Apple (AAPL 0.45%) recently sent out invitations to select members of the media to what is very likely to be the launch of the next-generation iPhone, according to several websites. At this point, numerous leaks have given us a pretty solid idea of what the phone will look like. Perhaps more interesting to many investors, an alleged leak of the iPhone 6's logic board revealed some of the key components that the handset will pack.
While Apple stock is up nicely in anticipation of the iPhone 6, investors might also want to pay attention to these three companies that could benefit from the launch of the new device.
No. 1: NXP Semiconductor
According to a leak from Sonny Dickson, the next-generation iPhone will have a built-in near field communication chip from NXP Semiconductors (NXPI 1.72%). NFC lets devices connect wirelessly by putting them close together.
This isn't exactly a new technology -- Android phones from the likes of Samsung and HTC have included NFC for quite a while. However, NXP's potential win in the iPhone 6 is significant for a few reasons. First, the company is likely to see significant incremental NFC-related revenue from the ramp-up of the iPhone 6 this year.
Thinking longer term, it is a virtual certainty that more of Apple's iPhones will include NFC as the feature waterfalls to iPhones sold at lower price points. Furthermore, it is unlikely that Apple would equip just its iPhones with NFC, particularly if it will, as rumored, reveal a new payments service. Apple's next-generation iPad models will probably also feature NFC support, and NXP has a pretty good shot at being the supplier of those chips.
No. 2: Broadcom
As I wrote previously, approximately 28.3% of Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM)'s mobile and wireless business comes from the sale of chips to Apple. These are generally connectivity combo chips, though Broadcom also supplies touch controllers into Apple's iDevices, according to numerous iFixitteardowns.
One potential positive for Broadcom is that, in the transition to the iPhone 6, Apple is likely to include an 802.11ac Wi-Fi chip. Since an 802.11ac chip should generate more revenue per unit than the 802.11n chip inside of the iPhone 5s, Broadcom could rake in more revenue per iPhone sold when the latest model hits the market.
Interestingly enough, I'm not entirely optimistic that the iPhone 6 could drive huge volume upside for Broadcom. This is due to the fact that the company's connectivity chips already seem to be found in most, if not all, of the "premium" smartphones available today.
That said, any overall high-end smartphone market upside that Apple can drive with the iPhone 6 should be good news for Broadcom on top of the upward mix-shift at Apple.
No. 3: Taiwan Semiconductor
Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM +4.50%) has been long rumored to be the contract manufacturer for Apple's "A-series" chips. However, the 2011, 2012, and 2013 iPhone and iPad models all featured Samsung (NASDAQOTH: SSNLF)-built applications processors.
As fellow Fool Evan Niu pointed out, though, this is the year that Apple transitions to Taiwan Semiconductor for the manufacture of its applications processors.
On top of that, as noted here, the Qualcomm-designed cellular baseband inside the iPhone 5 and 5s is, according to Chipworks, built by Samsung. However, the baseband allegedly going into the iPhone 6 is built by Taiwan Semiconductor, according to AnandTech,.
This means Taiwan Semiconductor stands to gain significant content share within the next iPhone, and most of that business should be additive to the company's current revenue base. While concerns loom that Taiwan Semiconductor could face a more difficult time later next year as Samsung gets aggressive with its 14-nanometer manufacturing technology, the company should, nevertheless, benefit nicely as iPhone 6 sales ramp up.
