To provide this chip to Apple, Samsung has collaborated with the company’s Electro-Mechanics division. Samsung beat out LG Innotek to the job, and it’s developing an advanced flip chip ball grid array that will enable the chip to be more energy efficient. In the past, Samsung supplied parts for the M1 chip. The M1 chip was released in November 2020 and is the first SoC used by Apple for Mac computers. It is currently found in the 13-inch MacBook Air, 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and 11-inch iPad Pro.
Samsung’s FC-BGA substrates
The FC-BGA substrate is one of the key components of the M2 processor, which is a high-density semiconductor chip that connects different chips. The FC-BGA substrate is manufactured by Samsung Electro-Mechanics, supplying high-spec substrates for the Apple M1 series. Only a few companies have the technology to make these substrates, so Apple has chosen Samsung Electro-Mechanics to supply them with the component.
The Samsung Electro-Mechanics division is close to striking a deal with Apple to produce the FC-BGA substrates for Apple’s M2 chip. The two companies plan to invest $1 billion to build a manufacturing plant in Vietnam and another $241 million in an existing fab in South Korea. Both companies are interested in participating in the Apple M2 manufacturing process.
Samsung’s MLCCs
The M1 chip used in current Apple products is based on ARM processor architecture. It has been reported that Apple will use this chip in new products in the coming year. While this is great news for Apple, it will also benefit its bottom line. Samsung has been working on developing next-generation MLCCs for a while. Its MLCCs are smaller than the previous generation but still boast an impressive capacity.
Murata Manufacturing, a manufacturer of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), has been a supplier to Apple for years. The company also supplies the FC-BGA for the M1 series. However, only a few companies can produce FC-BGA reliably. Only a few companies can produce this advanced technology and supply Apple, including Unimicron and Ibiden. MLCCs have very high demand, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics’ sales are expected to reach 1.1 trillion won by 2024. Samsung Electro-Mechanics may achieve a record high in sales this year.
Samsung’s partnership with Apple
At the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Samsung Electronics announced a strategic partnership with Apple. Users of select Samsung smart TVs will have access to iTunes content, while iOS users will be able to send content from their iPhones or iPads to their TVs. The partnership marks the first time Apple and a third-party manufacturer have agreed to install iTunes on their devices. Interestingly, Apple and Samsung have always been bitter rivals, but this new deal has made sense for both companies.
Samsung is a huge competitor of Apple when selling smartphones, but it has long been a key client for the South Korean company. The company is permitted to use iPhones and iPads during meetings with Apple executives. Apple is currently lagging behind the popular Roku streaming device. Samsung’s partnership with Apple will give the company an additional way to get its content in front of its target audience. The new partnership will also help Samsung broaden its market share and help it increase its chip orders with NVIDIA.
