# APL0098

> Apple SoC in iPhone

**Wikidata**: [Q33460595](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q33460595)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/apl0098

## Summary  
APL0098 is an Apple‑designed system‑on‑chip (SoC) that powers the iPhone 3G and early iPod touch models. It was manufactured by Samsung Group using a 90 nm lithography process and launched in June 2007. The chip occupies 72 mm² of silicon area and belongs to Apple’s broader Apple Silicon family.

## Key Facts  
- **Device integration** – Used in the iPhone 3G and the original iPod touch.  
- **Launch date** – Introduced in June 2007 (manufacturing start time 2007‑06‑00).  
- **Manufacturer** – Produced by Samsung Group under a 90 nm lithography process.  
- **Silicon area** – Measures 72 square millimetres【source: http://www.webcitation.org/6JdicE2LN?url=http://www.electronics-eetimes.com/en/analysis-gives-first-look-inside-apple-s-a4-processor.html?cmp_id=7&news_id=222901800】.  
- **Classification** – Instance of a “system on a chip” and a subclass of Apple Silicon.  
- **Successor** – Followed by Apple SoC model APL0278.  
- **Part of Apple Silicon series** – Shares lineage with other Apple‑designed processors.  
- **Image reference** – Visual representation available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/S5L8900.jpg.  

## FAQs  
### Q: Which Apple devices contain the APL0098 chip?  
A: The APL0098 SoC is installed in the iPhone 3G and the first generation iPod touch.  

### Q: Who manufactured the APL0098 and with what technology?  
A: Samsung Group fabricated the chip using a 90 nm lithography process.  

### Q: When was the APL0098 released?  
A: Production began in June 2007, marking its introduction to Apple’s product line.  

### Q: What chip succeeded the APL0098?  
A: The next Apple SoC in the series is model APL0278.  

### Q: How large is the APL0098 chip?  
A: It occupies 72 square millimetres of silicon area.  

## Why It Matters  
APL0098 represents a pivotal step in Apple’s transition to custom‑designed silicon for its mobile devices. By integrating core functions—CPU, GPU, memory controller, and I/O—onto a single chip, Apple achieved tighter hardware‑software synergy, improved power efficiency, and better performance than the off‑the‑shelf components used previously. Its deployment in the iPhone 3G helped the device deliver faster web browsing, smoother multimedia playback, and longer battery life, contributing to the iPhone’s rapid market adoption. Moreover, the partnership with Samsung for manufacturing showcased Apple’s willingness to collaborate with leading fabs while retaining design control, a model that underpins today’s highly integrated Apple Silicon ecosystem. The APL0098 thus laid foundational architecture and supply‑chain practices that continue to influence Apple’s processor strategy.  

## Notable For  
- **First Apple‑designed SoC in the iPhone 3G**, marking the start of Apple’s in‑house silicon roadmap.  
- **Fabricated by Samsung** using a 90 nm process, an early example of Apple‑Samsung collaboration on custom chips.  
- **Compact silicon footprint** of 72 mm², notable for its era’s integration density.  
- **Part of the Apple Silicon family**, establishing a lineage that leads to today’s high‑performance ARM‑based processors.  
- **Preceded by APL0278** and later succeeded by the same model, illustrating rapid iteration in Apple’s SoC development.  

## Body  

### Overview  
APL0098 is a system‑on‑chip (SoC) that consolidates the central processing unit, graphics processor, memory controller, and peripheral interfaces onto a single silicon die. It is classified under the Apple Silicon series, which groups Apple’s custom‑designed processors.

### Technical Specifications  
- **Silicon area:** 72 mm².  
- **Manufacturing process:** 90 nm lithography (Samsung Group).  
- **Architecture:** Integrated SoC design, enabling unified hardware‑software optimization.  

### Manufacturing Details  
- **Manufacturer:** Samsung Group, a leading semiconductor fab.  
- **Process qualification:** The chip was produced using Samsung’s 90 nm process, a standard for high‑performance mobile chips in the mid‑2000s.  
- **Start of production:** June 2007, as indicated by the start‑time qualifier.  

### Device Integration  
- **iPhone 3G:** APL0098 powers the second‑generation iPhone, delivering improved processing speed and power efficiency over its predecessor.  
- **iPod touch:** The same SoC is employed in the original iPod touch, enabling responsive touch interaction and multimedia handling.  

### Legacy and Succession  
- **Follow‑on chip:** The APL0278 succeeded APL0098, continuing Apple’s trend of iterative SoC improvements.  
- **Impact on Apple Silicon:** APL0098’s design philosophy—tight integration and custom architecture—set the groundwork for later Apple Silicon breakthroughs, including the high‑performance ARM‑based chips used in modern Macs and iPhones.  

### References  
- Area specification source: *Electronics EETimes* analysis (web‑cited).  
- Image: Wikimedia Commons file *S5L8900.jpg*.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.webcitation.org/6JdicE2LN?url=http://www.electronics-eetimes.com/en/analysis-gives-first-look-inside-apple-s-a4-processor.html?cmp_id=7&news_id=222901800)