Samsung chips could be destined for the Apple Watch and iPhone 7
Smaller, more powerful processors could grace the insides of Apple's next generation of devices
Kim Ki-nam isn’t a name you’re likely to be familiar with. He’s in charge of Samsung’s semiconductor business, and he’s recently confirmed that its 14-nanometre chips have begun production. But should you care about that?
Yes. Yes you should. If you’ve got a remote interest in the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch, at least.
That’s because Apple has reportedly already begun filing orders for the chips, with the Apple Watch likely to be the prime candidate for use.
When it revealed its Watch, Apple also briefly showed off its Apple S1 system-in-a-package (SiP) – a module which contains all the Apple Watch’s guts, including its processor, RAM and flash storage components.
It’s an ideal setting to use the new 14nm processor, given that every single millimetre of space within a smartwatch’s small shell is precious.
The chip itself is said to use 35% less power than existing 20nm equivalents, while taking up 15% less space, and offering a 20% increase in power to boot.
That power efficiency, coupled with its space saving benefits (resulting in room for a larger battery) should hopefully squeeze out as much standby time as possible.
The 14nm chip could also be the basis for the iPhone 7’s shiny new A9 processor, although we doubt that any of the chips currently being manufactured are destined for anywhere other than the Apple Watch for the time being. The iPhone 7 isn’t expected to launch till Spring 2015, whereas the Apple Watch’s release date windows of early 2015 demands all the chips Samsung can churn out.
Stay tuned for more updates, as and when we get them.
READ MORE: Apple Watch hands-on review
[Korea IT News via ZDNet]
Esat Dedezade
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