According to a report from VentureBeat, Intel is working hard to make a system-on-chip (SoC) for the next iPhone. The company may have up to 1,000 people working on the project, too.
Sources haven’t said Apple has officially signed Intel as a partner for mobile SoCs, but do say this is a “must win” for Intel.
The reason Apple may be looking away from TSMC and Samsung, it’s two current chipset partners for the iPhone, is processing. Intel is reportedly using a 14nm process throughout, which would create a smaller SoC. The report also says Intel has a 10nm process in development.
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The new SoC will be designed by Apple, which is reportedly interested in working the LTE architecture onto the chipset as well as its Ax processor. Intel would oversee fabrication of the SoC.
It’s all very speculative, of course, but there’s one angle Apple may have in mind here — the Apple Watch. Apple’s wearable currently has a system-in-package, which takes various components and solders them together.
It’s bulkier than an SoC, but if Apple wants to make the next Apple Watch thinner and connected via LTE, Intel may be inside.
➤ Intel has 1,000 people working on chips for the iPhone [VentureBeat]
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