Kuo: Apple Looking to Save on Costs in iPhone 12 With Simpler Battery Board Design

[MacRumors]

Apple is looking to put a pricing squeeze on component suppliers for the upcoming iPhone 12 lineup to help offset increased costs for new 5G technology and minimize the need for price increases across the flagship lineup, according to a new research note from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo viewed by MacRumors.

Kuo says adoption of Sub-6GHz 5G technology will increase Apple's costs by $75–$85, while millimeter wave technology will incur a $125–$135 cost for Apple, so the company is cutting costs on other components wherever it can.

While Apple has broadly been putting "higher bargaining pressure" on its suppliers, the battery board is one area where Kuo believes suppliers will see the biggest cost trimming with Apple reportedly moving to a simpler and smaller design with fewer layers. The hybrid hard and soft battery board for the iPhone 12 will reportedly be 40–50% cheaper than the equivalent part in the iPhone 11 series, although this component is likely a small contributor to Apple's overall costs.

Looking out further into the future, Kuo says Apple will push the envelope even more with the "iPhone 12s" lineup in 2021, adopting a purely soft board design that will shave off an additional 30–40% compared to the iPhone 12 board price.

Apple has also been putting pricing pressure on its circuit board suppliers for the AirPods, Kuo says, with the average price of soft and hard boards in the AirPods 2 declining by 25–35% since the first half of the year.

Apple's current suppliers will face even more issues when the AirPods 3 launch in the first half of 2021, according to Kuo. He reiterates his previous claims that the next-generation earphones will follow the AirPods Pro in adopting an integrated system-in-package (SiP) design rather than the surface-mount technology (SMT) found in the current AirPods 2.

Article Link: Kuo: Apple Looking to Save on Costs in iPhone 12 With Simpler Battery Board Design

 

[smacesin92]

Oh......very cool

 

[supertiffany]

I'd rather have enduring battery life than 5g let alone sub 6ghz 5g


with these simpler components, no charging brick inside the box that should solidify the more affordable base iPhone 12 at $599.

 

[Shirasaki]

Apple cares about not raising price of their flagship lineup? Wow..../s

And why those 5G techs are expensive? Because they are still in the early stage? Part of the reason why Apple wants to use their own modem in hopefully 2021?

 

[PinnyHead]

While this type of negotiating certainly benefits the immediate bottom line of Apple, I hope they are not pushing suppliers to the point that we will be getting lesser quality.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Come on!!! 2 Trillion dollar company and this is what we are getting (cheaper batteries). Apple you can do better, Don’t be Microsoft!! please.

 

[Saipher]

So what’s does this actually mean? Is this a less performing battery that will not last as long or not charge as fast? Apple is know for its premium devices with high quality components and I hope it stays this way.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

So what’s does this actually mean? Is this a less performing battery that will not last as long or not charge as fast? Apple is know for its premium devices with high quality components and I hope it stays this way.

Sounds like cheaper battery to me. I wouldn’t be surprised if people start to change their own battery with an exclusive premium one.
[automerge]1597982054[/automerge]

I'd rather have enduring battery life than 5g let alone sub 6ghz 5g


with these simpler components, no charging brick inside the box that should solidify the more affordable base iPhone 12 at $599.

Honestly no one excited about the 5G anymore. I honestly think it can wait. don’t kill the battery

 

[Wanted797]

Come on!!! 2 trillion dollar company and this is what we are getting. Apple you can do better. Don’t be Microsoft!! please

What the hell does your comment even mean?

 

[jarman92]

Are any consumers actually excited about 5G? Seems like the only people who care are cellular network executives. I love to have the latest tech, but have zero desire for a 5G phone and am really sick of hearing about it. Hopefully this ridiculous race to 5G won’t compromise the rest of the iPhone.

 

[goobot]

Here comes logicboardgate.

 

[Gsmaniac]

prediction: Apple will drop the “s” moniker on the iPhone going forward.

 

[Adam Warlock]

Steve Jobs' nightmare has turned into reality: the salesmen have taken over the company. Rather than concern themselves with the best experience for their customers we hear stories about cost-savings by removing the charger from the box and now squeezing suppliers, all with a backdrop of ridiculously high-priced phones.

Tim Apple's greatest innovation thus far is the Apple credit card. Bravo!

 

[cmaier]

Come on!!! 2 trillion dollar company and this is what we are getting. Apple you can do better. Don’t be Microsoft!! please

I am baffled by your response. Since when is a simpler board design a bad thing? Simplification is the end goal of every engineer.

 

[farewelwilliams]

Read my comment again.

That wasn't the problem.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

That wasn't the problem.

Then I don’t know how to help you. Read the article I guess 🧐
[automerge]1597983201[/automerge]

I am baffled by your response. Since when is a simpler board design a bad thing? Simplification is the end goal of every engineer.

It sounds like cheaper batteries to me? I don’t see Kuo addressing simplification.

 

[farewelwilliams]

Then I don’t know how to help you. Read the article I guess 🧐

You've failed to state what Apple is failing to make better. They're using a more efficient design to save on costs to achieve same or better performance. That design is *factually* better than what the iPhone 11 Pro has . And your comment is complaining that they should do...better?

What a stupid comment.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

You've failed to state what Apple is failing to make better. They're using a more efficient design to save on costs to achieve same or better performance. That is *factually* better than what iPhone 11 has. And you comment is complaining that they should do...better?

What a stupid comment.

If what you said makes u feel better and sleep better at night. I guess so! 🤷‍♀️
maybe you misunderstood.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

At this point Apple should just increase the price to make more profit. I’m sure people are willing to pay whatever Apple has to offer, that’s including premium price,

I have a feeling it has to do with catching up with Android price range. They want to match what Android is offering.

 

[farewelwilliams]

If what you said makes u feel better and sleep better at night. I guess so! 🤷‍♀️
maybe you misunderstood.

I see where you misunderstood. Based on your other comments, you think the battery is somehow diminished.

The battery "board" does not include the battery. It's the "board". Article talks nothing about the battery or battery life.

Could Apple eventually be using a smaller battery? Sure, but this article doesn't say that at all. Do you understand now?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I see where you misunderstood. Based on your other comments, you think the battery is somehow diminished.

The battery "board" does not include the battery. It simply houses the battery. Article talks nothing about the battery or battery life.

Could Apple eventually be using a smaller battery? Sure, but this article doesn't say that at all. Do you understand now?

Not really. But thanks for elaborating on it.

 

[farewelwilliams]

Not really. But thanks for elaborating on it.

Not really as in you still don't understand? Alright, well I can't help you there.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I see where you misunderstood. Based on your other comments, you think the battery is somehow diminished.

The battery "board" does not include the battery. It's the "board". Article talks nothing about the battery or battery life.

Could Apple eventually be using a smaller battery? Sure, but this article doesn't say that at all. Do you understand now?

Numbers don’t lie.

Apple ‌iPhone 12‌ (5.4-inch) – A2471 – 2,227mAh
Apple ‌iPhone 12‌ Max (6.1-inch) – A2431 – 2,775mAh
Apple ‌iPhone 12‌ Pro (6.1-inch) – A2431 – 2,775mAh
Apple ‌iPhone 12‌ Pro Max (6.7-inch) – A2466 – 3,687mAh

 

[farewelwilliams]

Numbers don’t lie.

Apple ‌iPhone 12‌ (5.4-inch) – A2471 – 2,227mAh
Apple ‌iPhone 12‌ Max (6.1-inch) – A2431 – 2,775mAh
Apple ‌iPhone 12‌ Pro (6.1-inch) – A2431 – 2,775mAh
Apple ‌iPhone 12‌ Pro Max (6.7-inch) – A2466 – 3,687mAh

Nice of you to grab details from a July rumor article but we're talking about this article which doesn't talk about the battery pouch at all.

You're confusing the battery "pouch" with the battery "board". You still don't understand, really.

And also...those leaks are rumors which it can very much be a "lie".

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Nice of you to grab details from a July rumor article but we're talking about this article which doesn't talk about the battery pouch at all.

You're confusing the battery "pouch" with the battery "board". You still don't understand, really.

And also...those leaks are rumors which it can very much be a "lie".

I believe that’s coming from an authentic source