Thanks to Samsung's 14 nm FinFET process, the South Korean tech behemoth was able to snare a large portion of orders from both Apple and Qualcomm for the companies' A9 and Snapdragon 820 mobile chipsets, respectively.
In the process, the company overtook a comprehensive lead over TSMC. However, that Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturing firm plans on regaining its lost position with the mass production of 10 and 7 nm chips.
According to UDN, the Taiwanese firm will establish a 10 nm pilot line in a total number of 12 factories that are located in the city of Hsinchu. In addition to Apple, TSMC also plans on securing future partnerships with several other companies through its semiconductor intellectual property program. With the plan that TSMC has concocted, the company intends on shutting out Samsung from the 10 nm skirmish altogether.
Phone Arena reports that the TSMC's 10 nm pilot line, which is expected to commence from June 2015, is paramount for securing future orders from not only Apple, but other companies as well. Since Samsung has been quick with its 14 nm FinFET process, it will be difficult to disrupt the healthy relationship created between the South Korean company and other firms like Qualcomm and Apple.
The website also states that if TSMC is able to get its factories running in due time, then it will be Samsung on the receiving end of the killer blow. Unfortunately, both Qualcomm and Apple have not yet commented on who the firms plan on tapping to be their next chief supplier for the 10 nm chips. Since Snapdragon 820 and Apple A9 are yet to be released and incorporated in to handsets, it if difficult to confirm whether TSMC or Samsung will gain the upper hand in 2016.
Currently, TSMC's primary goal will be to focus on its 10 nm pilot line for June 2015.
