Production

Apple suppliers beginning production of new iPads with anti-reflection coating

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Bloomberg is out with a new report this afternoon regarding Apple's new iPads. The outlet claims that the company's suppliers have already begun producing the new tablets, which are expected to debut towards the end of this quarter or early next.

According to their sources, mass production of the full 9.7-inch iPad is already under way, and production for the new iPad mini is right behind it. Additionally, the tablets will evidently feature new anti-reflective coating, making them easier to read...

Analyst predicts initial iWatch shipments may be limited due to sapphire issues

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Noted KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo issued a new note to investors today regarding the upcoming iWatch. Echoing his thoughts from earlier this month, Kuo says he believes that only around 3 million units or so of Apple's smartwatch will ship this year.

Citing supply chain sources, the analyst blames production issues for the device's limited availability. More specifically, Kuo believes that Apple is running into problems with the iWatch's sapphire cover lens, pushing mass production back until late-November...

Chinese sources: mass production of 4.7″ iPhone 6 begins, 5.5″ and new iPads start in September

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 2, 2017

As the purported parts and cases thought to belong to the iPhone 6 continue leaking out, Apple is now said to have started mass production of a 4.7-inch handset variant. As for a bigger 5.5-inch version, the handset is understood to enter production in September, alongside upcoming new iPads.

If true, there may after all be some truth to the rumors that the two phones won't launch simultaneously in order to avoid cannibalization. Just yesterday, for instance, the hit-and-miss DigiTimes said the 4.7 and 5.5-inch models of the iPhone 6 will launch separately as Apple wants to “avoid competition between the two models”...

WSJ: Apple gearing up for record production of 70 to 80 million iPhone 6 units

Cody Lee ∙ July 21, 2014

Apple is gearing up for its largest initial production run of iPhones ever, according to a new report this afternoon from The Wall Street Journal. The Cupertino company is betting big on its larger-screened handsets, which it believes will garner record sales.

Citing sources "familiar with the matter," the outlet says that Apple has asked suppliers to manufacture somewhere between 70 million and 80 million units combined of two larger display iPhones, one 4.7-inch model and one 5.5-inch, by the end of December...

Mass production of 4.7-inch iPhone 6 to begin this month, 5.5-inch in August

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Reuters is out with a report this evening regarding the production timeline for Apple's iPhone 6. Citing local media sources, the outlet says that the 4.7-inch model is set to begin mass-production later this month, with the 5.5-inch ramping up in August.

The bulk of the manufacturing will take place at Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, also known as Foxconn. Pegatron is also said to be taking orders for the upcoming handset, and both companies have gone on hiring sprees to handle the workload...

Apple to move from TSMC to Samsung for next-gen chip production

Cody Lee ∙ July 17, 2014

Last year, Apple reached an agreement with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to make processors for its iOS devices. The deal was part of a larger effort by the iPad-maker to reduce its reliance on Samsung.

But the move may not last long. Citing supply chain sources and KGI Securities analyst Michael Liu, Reuters is reporting that Apple is looking to shift production of its 14-nanometer next-generation chips from TSMC to Samsung...

Apple joins ‘SupplierPay’ initiative to speed up payments to small businesses

Cody Lee ∙ July 12, 2014

Apple has joined Coca-Cola, IBM and other major companies as an early adopter in the new White House 'SupplierPay' program. The initiative is aimed at accelerating payments from these larger firms to smaller businesses in their supply chain.

The program is a private-sector extension of QuickPay, another federal initiative designed to ensure small contractors are paid within 15 days of submitting an invoice. This helps them avoid borrowing money, increasing their chances to succeed...

Sharp in talks with Apple to regain control of iPhone panel plant

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Sharp is looking to regain control of its Kameyama plant back from Apple. Nikkei is reporting this afternoon that the company has proposed a deal to the Cupertino firm worth nearly $300 million, in an effort to diversify its customer base.

The Kameyama Plant No. 1 began operations in 2004 as a facility for manufacturing large panels for flat-screen TVs. But after consecutive years of profit losses, it called on Apple to help foot the bill to transition the plant to smaller panels...

New report says mass production of iWatch may not begin until November

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo issued a new note to investors this morning, stating that Apple may have to push mass production of the iWatch back more than a month. The highly revered analyst originally predicted that production for the device would ramp up in September, but due to the complexity of the project, he now believes it could begin as late as November...

WSJ: TSMC starts shipping 20nm A8 chips to Apple

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 10, 2014

It's been long rumored that Apple for years has been working with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest independent chip foundry, on building its in-house designed processors that power the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Apple TV devices.

Thus far, several conflicting reports have indicated that TSMC has been running test production of the upcoming A8 processor for months now, with other sources insisting that the Taiwanese chip foundry was unsuccessful kickstarting mass-production over ongoing yield issues.

A report Thursday by The Wall Street Journal has it on good authority that TSMC finally began shipping its first batch of microprocessors to Apple in the second quarter...

New report says Foxconn’s robots will play more of a supporting role in factories

Cody Lee ∙ Updated August 29, 2016

Earlier this week, word got out that Foxconn is preparing to deploy sophisticated robots to help assemble devices in its factories. The so-called 'Foxbots' have been in testing for years now, and CEO Terry Gou says the first units will help manufacture Apple’s iPhones.

Today, a new report is out from Taiwan's United Daily News that offers up new details on the program. According to the outlet, the robots will play more of a supporting role initially. Foxconn employees will still be responsible for general assembly and quality control...

Foxconn confirms it’s starting to deploy robots to help assemble iPhones

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 7, 2014

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., also known in the Western world as Foxconn, the world's largest contract manufacturer, will soon start deploying sophisticated robots to help assemble iPhones, CEO and Chairman Terry Gou announced during a shareholder meeting Monday.

Foxconn assembles a range of consumer electronics products for other companies, including iPhones and iPads. The plan to replace factory workers with robots was first announced two years ago, but hit roadblocks due to high cost of robot deployment...