[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics reportedly lost a bid for supplying mobile application processors for Apple’s iPhone 8, which is thought to be the US-based company’s flagship model for 2017.

“The mobile chip for the iPhone 8 will be supplied exclusively by Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC,” said Korean online newswire News1, quoting an anonymous industry source. TSMC is the chip supplier for the iPhone 7, which is expected to be released this year. 



The source said Apple saw Samsung’s A9 chips, supplied for the iPhone6S, consuming more battery than chips manufactured by the Taiwanese firm. TSMC is also said to have sealed an exclusive supply deal for the A10 chip for the iPhone 7.

Earlier, industry watchers had expected Samsung Electronics to clinch the chip deal for the iPhone 8, after reports that Samsung Display would most likely supply organic light-emitting diodes for the iPhone 8. Further, an earthquake in Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City earlier this year was expected to affect TSMC’s production, forcing Apple to reach out to its South Korean rival to supply chips for its next iPhones.

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