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Double the memory for next iPhone/iPod Touch

by on17 December 2009

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With 64GB on a single NAND chip, this is likely

It seems that every time that Apple has upgraded the iPod or iPhone product lines, one of the most important feature announcements from them is that they will be adding more storage space. In the case of the iPhone and all of the iPods, except the hard drive based classic, this storage is added using NAND flash memory.

Recent announcements from Toshiba are that it has been able to get 64GB in a single chip using a 32nm process. Once Toshiba is fully ramped up, they expect to be able to produce about 3 million chips per month at the 64GB capacity.

Where things get interesting is in the Apple space as to how this would translate into the fourth generation model that is currently in design. From what we hear, it is likely that the next iPhone will be offered in a 64GB configuration using a single chip, while the iPod Touch (which has the space to accept two chips) will likely be offered in a 128GB configuration.

We also hear rumblings that it is now quite likely that the end of the iPod Classic is likely at hand, or at least the hard drive version of the classic. Since currently the iPod Classic is only being offered in a 160GB configuration, it is quite likely that if the iPod Classic is not discontinued it will likely only be offered in a new 250GB configuration, which will likely mean a price increase. With the iPod Touch at 128GB, it will be at best a difficult decision for Apple as to which direction they should go.

It is quite likely that beyond Apple, the 64GB NAND will also have a big effect on the SSD market space with larger and lower cost SSD drives likely. It is likely, according to our sources, that the Apple tablet product when released will use an SSD drive with 128GB of storage, and might be offered in a 256GB configuration, as well. We will have to wait and see how this pans out, but we know that Apple will simply not ignore the chance to add more storage in the same physical space.

Last modified on 17 December 2009
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