A woman looks at the screen of her mobile phone in front of an Apple logo outside its store in downtown Shanghai September 10, 2013.
A woman looks at the screen of her mobile phone in front of an Apple logo outside its store in downtown Shanghai September 10, 2013. Reuters

Apple appears on course for a spring 2015 release date of the iPhone 6S that will be followed shortly by the iPhone 7 in September of the same year as Samsung has reportedly commenced production of the application processor that will power both devices - the 64-bit A9 chip.

That Samsung is once again winning considerable favour from the iPhone maker was the subject of a recent report by South Korean online news site ETNews.com. According to the report, initial production of the A9 processor has begun in Samsung's Austin, Texas plant that "was chosen because of the next-generation chip's problems with performance security and supply."

It was revealed too that Samsung will use the 14nm FinFET process technology in producing the chip wafers, which the report described as "the cutting-edge micro-process for system semiconductors."

Earlier news have indicated that Apple is likely to tap Samsung to supply the bulk of its processing chip requirements for the iOS devices that the former will unleash in 2015 precisely due to the latter's chip technology that is far superior and cheaper to produce.

Up to 80 per cent of Apple's application processor needs will come from Samsung while the balance will be filled in by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), according to the latest information from supply chain sources in Asia.

3 freshly minted iPhones for 2015

It is assumed too that these Samsung-made chips will find their way on three iPhone models that Apple will issue beginning the spring of 2015.

The first to come is a 4-inch model that will bear minor updates from the iPhone 6, which explains its likely name of iPhone 6S. The device is optimised for one-hand use and is partly packed with features for pairing with the upcoming Apple Watch.

Apple-focused analysts like Ming-chi Kuo are saying that the first Apple smartwatch will debut a unique version of iOS 8.

The software will then be followed by iOS 9 that the tech giant will likely unveil via its annual WWDC in June.

In the same platform will stand the iPad Air 3 and the iPad Mini 4, both of which would likely become lighter, thinner but more powerful than the previous builds.

The main event, as expected, is the iPhone 7 release date that of course will run on killer features-filled iOS 9, highlighted by the refresh that is Apple Pay 2.0 and likely sporting an enhanced form-factor that could include a 3D display and a shatter-proof protective technology.