Samsung Electronics has reportedly begun production of the new A9 application processor (AP) for Apple's next-generation smartphone, using the 14nm FinFET microprocess for the first time. Korean Electronic Times reports that SEC began production of Apple's A9 in the Austin plant in the US.

The A9 chip production enabled SEC to recover the foundry quantities from Apple, which have been discontinued for some time, and get the upper hand in the 14nm FinFET technology competition with TSMC.

Samsung has already shown off samples made using its latest production technology to unspecified clients earlier this year.

The South Korean tech giant has been promoting its 14-nanometre FinFET-made chips as using 35 percent less electricity, while having 20 percent more processing power and taking up 15 percent less space than 20-nanometre chips.

Taiwan's TSMC has began the risk production of the 16nm FinFET plus (16FF+) process, and began to produce chips in July earlier than originally anticipated Q3.
Apple is obviously adjusting the A9 chip production quantity shuttling between SEC and TSMC.