Samsung Electronics boasts prowess in chip fabrication

A report from a private research institute suggested tech giant Samsung Electronics once again outdid Taiwanese chip manufacturer TSMC in the competition for efficient chip technology.

Both chip manufacturers are confirmed as the two suppliers of the mobile application processor deployed in California-based Apple’s latest iPhone S6 smartphone, a teardown report by research firm Chipworks showed.

The two models of the application processor, dubbed the APL0898 for the Samsung version of the processor and the APL1022 for TSMC’s, were different in size, which the research firm speculated could prove the better technological capabilities of Samsung.

Samsung’s chip model boasts a smaller die size measuring 96 square millimeters compared to TSMC’s at 104.5 square millimeters.

The smaller chip size leads to higher production efficiency and better performance.

Samsung has reportedly utilized its 14-nanometer manufacturing process, the world’s most advanced process commercialized thus far, compared to the 16-nanometer process of the Taiwanese chipmakers.

“Even though more details need to be confirmed, a smaller die size usually means better chip fabrication technology,” an industry source said.

Samsung Electronics, one of the frontrunners in the world’s chip market, has been boasting its technological advancement through the world’s first mass production of chips based on the 14-nanometer process technology since February.

The 14-nanometer process technology is up to 20 percent faster and 35 percent more energy efficient than the 20-nanometer process technology, according to Samsung.

The Korean company is also planning to churn out chips based on a 10-nanometer process as early as late 2016.

Samsung had been the sole mobile processor supplier of Apple’ iPhone smartphone series up until the A7 model fitted in the iPhone 5S.

The Korean firm was, however, sidelined by TSMC, which supplied around 70 percent of the A8 processor for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus with the remaining 30 percent being allotted to Samsung.

“Competition between the two chipmakers, and possibly among other suppliers, to sign contract with Apple for the next iPhones will heat up as Apple will continue to stick to its multisourcing strategy,” a market watcher said.

By Kim Young-won  (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)