Bare iPhone 7 Logic Boards Surface in New Photos

[MacRumors]

Just a month before the iPhone 7's expected unveiling, a few new images allegedly depicting the device's bare main logic board have surfaced on Chinese microblogging site Weibo (via Steve Hemmerstoffer), showing the major part before any of the device's chips have been added onto the circuit board.

Not much context is given in the images thanks to the lack of chips, but it is widely believed that the 2016 iPhone will house a next-generation A10 processor, produced solely with a variant of TSMC's 16-nanometer manufacturing process used on the A9. Although Apple picked TSMC for its 10nm production, that process is believed to begin ramping up towards the end of 2016 and beginning of 2017.

Front of iPhone 7 logic board​

The logic board layout is generally consistent with previous iPhones, with a large patch on the front corresponding to the location of the A10 main chip that appears to be roughly the same size as the current A9 chip used in the iPhone 6s. The A10 does appear to sit a bit higher on the logic board than usual, however, with another significant chip placed between the A10 and the SIM card lot in the center of the board.

Rear of iPhone 7 logic board​

Other internal parts of the iPhone 7 have leaked this year, like a Lightning cable assembly image in May, which opposed rumors that the new iPhone devices will ditch the 3.5 mm headphone jack in favor of a sole Lightning port for both audio and charging. Given the steady growth of rumors surrounding a Lightning-only iPhone 7 in 2016 -- with multiple reports this summer focused on Lightning-enabled EarPods and Accessories -- the internal cable assembly leak from May appears false.

In June, Weibo was the source of another internal iPhone 7 leak that showed dual SIM trays as a possibility for this year's iPhone. Today's logic board leak, however, shows a space for the SIM slot that appears nearly identical to current iPhones and smaller than the leaked dual-SIM tray, suggesting that the dual-SIM leak was also false.

Article Link: Bare iPhone 7 Logic Boards Surface in New Photos

 

[mistasopz]

You better triple down on security there Timmy.

 

[smacrumon]

This staged leaking business is completely lame.

 

[Sunday Ironfoot]

...using TSMC's 10-nanometer manufacturing process.

Are they sure about this? Not even Intel has reached 10nm.

 

[Rogifan]

This staged leaking business is completely lame.

Nah, it's not difficult for iPhone parts to leak. No need for Apple to be behind it.

 

[pmau]

Looks too big ... fake

 

[jav6454]

Going all the way down to the unrouted motherboard... seems like these Chienese bloggers are going to get a visit from the Apple KGB soon. On a more non-joking related note, Apple really needs to re-evaluate their partners as by the looks of things, it seems bloggers, not Apple are doing all the next gen iPhone announcements.

On a more technical note, it's nice to see how the actual PCB board looks like before being printed.

 

[Zirel]

next-generation A10 processor, produced solely using TSMC's 10-nanometer manufacturing process.

No Samsung?

That's good!

 

[Thunderhawks]

You better triple down on security there Timmy.

Maybe they can find the culprit.

A lot of specific marks on the desktop or whatever table it is.

Looks like for sure iPhone 7 is coming.

 

[Zirel]

Are they sure about this? Not even Intel has reached 10nm.

It's not set in stone that Intel should have the latest technology always.

Some day this was bound to happen. With PC sales slowing down and mobile sales going up, specially for high end models.
[doublepost=1470665427][/doublepost]

You better triple down on security there Timmy.

Not even Steve Jobs would care! It's an unpopulated PCB!

 

[2457282]

Maybe they can find the culprit.

A lot of specific marks on the desktop or whatever table it is.

Looks like for sure iPhone 7 is coming.

When I saw this, I thought they put the board on the floor. To me it looks like an old wood floor. But maybe you are right that its a desk.

 

[morcutt11]

Going all the way down to the unrouted motherboard... seems like these Chienese (sic) bloggers are going to get a visit from the Apple KGB soon. On a more non-joking related note, Apple really needs to re-evaluate their partners as by the looks of things, it seems bloggers, not Apple are doing all the next gen iPhone announcements.

I don't really know what Apple could do here. There are way too many people involved in the assembly process and way too high a bounty paid for leaked pics. Even with cameras, searches, etc., stuff is going to leak out if someone is willing to pay good $ for it.

 

[jav6454]

I don't really know what Apple could do here. There are way too many people involved in the assembly process and way too high a bounty paid for leaked pics. Even with cameras, searches, etc., stuff is going to leak out if someone is willing to pay good $ for it.

This might sound like a stupid example, but when it comes to Coca Cola's secret formula, there is no "leaks". Several people are involved in the manufacturing of equipment and of the soft drink itself, and yet the official formula has not leaked.

 

[The Game 161]

i think battery wise people should expect a good deal better battery life for the 7.

 

[Mr. Donahue]

I wonder if it was one dude that designed that board layout. Wow! That's crazy

 

[x-evil-x]

This might sound like a stupid example, but when it comes to Coca Cola's secret formula, there is no "leaks". Several people are involved in the manufacturing of equipment and of the soft drink itself, and yet the official formula has not leaked.

Quite different when you have more machines doing the work for a soda manufacturer.

 

[Jakexb]

TMSC has said they were doing 10nm this year and 7nm next year.
http://wccftech.com/tsmc-promises-10nm-production-2016-7nm-2017/

Seems insane, but we'll see!

 

[Zirel]

This might sound like a stupid example, but when it comes to Coca Cola's secret formula, there is no "leaks". Several people are involved in the manufacturing of equipment and of the soft drink itself, and yet the official formula has not leaked.

Every coke bottle comes with the ingredients, and it's patented (meaning it's public).

The only thing stopping others from copying is that the coke formula is protected by law.

 

[jonnysods]

iPhone rumors. iPad rumors. Samsung rumors.

WHEN THE HECK IS A NEW MAC GOING TO COME OUT!!!

I've been waiting for a MacBook Pro update since February...

 

[loekf]

Are they sure about this? Not even Intel has reached 10nm.

Intel is lagging behind Samsung and TSMC these days. TSMC promised 10nm volume production this year. Not sure about Samsung.

So where's my dual-SIM slot Apple ? Can't you think of a clever solution where two nano SIMs are put back-to-back on top of each other with their contacts exposed up and down of the slot ?

 

[azentropy]

Pretty boards

 

[Jakexb]

This might sound like a stupid example, but when it comes to Coca Cola's secret formula, there is no "leaks". Several people are involved in the manufacturing of equipment and of the soft drink itself, and yet the official formula has not leaked.

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/02/15/is-this-the-real-thing-coca-colas-secret-formula-discovered/

 

[jav6454]

Quite different when you have more machines doing the work for a soda manufacturer.

Lets switch this around a bit....

"Quite different when you have PCB printing machine doing the work for a computer manufacturer..."

Hmmm, looks the same to me. Like I said, it's a silly example, but it still holds that truth.

 

[Zirel]

TMSC has said they were doing 10nm this year and 7nm next year.
http://wccftech.com/tsmc-promises-10nm-production-2016-7nm-2017/

Seems insane, but we'll see!

Those unapproving comments are delicious reads.

 

[jav6454]

Every coke bottle comes with the ingredients, and it's patented (meaning it's public).

The only thing stopping others from copying is that the coke formula is protected by law.

Ingredients != Method of producing.

You can well say the ingredients of an iPhone are public knowledge, circuits, chip dies, etc...