Apple Supplier Shrinks Down Capacitors Needed for 5G iPhone, Freeing Up Valuable Internal Space

[MacRumors]

Apple is planning to implement 5G technology in all of the iPhones coming in 2020, and Apple's suppliers are gearing up for the transition. One supplier, Murata Manufacturing, recently developed an "ultrasmall" version of a key electronic component, which will allow Apple to free up a bit of valuable space in its 5G iPhones.

According to Japanese news site Nikkei, Murata Manufacturing is set to start mass producing tiny multilayer ceramic capacitors that take up one-fifth of the space of the existing capacitors, but also offer 10 times the electrical storage capacity.

Each individual capacitor measures in at 0.25mm by 0.125mm, which is tiny. The capacitors are designed to regulate power usage within circuits used in the iPhone, and to create its ultrasmall capacitors, Murata was able to refine the ceramic powder that provides the base material for the sheets used in the capacitor, which allows more sheets to be stacked up for higher capacity without more space consumed on a circuit board.

5G technology is a bigger power drain than 4G technology, necessitating larger batteries and more efficient components. Murata's new capacitors will give smartphone designers like Apple freedom to use that space for other important components within the iPhone, such as higher-capacity batteries.

There's no confirmation that Apple is going to use Murata's technology, but it seems likely as Murata is a supplier for Apple. Murata also works with other smartphone companies such as Huawei.

Apple is planning to introduce at least three new iPhones in the fall of 2020, all of which are expected to include 5G technology to allow the iPhone to take advantage of 5G networks and better compete with Android smartphones.

Article Link: Apple Supplier Shrinks Down Capacitors Needed for 5G iPhone, Freeing Up Valuable Internal Space

 

[fmcshan]

Yes Apple, we will gladly take a larger battery

 

[gaximus]

Wish the picture showed a before and after.

 

[jscooper22]

Cool. But "shrink down?" Is that from the Department of Redundancy Department?

 

[69Mustang]

Cool. But "shrink down?" Is that from the Department of Redundancy Department?

Nah, it's from the Department of Colloquialism.

 

[Bornee35]

Must have some fancy pick and place units to populate boards with those bad boys.

 

[Hazmat401]

As long as the capacitors are reliable.... the more space to free up... the better

 

[alleggerita]

Did Jony Ive just moved to Murata?

 

[mazz0]

This isn’t really anything to do with 5G is it? I mean yeah, 5G will benefit from it, but so will everything else.

 

[tnsmart]

I wish there were some specs on the capacitors here. There are already many choices of capacitors at that size available from a different manufacturer. Murata makes 1 out of 255 listed there. Taiyo Yuden makes all the others. Including a cheaper one with the same specs but a higher voltage rating.

 

[BigBoy2018]

Oh boy, can't wait to see once this is released into electronics that are used around the world if any unforseen 'problems' crop up ... whether premature failure, or whatever.

 

[alexandr]

some of my friends are convinced they had an iphone 5g in 2012.

 

[Westside guy]

Finally. Although I must admit I've been wondering how they were fitting this thing into the iPhone this whole time...

 

[outskirtsofinfinity]

Seems to me they're so tiny that it would increase the risk of a short circuit failure mode? When a capacitor fails, you always want it to fail "open", not "short".

 

[SVTmaniac]

What is that? A capacitor for ants? It needs to be at least three times as big.

 

[CarlJ]

Wish the picture showed a before and after.

You'll have to check the capacitors' Instagram for that.

 

[decypher44]

What is that? A capacitor for ants? It needs to be at least three times as big.

🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜

 

[NickName99]

Higher monthly bill, phone weighs more and/or has worse battery life. I don’t see an upside to 5G.

I’d be way more excited about an affordable 4G unlimited plan that doesn’t “deprioritize” me all the time.

 

[Jakewilk]

Cool. But "shrink down?" Is that from the Department of Redundancy Department?

It’s not redundant, “shrink” and “down” are not synonymous

 

[Freida]

I have no desire to have 5G anytime soon. In fact, I'll be happy to see how it settles and if we have any health issues because 5G seems to be massive health risk from what I've gathered so far. So, I'll wait it out.

 

[PickUrPoison]

I wish there were some specs on the capacitors here. There are already many choices of capacitors at that size available from a different manufacturer. Murata makes 1 out of 255 listed there. Taiyo Yuden makes all the others. Including a cheaper one with the same specs but a higher voltage rating.

Are they the same size? According to the article they take up 1/5 the space of current components. So if the footprint is the same, they are presumably shorter in height. But that doesn’t necessarily translate to an actual benefit, if the components they’re next to are taller anyway.

 

[nostresshere]

some of my friends are convinced they had an iphone 5g in 2012.

Yea... amazing what some folks are convinced of - no matter what the FACTS are.

Friend of mine tried to convince me is Iphone 6 had wireless charging.

Oh well..

 

[macintoshmac]

I have no desire to have 5G anytime soon. In fact, I'll be happy to see how it settles and if we have any health issues because 5G seems to be massive health risk from what I've gathered so far. So, I'll wait it out.

Even if we won't buy 5G phones, how would we prevent ourselves from being bathed in the waves, sitting in the comfort of our homes?

 

[PickUrPoison]

I have no desire to have 5G anytime soon. In fact, I'll be happy to see how it settles and if we have any health issues because 5G seems to be massive health risk from what I've gathered so far. So, I'll wait it out.

If by “massive health risk” you mean no increased health risk, then you gather correctly. But there’s no harm in waiting if you’d prefer.

 

[dwaltwhit]

I may be simple, but this blows my mind!