Samsung will reportedly supply Apple with RAM for the iPhone 6, according to a report from Digitimes. Samsung’s return to Apple’s list of RAM suppliers for the iPhone comes after it was excluded from the list in 2013, with Apple electing to partner with SK Hynix and Elpida Memory for the iPhone 5s.
The logic board of the iPhone 5s featuring 1GB of RAM
Apple made a drastic move to begin expelling Samsung from its supplier list for a number of key components, including application processors, mobile RAM, NAND flash chips and batteries, starting 2013, the sources noted.
The report adds that Elpida and SK Hynix have become unsatisfied with Apple’s buying price for the components. With Elpida and SK Hynix reluctant to increase their shipments because of the dispute, Apple has once again added Samsung into its RAM supplier list to ensure a steady launch supply for the iPhone 6. Samsung had also previously supplied RAM to Apple for the iPhone 5 in 2012.
Apple has diversified its supply chain in recent years in an attempt to reduce its reliance on its rival Samsung, however the Korean company’s reputation for mass producing components with quality has made them a favorable choice. It was reported recently that Apple’s supply chain diversification has hit Samsung’s chip manufacturing business, as Samsung has been Apple’s only manufacturer of Apple A-series processors over the past few years.
The iPhone 6 will be unveiled at an event on September 9, and will likely be sold about a week or so later. It is also possible that the 4.7-inch version will launch ahead of the 5.5-inch version, as the latter is said to be experiencing production issues. In addition to a larger display, the iPhone 6 is expected to feature a thinner chassis, a faster A8 processor, an improved camera and iOS 8. While it is not known how much RAM the iPhone 6 will contain, some features in iOS 8 may require Apple to give the handset an adequate amount of RAM for smooth performance.
