Chipworks Confirms A8 iPhone 6 Processor From TSMC, Not Samsung

With patent lawsuits flying back and forth between Apple and Samsung, it was probably only a matter of time until Cupertino reduced its reliance on components from the Korean manufacturer — and that day seems to have arrived with the iPhone 6.

Chipworks has spent the day poring over components extracted from the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and has discovered that Apple's new smaller, more powerful A8 processor has actually been fabricated by someone other than Samsung.

While the Korean electronics giant (and frequent Apple patent foe) has indeed manufactured previous-generation chips including the A7 found inside last year's iPhone 5s, rumors earlier this year leading up to the launch of the iPhone 6 suggested that may no longer be the case.

According to Chipworks, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) was responsible for the 20-nanometer A8 processor, which is physically smaller than the previous 28-nanometer chips, which requires less power despite actually running faster than the A7.

Apple reportedly partnered with TSMC in an effort to put some distance between the iPhone maker and longtime component supplier Samsung, although future iOS devices are expected to aim for even smaller 14-nanometer chips, suggesting Cupertino may rely upon both TSMC and Samsung in the future.

During last week's media event, Apple senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller claimed the A8 processor inside the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus would offer a 25 percent boost in CPU performance, as well as a 50 percent increase in graphics performance when compared to the iPhone 5s.

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(Image courtesy of Chipworks)