Production

iPhone 8 to hit mass production late in the third quarter of 2017

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 23, 2016

In another note issued to clients this morning, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says he expects a next-generation iPhone to hit mass production late in the third quarter of next year. The widely rumored premium OLED iPhone model should account for a little more than half of new model shipments, or about fifty to 55 percent.

A 4.7-inch variant of next year's iPhone is projected to account for 30 to 35 percent of orders while its 5.5-inch brethren is expected to account for ten to fifteen percent of iPhone shipments next year.

TSMC posts record profits as iPhone 7 demand fuels orders for A10 Fusion chip

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 8, 2016

Chip manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) today posted record profits and its shares have climbed to their highest level on record as strong demand for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus fuels orders for the handsets' in-housed designed A10 Fusion processor. That TSMC is the sole supplier of the A10 has no doubt helped it capture record profits amid a global slowdown in the smartphone market.

iPhone manufacturer Foxconn planning to expand its operations in India next year

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 24, 2016

A May report from The Economic Times alleged that Apple had approached Foxconn about assembling iPhones in India in the next two to three years. The Economic Times of India confirmed Monday that Foxconn will be expanding its operations in India next year, backing its $600 million investments already made in the country.

Samsung suspends Galaxy Note 7 production

Cody Lee ∙ October 9, 2016

Samsung has temporarily halted production of its troubled Galaxy Note 7, reports Korean news agency Yonhap. The move follows decisions made on Sunday by multiple carriers, including AT&T and T-Mobile, to stop offering new units as replacements for those affected by the recall.

An anonymous source tells the outlet that the suspension in production is in cooperation with consumer safety regulators from South Korea, and various other countries, and that the measure includes a manufacturing plant in Vietnam that is responsible for global Note 7 shipments.

TSMC to start mass producing 10nm chips nearly a year ahead of Intel

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC), which builds Apple's in-house designed A10 Fusion chip that powers the iPhone 7, has confirmed mass production of ten-nanometer chips for clients will kick off by year-end, beating Intel by almost a year in terms of high-performance silicon.

Chip maker Intel's own ten-nanometer chips are due in second half of 2017.

Apple boosting iPhone 7 component orders significantly ahead of the holiday quarter

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 28, 2016

Unfazed by analyst reports predicting lower iPhone 7 sales this year versus the iPhone 6s in 2015, Apple is now reportedly increasing part and component orders for the handset, touch panel makers told Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes. Component orders for the holiday quarter are said to be 20-30 percent higher, according to Taiwan-based touch panel makers TPK Holding and General Interface Solution.

Pegatron CEO and Piper Jaffray slam analysts who predicted poor iPhone 7 sales

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

The CEO of Pegatron, a Taiwanese contract manufacturer that assembles Apple handsets along with Foxconn, told Nikkei Asian Review he remained “cautiously optimistic” about iPhone 7 sales.

His comment targets a recent analyst report from KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo predicting fewer iPhone 7 sales in 2016 than the iPhone 6s garnered in 2015. Analyst firm Piper Jaffray, too, downplayed Kuo's negative report in an interview with AppleInsider, saying it's seeing similarities to the monster iPhone 6 upgrade cycle.

Foxconn obtains government permission to repair iPhones at its Shanxi, China subsidiary

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 26, 2016

iPhone manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known in the Western press as Foxconn, has obtained approval from the local government to repair iPhones at its subsidiary in Shanxi, China, according to a report in the Chinese-language Economic Daily News newspaper cited by Taiwanese publication DigiTimes. This marks a second Foxconn subsidiary that can now repair iPhones.

The business model helps Apple to “save 40 percent of its costs on its smartphone maintenance services,” added the paper.

Apple has ramped up chip and component orders for Apple Watch Series 2

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 9, 2016

Apple appears confident that the new Apple Watch Series 2 will be twice as successful as the original model and has reportedly ramped up chip and component orders for the device, according to Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes that has solid sources in Asian supply chain.

How it’s made: black iPhone 7

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 17, 2016

I'm sure you know that Apple's new iPhone 7 series brings two new finishes to the mix, replacing the previous Space Gray colorway.

Both are black, but one gives you classic anodized matte appearance while the other results in a highly glossy look and feel. The matte one is called simply Black and the glossy is referred to as Jet Black.

Wondering how they're made?

Good, because Apple's now shared a video in which it shows off a brand new manufacturing process it had to develop in order to create these new dark looks.

Apple increases iPhone 7 production orders ahead of Wednesday’s event

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 5, 2016

With just two days left until Apple's big reveal, the Cupertino firm is said to have increased production orders for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. According to supply chain sources that spoke with Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes, Apple has boosted its original prediction by ten percent for parts and components needed for production of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, which are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, September 7.

Foxconn giving bonuses to assembly line workers ahead of iPhone 7 introduction

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 5, 2016

iPhone manufacturer Foxconn is giving bonuses to employees in an effort to maintain workforce ahead of the iPhone 7 introduction, trade publication DigiTimes quoted Taiwanese media as saying this morning. The contract manufacturer has reportedly been “encouraging internal recommendations” by treating each employee who recommends qualified workers to a cash bonus of up to CNY1,400, or about $209.