A latest report claimed that Samsung and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has already started mass production of Apple Inc.'s next-generation A9 application processor that is expected to power the Cupertino-based tech titan's upcoming smartphone models. According to rumors, Apple is currently working on two new iPhones, which have been dubbed as the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, which are likely to be launched this year.

IB Times states that the new report in Taiwan's DigiTimes claimed that although Apple has asked Samsung and TSMC to make eleventh-hour changes to the chip layout, the changes are unlikely to have any impact on the planned launch schedule of these two new handsets. The report further claimed that TSMC will commence mass production of the A9 chips in the last quarter of 2015, employing its 16-nanometer FinFET process.

Nevertheless, as far as the processors are concerned, it is unlikely that TSMC will be able to make any noteworthy contribution to the new iPhones initially if Apple sticks to its usual September launch schedule for the new iPhones, reports Apple Insider. Apart from manufacturing the A9 chips, TSMC is also said to be responsible for the production of Touch ID sensors as well as the audio chips for the new iPhone.

According to reports, Apple is preparing for a bigger initial production run of the new iPhones, which are likely to feature 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays. As a result, the company has asked its suppliers to manufacture anything between 85 million and 90 million units of both models. Compared to this, Apple had ordered between 70 million and 80 million units of its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in 2014.

While it is expected that the new iPhones will be matching with their predecessors in nearly all respects, they will also incorporate a number of new features and, therefore, they can be expected to be an upgrade.

According to rumors, the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus may pack the A9 processor with 2GB of RAM, a more rapid Qualcomm LTE chip, a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera with Sony's RGBW technology and come in cases made from the 7000 Series aluminum which was used in the Apple Watch Sport. In addition, there are rumors that the new iPhones may feature a pressure-sensitive control system called Force Touch, which was introduced with the Apple Watch.