Keep friends close, enemies closer. Who makes Apple’s celebrated iPad 2 A5 processor? Arch enemy Samsung.
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That is the latest revelation in the tumultuous relationship between sworn enemies Apple and Samsung, who are currently embroiled in patent lawsuits in countries all over the world including Oz, with both parties suing the bejesus out of one another in a bid to get ahead in the tablet, smartphone markets.
But the duo are also major business partners with Samsung, one of the biggest component manufacturers in the world and traditionally being one of Apple’s main suppliers.
Sammy previously made A4 processors and displays found on the original iPad, accounting for billions of dollars in annual revenue.
However, Apple were said to be turning to other suppliers for tablet and mobile displays including Sharp and LG once it fell out with Samsung over iPad and iPhone patents it alleges its main supplier stole.
The Koreans were also said to be playing a part in the manufacturing of Apple’s new Internet TV due out next year.
The A5 dual core processor, pipped as the ‘beating heart’ of the “thinner, faster, lighter” iPad 2 when it was released earlier this year, is also found under the bonnet of the new iPhone 4S.
The processor plant where A5 is made is located in Austin, Texas, and owned by Korean based Samsung, according to supply chain sources, and Apple production takes up a large part of the plant, The Guardian reports.
The great irony of this is that although Apple succeeded in banning its rival Samsung Galaxy Tab here in Australia and Germany, Samsung directly benefitted from increased iPad sales during the banned period, since it supplies one of its core parts.
In other words, it appears Samsung benefits from sales of the iPad 2 (which currently owns around 75% of the tablet market globally), iPhone 4S sales, and not to mention when it sells its home grown Galaxy S II or Tab 10.1, which has just become legal tender in Australia.
Apple declined to comment on the reports.
However, a Samsung spokesperson confirmed the Texas plant was expanded to facilitate logic chip production, which aligns with sources claiming that the A5 deal between the rivals first kicked off earlier this year.
The iPad 2 was released first in March and iPhone 4S in October last.
The A5 processor, although designed by Apple in California, uses ARM chip technology.
