Samsung Set to Return to iPhone Chip Production Next Year

[Maura]

According to a new report in The Korea Herald, via MacRumors, Samsung Electronics is set to return to manufacturing chips for Apple’s iPhone line-up from 2018. Currently, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is the sole supplier for the A10 chip for the iPhone 7 and the A11 chip for the forthcoming iPhone 8.

The Korea Herald says that Apple and Samsung Electronics co-CEO Kwon Oh-hyun signed a “crucial deal” when Oh-hyun visited Apple’s Cupertino headquarters last month.

The source says that it was Samsung’s decision to buy equipment, such as extreme ultra-violet lithography machines, to manufacture 7-nanometer chips for iPhones that really helped the company secure the new deal with Apple, as well as Samsung’s “close ties on OLED.”

The Korea Herald did not offer much more in the way of details, other than saying that Samsung would “share some parts” of the 2018 iPhone orders with TSMC. Samsung is said to be planning to “seek final approval from Apple for the chip production” for next year’s A12 chip.

Source: Samsung Rumored to Return to iPhone Chip Production in 2018