The Apple A11 chip, expected to be at the heart of the next-generation iPhone 8, has reportedly entered production. Although Apple hasn’t made any official announcement, several sources have claimed that alongside 10nm hardware now being fabricated for MediaTek and HiSilicon, Apple’s A11 system on chip (SOC) is now under construction.
Rumors abound about the iPhone 8, which is expected to be something of a showcase device. Corresponding to the 10-year anniversary of the original iPhone’s release, the handset is expected to show up at the end of this year and could feature everything from a bezel-less screen with a built-in fingerprint sensor, to wireless charging, and dual rear cameras to new casing materials.
Although none of that has been confirmed by Apple, one feature that most people agree is most likely to appear is the next generation of Apple SoC. Considering the iPhone 7 came packing a new generation A10, the A11 is the next logical step. Now Digitimes is reporting that those same A11 chips have entered production at a TSMC facility.
Earlier reports suggested that the rumored A11 would enter production in April, but the same sources that claimed the fabrication process has now begun said that issues with yield pushed it back by a few weeks. Those issues have now been solved, we’re told, and we can expect the iPhone 8 to enter mass production later this year.
The original plan was to attempt to produce as many as 50 million units of the A11 processor by the end of July and 100 million units by the end of 2017, so clearly, the outlook for the phone’s sales is positive. However, there has also been some suggestion that the A11 could find its way into the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus phones, too.
Despite hints that the anniversary smartphone may end up being rather expensive, with main smartphone rival Samsung, having so many problems with its handset releases last year, early predictions suggest the iPhone 8 could end up outselling the Galaxy S8 by a large margin.
