Apple Seen Splitting 14/16nm Orders Among Foundries into 2016

Alan Patterson, EETimes
9/17/2015 11:40 AM EDT

TAIPEI — Apple, the world’s largest buyer of chips made with leading process technology, is likely to divvy up its orders for 14/16nm products this year and next as part of a strategy to gain pricing power over foundry suppliers such as Samsung and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), according to six analysts surveyed by EE Times.

TSMC, which since 2014 has enjoyed sole-source status for Apple’s A8 processor that powers the iPhone 6, is wrestling with Samsung to dominate the supply of Apple’s new A9 and A10 processors, according to the analysts. To enhance its pricing power, Apple has also qualified Global Foundries as a third source, the analysts say.

The focus is on Apple’s yet-to-be released A10 processor, expected sometime in 2016.

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