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Apple and Samsung: Doomed to be frenemies forever?

Published Jul 1st, 2014 9:31AM EDT
Apple A9 Processor

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Apple and Samsung have been at each other’s throats for years now, bickering over mobile patents and handset design elements in courtrooms around the world. Apple is thus far the only company to score a substantial win, having been awarded nearly $1 billion in damages following a favorable decision in its first big U.S. patent trial. But while these two giants continue to do battle in courts across the globe, Apple is still one of Samsung’s biggest customers as it buys billions of dollars worth of smartphone, tablet and computer components from Samsung’s manufacturing arm.

Are these two tech titans doomed to be frenemies forever?

FROM EARLIER: Jury finds Samsung guilty of infringing some patents in Apple trial – awards paltry $120M

While “forever” is obviously a bit of an exaggeration, it looks like the companies’ fragile relationship will continue as-is for at least another couple of years. A new report from Digitimes on Tuesday that cites unnamed industry sources in Taiwan in noting that Samsung has secured orders for Apple’s next-generation mobile processors that will power future iPhones, iPads and iPod touch handhelds.

The report says that Samsung’s New York facility will begin producing 14-nanometer processors for Apple in early 2015.

According to the report, Samsung’s New York plant will have the capacity to produce 60,000 wafers each month using the 14nm process, which means additional capacity will likely be needed unless orders are split with other suppliers. Digitimes states that GlobalFoundries has secured some orders for Apple’s next-generation processors as well, and TSMC will also continue to chase the contract for Apple’s A9 processors.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.