Despite being fierce rivals, Apple and Samsung have a somewhat symbiotic relationship when it comes to manufacturing their handsets. Now it has been reported that the Korean tech giant will be the main supplier of the A9 chips in Apple's upcoming iPhone range. Although this isn't the first time Samsung has manufactured parts for iPhones, it signals that the frosty partnership between the two may be thawing. Samsung will reportedly be the main supplier of the A9 chips in Apple's upcoming iPhone range. Samsung has previously supplied Apple with various iPhone parts, but following legal disputes, Apple shifted away from its rival and signed a monopoly deal with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) in 2013 . Apple relies heavily on other firms to produce the various components it uses in its iPhones and iPads. And for years, Samsung was a dominant member of this group. It produced the flash and working memory in the iPhone 4, for example, and was a substantial Apple chip partner until 2013. However, following legal disputes, Apple shifted away from Samsung and signed a deal with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) to produce the A7 seen in the iPhone 5S. Samsung has announced better-than-expected profits for the first quarter of 2015. A rising demand for memory chips is said to be helping offset a slump in the firm's smartphone sales. During a call on Tuesday, the electronics giant estimated an operating profit of 5.9 trillion won ($5.4 billion/£3.6 million) between January and March. This beat analyst expectations and was up 11.5 per cent from the previous quarter. But this forecast was down 30.5 per cent from a year ago. It didn't cut Samsung off completely, though, and around 40 per cent of chips in the iPhone 6 are still made by the Korean giant or partners. But by handing the monopoly to TSMC, it directly affected Samsung's business. Reports of the A9 deal first appeared last year when a 'source familiar with the deal' told The Korea Times: 'Apple has designated Samsung as the primary supplier of its next chips powering iOS devices from 2016.' The deal is said to be worth 'billions of dollars.' From next year, this report continued Samsung will supply 80 per cent of Apple's supply of application processors, with TSMC supplying the remaining 20 per cent. Samsung then confirmed it was planning to mass produce its latest chips later this year. The Korean firm recently partnered with New York-based semiconductor experts GlobalFoundries. It was said to be this deal that appealed to Apple because it will help Samsung meet the demand for Apple's chips globally, and lets GlobalFoundries use Samsung's latest technology patents. As part of this deal, Bloomberg said Samsung will start making the A9 at its Giheung plant in South Korea, with additional orders going to Globalfoundries. Reports of the A9 deal first appeared last year when a 'source familiar with the deal' told The Korea Times that Apple had designated Samsung as the primary supplier of its next iOS chip in 2016.  Samsung will supply 80% of Apple's supply of application processors, with TSMC supplying the remaining 20% . Earlier today, Samsung announced better-than-expected profits for the first quarter of 2015 thanks to a rising demand for memory chips. But profits are predicted to be 30.5% down compared to this time last year. This follows news Samsung is facing a 'bendgate' controversy after a video showed its S6 bending and shattering . Earlier today Samsung announced better-than-expected profits for the first quarter of 2015. A rising demand for memory chips is said to be helping offset a slump in the firm's smartphone sales, but profits are predicted to be 30.5 per cent down compared to this time last year. This follows news Samsung is facing a 'bendgate' controversy, after famously mocking Apple when it emerged its iPhone 6 Plus could bend out of shape in people's pockets. A video from warranty firm SquareTrade shows the Galaxy S6 Edge bending under similar pressure as the iPhone 6. But, more importantly, the screen on the S6 Edge shattered during this test, while Apple's didn't. This led to Samsung releasing its own video, demonstrating a three-point bend test on both its Galaxy S6 models. 'We are confident that all our smartphones are not bendable under daily usage,' the company said in a statement. SquareTrade found that the Galaxy S6 Edge  bends and shatters under 110lbs (50kg) of pressure. It also tested the HTC One M9 both deformed and broke at 120lbs (54kg). Samsung added that the test done by SquareTrade 'does not show the strength of the back side' and it has now asked SquareTrade to do the test again on both the front and back sides of the device. Apple had to go to similar lengths during its own 'Bendgate' crisis, by allowing reporters into its labs to showcase iPhone 6 Plus durability tests. The teardown shows, from the front, the screen, logic board holder, battery, logic board with processor, camera, rear case and antenna. It is a fascinating view of exactly what goes into a modern smartphone - and how Samsung does business. The Chipworks site has posted this amazing image revealing the internals of the firm's Galaxy S6, which goes on sale on April 10th. The internals reveal Samsung used more of its own chips to power the new Galaxy S6 smartphone than it did for the predecessor S5, according to an early teardown report, in a blow to U.S. chip supplier Qualcomm. Samsung is not only using its own Exynos mobile processor, as had been widely reported, but also decided to rely on its in-house semiconductor business to source other parts, including the modem and power management integrated circuit chips, Ottawa-based consultancy Chipworks said. Samsung is counting on its new flagship Galaxy S6 and S6 edge phones to help revive earnings momentum after a disappointing 2014. Strong sales of system chips such as its Exynos processor could also help boost earnings, analysts and investors say. The Galaxy S6 also comes with Samsung's Shannon modem chip, U.S. phone carrierAT&T said on its website.
Reports claim Samsung will make the A9 chips for Apple's next iPhone.
A7 and A8 were mostly made by Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing.
Apple moved away from Samsung as a substantial chip partner in 2013.
Samsung has previously made flash and working memory for iPhones.