Apple may be desperately trying to reduce its reliance on Samsung-made components for its devices, but that’s not an easy process, and its largest supplier/rival will have a presence in the iPhone 6, Digitimes reports.
FROM EARLIER: Huge leak shows the 5.5-inch iPhone’s rear shell side-by-side with the 4.7-inch iPhone 6
Apparently, Samsung is selling Apple RAM memory for the new iPhone, alongside other suppliers including SK Hynix and Elpida Memory.
Apple removed Samsung from the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c supply line last year when it came to RAM and relied solely on components from the other two firms. However, it looks like SK Hynix and Elpida have both been “reluctant” to increase chip production at the request of Apple this year, as the iPhone maker’s offered prices are apparently “less than desired.”
Thus, it would appear Apple was forced to add Samsung in the RAM mix for the new iPhone 6, in order to make sure it has enough components for its massive iPhone 6 launch. Samsung is also expected to have a hand in A8 manufacturing for the iPhone 6.
In addition to RAM, Samsung may be providing other components to future iPhone models next year. A recent report from Reuters revealed that Apple might further need Samsung for 14-nanometer chip production in the summer of 2015, in addition to TSMC.
Apple is expected to sell a tremendous number of iPhone 6 units this year, having ordered up to 80 million combined 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch units from Pegatron and Foxconn for 2014 alone.
