Apple Ask Samsung for iPhone 6 Parts

The flash memory bug of TLC performance versus MLC leads Apple to fix the memory IC controller and move from MLC to TLC NAND. It takes about a year to implement such changes. In the meantime, Apple looks to Samsung to provide MLC NAND (see the article below).

This is just another example of the limitations that the consolidation of semiconductor fabrication companies cause on their customers such as Apple. More about semiconductor industry consolidation from March 2012 Moore's Law Slowwwing and from February 2013 Semiconductor Moore's Law Running out of Money.

Ron

Insightful, timely, and accurate semiconductor consulting.Semiconductor information and news at - http://www.maltiel-consulting.com/

Samsung to Provide Parts for Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in Order to Fix Huge Bug

By Arjit Singh | December 4, 2014

Samsung and Apple have been at war with each other for a long time due to a legal issue where the American tech giant sued Samsung for copying its iPad design. The trial turned out well in the end for Samsung, who continued to heavily criticize Apple and taunt the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus devices in their promos and video adverts.

Taking this into consideration, it comes off as a huge and ironic surprise that the South Korean tech company will be providing parts to Apple. Apparently, there have been some discussions between the two tech companies in order to obtain NAND flash memory chips, as Apple needs some supplies of the triple-level cell NAND flash used in the iPhone 6.

The higher capacity iPhone 6 handsets are apparently experiencing constant crashes and reboots, and apparently it’s because of the TLC memory. Naturally, Apple has to fix affected devices as soon as possible, especially when you think about how much money people spend on them. Apple’s products have some of the steepest price tags in the tech industry, but the quality has been heavily degrading over the years, making it look like Apple has no quality control. Besides supplying parts for Apple, Samsung will be making batteries for the iPhone 6 as well, according to Business Korea. This has been happening for a while, but Apple has been trying to reduce its reliance on Samsung components for its devices.

It seems that the two companies are going to bury the hatchet, but this could be strictly business-related, so we’ll have to wait and see.