Samsung reportedly begins manufacturing 14nm Apple A9 processors

December 13, 2014

Samsung has started manufacturing the Apple A9 system-on-a-chip, which is widely expected to power everything from the next generation iPhone 6s (or iPhone 7) to the hotly rumored iPad Pro. What's more, it's expected to run on the new 14 nanometer process, making it even more power-efficient. This according to Korea's Electronic Times:

According to industry insiders on December 11, SEC began production of Apple's A9 in the Austin plant in the US using the 14nm FinFET technology. Samsung has production lines capable of FinFET process production in Austin, US and Giheung, Korea, but began to produce A9 only in Austin as it is in the initial stage.

The same report says that TMSC, which produced the Apple A8 chipset, is readying a 16nm process of its own, so doors there remain open to Apple as well.

Since Apple's not getting out of the mobile device business any time soon, if accurate, this is all pretty much what and when we expect — sign posts on the road to 2015.