Foxconn and Pegatron Begin Hiring Process Early to Prepare for 'More Complex' Build of iPhone 7

[MacRumors]

Recruitment at two of Apple's supplier factories has kicked off earlier than expected this year, with a report from Economic Daily News stating that both suppliers are getting a head start on the iPhone 7's assembly.

The new smartphone is referred to as "more complex than previous models," leading to Foxconn and Pegatron's preemptive hiring and manufacturing schedule this year (via CNBC).

Specifically, on Foxconn's website a hiring page reads, "Foxconn Zhengzhou is hiring a large number of ordinary workers. Welcome to join Foxconn: Age between 18-40. Overall monthly salary: 3,800 renminbi. Start working immediately." Applicants are encouraged to apply promptly for the positions, with language suggesting that they might have trouble connecting with Foxconn's job hotline because of the massive amount of people applying.

Due to the posting's suggestion that the iPhone 7's design is more complex than previous generations, Apple's suppliers began the hiring process about a month earlier than they have in previous years. The early start is said to buy the two companies extra time to train the new assembling staff on the intensive build of the iPhone 7. It was the first time in two years that Foxconn began recruitment processes for the assembly of a new iPhone as early as May.

Of course, no specifics were given to explain what exactly is "more complex" about the iPhone 7 this year. Recent rumors point to 2016's iPhone 7 as having a design largely similar to the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, with the probable removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack and potential introduction of a Smart Connector, although a recent rumor from Japanese site Mac Otakara contradicted reports on the latter.

Such an upgrade to this year's iPhone would set Apple up for a 2017 mega-cycle iteration on the "iPhone 8" with a new form factor potentially encompassing an edge-to-edge display and integrated Touch ID sans Home Button. But that still leaves confusion over the complexity of this year's model, although it might lie in the introduction of a dual-lens camera system, reportedly exclusive to the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus that will pack 3GB of RAM to help run the image processing of the new camera.

Article Link: Foxconn and Pegatron Begin Hiring Process Early to Prepare for 'More Complex' Build of iPhone 7

 

[SSD-GUY]

Complex because we might get another shade of pink?

 

[MH01]

Complex cause the workers have never had to work on the same design three years running , cultural shift.

 

[LordQ]

Complex because a protruding pill demands more resources than a protruding ring.

 

[2457282]

It would be really nice to find out that Apple has a surprise in store for us. I really don't mind the form factor, so they can keep that for years on end as far as i am concerned, but so far I have not heard of any new gotta have features. At least I still don't gotta have dual lenses on my phone. And I certainly don't gotta have a missing headphone jack.

 

[Tulani]

no more protruding lenses please

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Complex because Apple will be using the tiniest gremlins ever in an iPhone.

 

[smacrumon]

3,800 renminbi = $580 (USD) per month. Atrocious wages for people working up to and more than 60 hours a week. Even with all things considered with cost of living, these Apple offshore factory workers are getting a completely raw deal. In addition to a jam session with Garage Band, maybe Tim brought a suitcase of bonus compensatory payments as a thank you to staff for gruelling work conditions?
http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-livin...ult.jsp?country1=China&country2=United+States
http://www.chinalaborwatch.org

 

[mactactic]

Have a feeling iPhone 7 will be the worst selling iPhone ever. If rumors are true won't be that many differences from the 6S.
I'm waiting for 7S or iPhone Pro , or whatever clever name they come up with.

 

[Mactendo]

Curious what's so complex in iPhone 7. Sounds promising.

 

[Tycho24]

It would be really nice to find out that Apple has a surprise in store for us. I really don't mind the form factor, so they can keep that for years on end as far as i am concerned, but so far I have not heard of any new gotta have features. At least I still don't gotta have dual lenses on my phone. And I certainly don't gotta have a missing headphone jack.

This was exciting news to me too!
Like maybe they'll make it out of something crazy like graphene, lol.
Cool that there is still at least one more surprise in store for us.

 

[robotica]

Maybe they are planning on moving up the anniversary phone to this year?

 

[SMIDG3T]

We haven't seen any leaks from the front of the phone yet. There is a very slim chance Apple might make a few changes in regards to the front of the phone.

Saying that, we'll see a leak later that shows the front of the phone remains the same!!

 

[joueboy]

Protruding is the ultimate complexity.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Have a feeling iPhone 7 will be the worst selling iPhone ever. If rumors are true won't be that many differences from the 6S.

The original iPhone only sold around 6M units in 2007. Apple has sold 222M iPhones over the last year.

It's extremely unlikely that the new iPhone will be the worst selling iPhone. In fact, I'll bet it'll sell better than the 5S, which sold around 210M.

Passing peak iPhone means that Apple sold fewer iPhones than previously. After 9 years of having sales go up and up, sales went down a bit. That doesn't mean they plummeted. If they had announced their current sales numbers last year, nobody would have been concerned at all.

 

[ike1707]

"Look, he's all bulgy. He's like a moose.."

 

[Dave245]

There will probably still be a few surprises even if the design is the sme as the 6s. We will probably start to see actual leaks appearing of the 7 when production begins. It seems Apple wants to start early, maybe they want to avoid the usual mistake of not having enough phones at launch, especially with the dual camera feature.

 

[apolloa]

I guess hiding those antenna lines is really really really difficult???

 

[Dave245]

Have a feeling iPhone 7 will be the worst selling iPhone ever. If rumors are true won't be that many differences from the 6S.
I'm waiting for 7S or iPhone Pro , or whatever clever name they come up with.

Don't forget there will still be people who will want to upgrade from their iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, I'm one of those people and will be getting the 7 Plus/Pro. I wouldn't count Apple out yet, even if they keep the same design and are planning a big upgrade for the 10th anniversary next year, we will still see features in this years model, and probably a couple of surprises.

 

[neuropsychguy]

Have a feeling iPhone 7 will be the worst selling iPhone ever.

Apple will sell fewer than the original iPhone (6.1 million units)? Fewer than the 3G (about 20 million units)? Ever is a misplaced hyperbole.

I have a 6 (my first iPhone) and probably won't upgrade this fall. Not because of "lack of innovation" (I see plenty of innovation - innovation isn't just adding RAM or base storage [those are nice but not innovative] or whatever else people complain about on MacRumors) but because it's good and fast enough. I'll probably upgrade next fall (2017) because that will be my standard 3 year computer upgrade cycle.

 

[smacrumon]

From cool to fool. The cool simple clean design of 4s, refined over time into 5s, then into the mess of protruding camera and antenna lines on 6/6s/(7?).

Goodbye protruding lens. Goodbye antenna lines. Don't make an appearance unsmart-smart connector dots. Ugly!

iPhone 4s

iPhone 5s

iPhone 6s​

 

[iThingsGurl]

OMG they just figured out a way to include Watch Bands into the iPhone! New bands incoming.

 

[bodonnell202]

More complex to assemble so if this is true my guess is that it points to a water and dust proof design.

 

[SMIDG3T]

One rumour that could turn out true is that the Home button/Touch ID may no longer be clickable. You simply apply pressure to it. It's not a major change and I can see it being implemented in time for the upcoming iPhone.

 

[apolloa]

OMG they just figured out a way to include Watch Bands into the iPhone! New bands incoming.

hahaha that made me chuckle..