Apple is reportedly placing orders with Samsung and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) for the A8 chip, expected to be used in Apple's iPhone 6 in 2014.
According to The Korea Economic Daily, which claims to have spoken to industry sources, Apple has placed chip order with Samsung for the next generation of its A-series chips, and has asked its rival company to produce between 30 and 40 per cent of the processor, dubbed A8.
The report says that TSMC has struggled to produce enough of the chips due to difficulties with the 20-nanometer fabrication process, which is why Apple has now been forced to turn to Samsung in order to ensure enough A8 chips are manufactured.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Apple had struck a three-year deal with TSMC to produce upcoming generations of the A-series chips, and that a trial run of manufacturing the 20-nanometer A8 chip destined for upcoming iPhones and iPads had begun in July.
Perhaps that trial run resulted in the realisation that TSMC would be unable to produce the number of chips that Apple needs for its devices, hence the order allegedly placed with Samsung.
Previously, Samsung has supplied Apple with chips and other components since as far back as the first iPhone, which was launched in 2007. However, it's been reported that Apple is trying to move away from Samsung due to the rivalry between the two companies that has increased in recent years.
