The iPhone 6s used two different processor - 14-nm and Samsung 16-nm TSMC

Apple does not disclose all the details about their products, so that it is necessary to take into the hands of independent experts. In addition to evaluating the maintainability into new editions of iFixit iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus looked experts Chipworks, learn a new processor Apple A9. Later this crystal finds its application in the 12.9-inch tablet iPad Pro.

For months, media reported conflicting rumors about who will produce processors Apple A9. In the end, we agreed on the fact that TSMC will receive 40% of the orders for new SoC for the iPhone. The rest went to Samsung. This explains the cooperation with the South Korean manufacturer GoldenFoundries and using more advanced 14-nm process.

Found Chipworks confirm that the iPhone 6s really are two different versions of SoS, which differ in chip area. "As you can see in the image A9 processor is available in two sizes - APL0898 (Samsung) and APL1022 (TSMC). In terms of benchmarks, more compact version by Samsung is more productive, "- experts say. In Chipworks suggest that Apple faced a shortage of supply of processors, so was forced to appeal to just two suppliers.

According to available information, the percentage of product yield with TSMC higher than Samsung. The first produces solutions for 16-nanometer technology, and the second uses a "thin" 14 nm. As for the platform Apple A9X, which will be used in the next generation iPad, then its production would be entrusted exclusively TSMC.

14-nm technology is Samsung's more comfortable with Apple's performance efficiency and cost than promoted a bunch of TSMC '16nm + FinFET ». However, due to limited supply, the American giant computer electronics appealed to the Taiwan chip maker.

Note that A8 processor for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is produced exclusively in enterprises Taiwanese company TSMC 20 nm process technology, whereas last A7 chip 28 nm process technology produced Samsung. The TSMC sure to offer more advanced 14-nm solution Koreans allowed them to steal technological secrets.