Sources within the supply chain of Apple are claiming that due to lower-than-expected yield rates for the 10-nanometer manufacturing process by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the launch date of the next-generation iPad tablet might be pushed back.
There have been many rumors regarding the next iPad that Apple is planning to release, but with a disruption in the supply chain, interested users might have to wait a bit longer before they can get their hands on the upcoming tablet.
Next-Gen iPad Production Could Be Delayed
The disruption in the supply chain due to the low yield rates of 10nm processes was reported by DigiTimes, which claimed that both Samsung and TSMC are experiencing the problem.
The low yield rate from Samsung has affected Qualcomm, which has become cautious in its planned roadmap of products for 2017. The low yield rate from TSMC, meanwhile, has affected Apple and its next-generation iPad.
According to DigiTimes, TSMC is scheduled to start producing the A10X chips that Apple will be using for the upcoming iPad models, which are slated for a March 2017 release. Due to the unsatisfactory yields though, there could be a change in schedule and a delay on when the new iPads will be released to the market.
The Move To The 10nm Process
The A10 chip currently used by Apple was manufactured using the 16-nanometer process. The move to the 10-nanometer process for the new iPads would make the devices more efficient in terms of power usage. The 10-nanometer chips would also improve the speed of the iOS experience on the next-generation iPads.
However, even if the low yield rates of the 10nm process is accurate, there is still time for Apple to figure out how to solve the problem on the production of its A10X chip.
It is likely that TSMC would prioritize the customer with the highest profile though. The companies that have sent in orders for 10nm chips are Apple, HiSilicon, and MediaTek, and among these three, Apple would receive priority.
What Are The Next-Gen iPad Models?
Rumors are suggesting that Apple is planning to reveal three iPad models in March 2017, namely refreshed versions of the 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch models and an all-new iPad with a screen size in between the two current models.
There have been conflicting reports on how big exactly the new model will be, with some rumors claiming that it will be a 10.9-inch tablet while others believe that it will be a 10.5-inch device.
It has also been rumored that the new iPad model will have no Home button and have an almost bezel-free screen, allowing to to be similar in overall size to the 9.7-inch model despite the bigger display.
