are produced using a 20 nanometer process.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

  1. Taste_of_Apple - 10 years ago

    It seems like this is one of those rumors that always pops up at the same time each year, right before the next wave of products.

  2. Tim Jr. - 10 years ago

    Rumors like this a likely plants from Samsung itself.. They want investors to see potential growth.. to stem the hemorrhaging. A rumor of massive new business does that because investors don’t look at what is happening, they look at what will happen in the future..

  3. herb02135go - 10 years ago

    In my monitoring of Samsung – centric (from many spots in the world) sites I never see such bashing or criticism of Apple, by either the websites or comments.

    Why are this website and its readers so hateful and scared?

    • Edison Wrzosek - 10 years ago

      Maybe it’s because the people here are more educated about the vile nature of Samsung and it’s business practices and call then out on it, while you continue to be a, what’s that term, S-Sheep and follow the mafioso heard?

      Get out Scamsung loser.

    • mpias3785 - 10 years ago

      Look at pre-iPhone Samsung phones and post-iPhone Samsung phones and ask yourself the same question.

      Samsung isn’t even very good at it if they’re in a hurry to copy a feature, just look at their pathetic attempt to copy Apple’s TouchID.

      I’ll bet the next generation os Samsung phones will have the obligatory larger screens, metal cases, a closer copy of TouchID and possibly a 64 bit processor

      IP theft is a deeply ingrained part of the Samsung corporate culture. Microsoft is suing them now for the same thing.

Author

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Benjamin Mayo

Benjamin develops iOS apps professionally and covers Apple news and rumors for 9to5Mac. Listen to Benjamin, every week, on the Happy Hour podcast. Check out his personal blog. Message Benjamin over email or Twitter.