14 DAY TRIAL // A new report from Taiwan provides a treasure trove of information on Apple’s upcoming new iPhones, including some hardware particularities, as well as the names of all the companies supplying parts for the handsets (including the assemblers).
DigiTimes has it on file from industry sources in Taiwan that component makers stand to make a lot of cash as Apple is gearing up to release new iPhones.
The report starts with Foxconn, which is reportedly the main assembler of the iPhone 5S, and also mentions Pegatron, which is said to be handling half of the iPhone 5C orders.
Sources from the upstream supply chain are telling the trade publication that Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) is supplying the fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S, with TSMC and Xintec also throwing in some technology to support the feature.
Win Semiconductor, Avago Technologies, and RFMD are supplying Apple with RF front-end modules, while driver IC packaging comes from Chipbond (for iPhone 5S).
“TXC is supplying its 1612 quartz crystal and tuning fork for the new iPhones,” the report adds, while Largan is mentioned as “the main camera module supplier and is supplying the 8-megapixel camera for the iPhone 5S and 5-megapixel camera for the iPhone 5C.”
It doesn’t seem credible that the iPhone 5C will get a lower resolution camera than the iPhone 5, but it’s not impossible either, since that model is considered a budget phone.
Catcher Technology has reportedly scored some iPhone 5S orders but its yield rates are not impressive, with market watchers estimating that “the maker's shipment volume is unlikely to pick up until 2014.”
For those of you curious where the iPhone 5C's plastic chassis comes from, it’s reportedly supplied by US-based Jabil's subsidiary Green Point and Singapore-based Hi-P.
Taiwan-based Flexium Interconnect and Zhen Ding Tech are supplying the flexible printed circuit boards (FPCB) for the phones, while Simplo Technology and Dynapack are supplying the battery cells.
Coxon also recently entered Apple’s supply chain, and is now handling things like packaging and earphones. Foxlink ships the Lightning connectors of the two phones.
Last but certainly not least, the panels and touch-screens (capped at 4-inches and 326 ppi) are supplied by Japan Display, Sharp, and LG Display. Both iPhones will employ Corning Gorilla Glass.