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iPad 3 Rumors Suggest A6 Still Coming from Samsung

The latest iPad 3 rumor, in a string of many regarding the A6 processor, appears to be that Apple hasn’t counted Samsung out yet as their supplier for the next generation iPad and iPhone chips – which will be released in 2012.
Asking to remain anonymous, an industry source (executive for an Apple parts supplier in Korea) said that “Apple has been in talks with Samsung over shipment of its A6 quad core chips.” In his statement he refers to the mobile A6 which is rumored to be included in the next iPhone.
In the past the A6 processor has been rumored to be pushed back until mid 2012, meaning it would be hard for Apple to get it into the iPad 3 with a release date sometime in Q1 2012. With that said, the anonymous source also went on to claim that “Samsung has been increasing the output of the Apple-designed A6 chips in its manufacturing plant in Austin, Texas;” a statement that would seem to refute that past rumor.
Increasing production could only mean one thing right? Apple recently begun its first wave of production of the iPad 3, and now an industry source is claiming at the same time that the A6 processor production is increasing as well. Coincidence or not, with the rumored specs of the iPad 3, it seems apparent that an A6 chip is the only foreseeable processor for Apple’s next-gen tablet; especially if it’s going to stay ahead of the competitors who are working tirelessly to dethrone the king.
Also divulging some information on TSMC, the source said that they will only produce a “small volume of customized chips”, while Samsung will be doing the majority of the leg work with their 28-nanometer processing technology.
Apple seems to be playing it safe, and for good reason. TSMC is believed to have not “yet been stabilized,” and that “Samsung offers better pricing and capacity commitment for the A6,” according to an analyst: Nho Geun-Chang.
It would be disastrous if Apple were to make a brash decision to switch suppliers completely so soon and then risk suffering from poor reliability, performance or other possible risk factors in doing so. On top of that, we don’t know how long the pre-existing manufacturing contract between Samsung and Apple is either.
Apple has their back-up plan in place with other processor manufacturers on the sidelines, however you should expect the A6 to be produced in majority by long time business partner Samsung, despite the legal issues that still remain largely unsettled. A quad-core A6 processor would be a delightful and welcomed addition to the iPad 3 that is anticipated to be released in March or April of 2012.