After the recent discussions with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Apple has allegedly decided to return to Samsung to fabricate its next chip, which will likely be called the A9. That is according to a new report in Re/code cited unnamed sources familiar with the situation.

The South Korean company used to be Apple's partner in manufacturing its iPhone chips, but the relationship between the two fell apart when the latter sued Samsung for allegedly copying its phones and tablets in 2011. This prompted the iPhone maker to look elsewhere and eventually pick TSMC to become its A8 chip manufacturer.

But Samsung's 14nm manufacturing process seems to have attracted Apple. Samsung's facilities are better equipped to offer these things than the factories of TSMC, which is currently having a hard time with its 16nm process.

Apple designs its mobile processors on its own, but outsources the production. With the A8 chips used in iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Apple split the job between TSMC and Samsung, with the former receiving the bulk of the orders.

The news first appeared in South Korea's Maeil Business Newspaper, but Samsung and Apple have yet to confirm the said report.

But still, the reports should be treated with scepticism, as they appear potentially to end the rumours that Apple would tap Intel to manufacture its mobile chips. Intel also uses the 14nm process.