Tim Cook: Japanese Supplier Seiko Advance is the Reason Why iPhone 11 Pro is Available in Midnight Green

[MacRumors]

Apple CEO Tim Cook in a December trip to Japan visited Seiko Advance, one of Apple's suppliers in the country, and in an interview with Nikkei that was published today, he explained that Seiko Advance is the reason why the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max are available in Midnight Green.

Seiko Advance is a company that creates ink for devices like the iPhone. Cook was shown a vat of the Midnight Green dye when he visited Seiko Advance, and said that it was "only made by high-quality control and craftsmanship."

Creating green ink typically involves using pollutants like halogens, but according to Seiko Advance sales manager Yukinori Kabe, the company was able to develop a cleaner way to create green with high color accuracy and durability. Seiko Advance is also the only ink producer with a cleanroom in the factory, allowing temperature and humidity to be controlled for consistent quality.

The environmental friendliness of Seiko Advance's green ink appealed to Apple CEO Tim Cook, leading Apple to add the color to its 2019 iPhone lineup. Seiko Advance is also the sole supplier for the Gold, Silver, and Space Gray inks used for the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max.

For the lower-priced iPhone 11, which comes in multiple bright colors, Apple uses several suppliers.

Cook in his tweet about Seiko Advance said the company brings the colors of the iPhone 11 Pro to life thanks to "their craftsmanship and attention to detail." Apple has worked with Seiko Advance for iPhone inks since 2011, when Cook invited various ink makers to visit Apple to explain their products.

Kabe visited Apple's campus in Cupertino, met Cook for the first time, and found that at first, Seiko Advance wasn't able to meet Apple's high quality standards. Four years later, after trial and error, Seiko Advance supplied black ink for the iPhone, leading to a partnership that now accounts for 40 percent of Seiko Advance's sales.

According to Cook, Apple and Seiko Advance have "grown together" and "push each other to innovate more."

Article Link: Tim Cook: Japanese Supplier Seiko Advance is the Reason Why iPhone 11 Pro is Available in Midnight Green

 

[dumastudetto]

It's a fact that Apple will only accept the highest quality options when creating products. If you want to be part of the Apple story, you have to be the best.

 

[newyorksole]

Stories like this are always cool to read. So many things happen behind the scenes.

Now start working on that deep blue / steel blue for the 2020 iPhones!

 

[MacFather]

Deleted.

 

[thevofl]

It's not anything I would have thought Apple would do, but am loving that they did. The back story only adds to the color's beauty.

 

[Mutepointer]

It’s not due to Seiko advance, it’s due to ££££€€€€$$$$
[automerge]1577730491[/automerge]

Maybe next year.

 

[decypher44]

I really hope they keep it for the 2020 phones!

 

[newyorksole]

I really hope they keep it for the 2020 phones!

Or eliminate it in favor of Deep Blue. I’m very surprised they went with Midnight Green as a flagship color Lol. Seemed pretty left field to me.

Bring back BLACK / Jet Black and also add in a nice Blue and I’ll be a happy camper.

 

[V_Man]

It's a fact that Apple will only accept the highest quality options when creating products. If you want to be part of the Apple story, you have to be the best.

Like the butterfly keyboard.

 

[dumastudetto]

Like the butterfly keyboard. Yep that’s high quality. So no fact.

Many people loved Apple's new keyboards, some others hate them. You can't please everyone all the time, but Apple will never stop driving forward with product innovation. If you can't stand change and advancement, I wouldn't recommend buying into Apple's ecosystems.

 

[redneckitengineer]

I have to agree, I love the color of my midnight green iPhone. Its a shame I always have it in a case that covers it up.

 

[falkon-engine]

I don’t like the midnight green. Maybe a midnight blue, with flakes.

 

[MacFather]

Deleted.

 

[Justanotherfanboy]

Or eliminate it in favor of Deep Blue. I’m very surprised they went with Midnight Green as a flagship color Lol. Seemed pretty left field to me.

Bring back BLACK / Jet Black and also add in a nice Blue and I’ll be a happy camper.

Lol, how is green “left field” & blue perfectly normal?
Ummmmm.... aren’t both of colors equally common??

 

[Artem Dzhadzha]

Many people loved Apple's new keyboards, some others hate them. You can't please everyone all the time, but Apple will never stop driving forward with product innovation. If you can't stand change and advancement, I wouldn't recommend buying into Apple's ecosystems.

I develop macOS/iOS software for a living since 2005. I'm clear-headed Apple fan, and I know that Apple doesn't always use the best components, only what you can see and touch because this is what sells. Open any mac computer, and you'll see a cheap motherboard, cheap memory. Apple discontinued Apple Cinema Display until now because it didn't provide a competitive image anymore. Apple makes an awesome design, awesome look-and-feel, great UX. At the same time, iPhone 11 still doesn't have 5G. Sometimes Apple fails really hard, like with touch bar w/o Esc and butterfly keyboard. Otherwise, they wouldn't roll back with new 16" MacBook pro. You definitely can assemble much much better PC using ASUS, Corsair, Crusial, higher grade GPUs, etc. I know Apple products from inside and from outside, software and hardware. Apple products are mediocre-to-high, but the ecosystem is very good. So it's not only about the quality. Apple is not the highest quality.

 

[Classie]

Good for Apple lovers and Seiko. Quite an important accomplishment for Seiko and their future!

 

[Slash787]

if the iPhone 12 is 5.4 inch notch less Midnight Blue, 128 GB as the base model, it would be the perfect thing.

 

[konqerror]

Or eliminate it in favor of Deep Blue. I’m very surprised they went with Midnight Green as a flagship color Lol. Seemed pretty left field to me.

You're not from Asia. Green and gold are colors for the Asian market. Green comes from prehistoric times as the color of jade.

 

[AJ44]

Maybe next year.

View attachment 885661

Love my midnight green but this is friggin gorgeous.

 

[balderoine]

We all know midnight green has been in the works because it has been siri's favorite color for years now. It's the color she gives when you ask her.

 

[Hushpuppy!]

Claims clean and controlled environment. Looks at Vat in picture. ? something doesn’t add up. Dirty Vat used in “high quality control”...

 

[Bustycat]

It’s not due to Seiko advance, it’s due to ££££€€€€$$$$
[automerge]1577730491[/automerge]

¥¥¥¥¥ are more appropriate in this case.

 

[autumnpatchouli]

I bought the midnight green iPhone 11 ProMax. I’ll admire the color again after I take off my Otterbox Defender case when I trade it in next year. $1200.00 for a phone, I’m not going to put it in a flimsy clear case. The Defender case has saved several of my phones since the 3GS.

 

[JosephAW]

I'm waiting for Apple to wrap the iPhone in color epaper under the glass so we can chose whatever color we want.

 

[newyorksole]

Lol, how is green “left field” & blue perfectly normal?
Ummmmm.... aren’t both of colors equally common??

I don’t think they’re equal tbh. (Just IMO) Blue seems like a color that would be used in a flagship more so than green. It’s also my favorite color