Apple dumps Samsung for TSMC to stamp Apple S2 chips for Apple Watch 2; launch coming soon

“Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) will replace Samsung as the sole supplier of chips for the new Apple Watch starting the second half of 2016,” Jessie Shen reports for DigiTimes.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo “revealed that there will be two models of Apple Watch slated for launch in the second half of 2016,” Shen reports. “Both models, second-generation Apple Watch (Apple Watch 2) and an enhanced version of first-generation Apple Watch, will feature Apple’s S2 SoCs built using TSMC’s 16nm process technology, but come with different screen sizes.”

“Despite the loss of chip orders, Samsung will start providing AMOLED panels [joining LG Display] for the Apple Watch in the second half of 2016,” Shen reports. “Kuo also disclosed that Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) will enter the supply chain for the Apple Watch starting 2017 joining existing supplier Quanta Computer.”

Read more in the full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Apple Watch 2 with watchOS 3 is going to be a quantum leap over the Apple Watch we first strapped on our wrists back on April 24, 2015!

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]

8 Comments

  1. Can we dump Ming-Chi Kuo? Enough with the criminal insider espionage by him and Mark Gurman! Some may say these leaks are intentional and placed by Apple – perhaps they create buzz but IMO they hurt Apple sales by removing the ‘surprise’ that Apple used to be known for.

  2. Maybe it’s just me but I hope the next version of the Apple watch has a slightly larger screen size. Thinner is fine, but every tiny bit of additional screen size means a more functional device (to me). Willing to sacrifice if it would replace my iPhone entirely.

    1. Can’t go with you on that. I’m 5’10” and I think they nailed it. Just big enough to read but not distracting or unprofessional. I now wear my watch even when I wear a suit – thanks to the interchangeable bands. It’s almost perfect. As usual I’d take more battery life over thinner. Would love to go a week between charges.

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