Manufacturing has begun for the chip that will power the iPhone 7, according to a new report.
Although the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus only recently came out, avid Apple fans are closely watching for updates on the iPhone 7, which is expected to be released in September 2015.
A huge step has been taken toward that release with Samsung beginning production of the A9 chip, reported Korea’s Electronic Times.
The company is producing the next-generation chips at its plant in Austin, Texas.
The move signals Apple’s effort to move parts of production back to the United States.
Samsung was first reported to have received orders for the chips back in July. An executive confirmed in October that the chip-making division would see improved profits once it began supplying the chips to Apple.
Samsung has built custom chips for Apple since the launch of the first iPhone in 2007.
While production has started for the A9 chips, Forbes points out that mass production will likely not start until sometime next year.
Apple is rumored to be releasing an iPhone model in the spring to go with its Apple Watch, but that’s expected to be the new version of the iPhone 6 and will probably not contain the A9 chips.
The current production of the chip is likely for prototype and beta builds for the iPhone 7, as part of extensive testing.
Among other effects of the chips, they are slated to enable faster and more efficient phones while using less battery power.
*Top photo: (Flickr/Jan-Willem Reusink)
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