Quality issues with iPhone 5's aluminum chassis slows production, report says
Apple's decision to use lightweight anodized 6000 series aluminum for the iPhone 5's uni-body chassis has caused some units to show signs of wear out-of-the-box, prompting stricter quality control measures that have negatively impacted production yields, one insider says.
A person familiar with the new production standards told Bloomberg that senior Apple managers instructed Foxconn executives to tighten quality control measures shortly after the iPhone 5 launched in September.
Just hours after Apple's sixth-generation iPhone was released for public consumption, some consumers began to complain of nicks and scratches on their brand new handsets, sparking a small controversy dubbed "scuffgate."
The report echoes a report from last week that claimed workers at Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory went on strike over newly instituted quality control requirements and denial of vacation time. Though the Chinese manufacturer later denied the claims, the initial report noted that Apple had mandated a lower tolerance for so-called "indentations," bringing acceptable limits down to 0.02mm. Other preventative measures to ensure scratch-free iPhones were also said to be in place.
Foxconn representatives said its plants are running at full capacity, and no slowdown in iPhone 5 production has been reported. However, workers told Bloomberg that the handset's soft metal shell is prone to scratches in all phases of assembly, making it difficult to deliver a perfect final unit. As a result, fewer aluminum chassis passed through the tightened quality control standards, further constricting the iPhone's already short supply.
According to a person familiar with Foxconn's supply chain, production was halted at the company's Shenzhen factory due to lack of adequate housings. Foxconn officials denied any such work stoppage, and said production is instead increasing, though they declined to comment on specific customers.
A person familiar with the new production standards told Bloomberg that senior Apple managers instructed Foxconn executives to tighten quality control measures shortly after the iPhone 5 launched in September.
Just hours after Apple's sixth-generation iPhone was released for public consumption, some consumers began to complain of nicks and scratches on their brand new handsets, sparking a small controversy dubbed "scuffgate."
The report echoes a report from last week that claimed workers at Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory went on strike over newly instituted quality control requirements and denial of vacation time. Though the Chinese manufacturer later denied the claims, the initial report noted that Apple had mandated a lower tolerance for so-called "indentations," bringing acceptable limits down to 0.02mm. Other preventative measures to ensure scratch-free iPhones were also said to be in place.
Foxconn representatives said its plants are running at full capacity, and no slowdown in iPhone 5 production has been reported. However, workers told Bloomberg that the handset's soft metal shell is prone to scratches in all phases of assembly, making it difficult to deliver a perfect final unit. As a result, fewer aluminum chassis passed through the tightened quality control standards, further constricting the iPhone's already short supply.
According to a person familiar with Foxconn's supply chain, production was halted at the company's Shenzhen factory due to lack of adequate housings. Foxconn officials denied any such work stoppage, and said production is instead increasing, though they declined to comment on specific customers.
Comments
Just something to think about if you're buying one in the future.
Needless to say, I got a catchif case for $9 for both of us until my wrap comes in- fits perfect and is super thin. Hate covering up this beauty. :-(
Hi AndySol,
Are you saying your wife has the iPhone 5 in white? I noticed you mentioned about the durability of it, but you said you had a black one.. Thanks
Dan.
Are any news that Apple is going to change the material (for white) and/or the depth of anodic treatment (for black) ?
I don't see what all the fuss is about. I have a black one. I've already dropped it a few times. The nicks on the corners are barely visible and honestly compared to my old iPhone 3GS, it's still a significant improvement.
I think when it comes to scratches, my finger print smudges on the screen and the back is far more visually distracting than any scratches so far on my phone!
Just don't hold it.
Any way.
;-)
After using my old iPhone 4 without a case for over a year and my 5 for a few weeks, I can say that the new phone is MUCH more prone to scuffs and scratches even in white.
I must say that after many iPhones that this is the first one out of the box that had some damage. In fact it looked exactly like the nick in the picture above. Now, I did carry the phone on several trips for a week or so prior to getting my Speck case and I have no additional visible scratches. But I was very careful not to drop it. Very very happy with this phone.
Form over function as usual for Apple. No question, it's a beautiful device, but mine is scratched to hell already.
The backplate of the unibody structure on my white iPhone 5 had a tiny nick in it fresh out of the box (i.e., I took the plastic off, and it was already there). I don't, however, have any nicks anywhere else on the device after a few weeks of using the device without a case (got mine on the 21st).
My wife's black iPhone 5, OTOH, has a noticeable nick on the top right corner. Only took one day for it to show up and she didn't even drop it. She is now using a bumper case on it.
Now if you are buying it because of it's refined form and it's coming from the factory with damage then by all means get it replaced but I assume most don't care too much. I certainly haven't given mine a close enough look to see if there is any factory damage.
Steve Jobs from beyond the grave, "You're holding it... period."
Great - I'm glad I'm forced to wait due to contract. If its not fixed by then I'm waiting for the next gen . Totally fine with the 4S. Don't need a remote control in my pocket anyway. More surface- more to nick.
Recall?
Why didn't Apple use titanium?
This story should be good for at least another $20 drop in share price.
Improve the anodising...
The "white" model doesn't use color on the band, so any nicks would be much less noticeable. The stainless band on the 4 and 4S don't show any marks from use very easily because there is no coloring, but mine will show plenty of marks from a couple drops.
Apple has used anodized parts before, several generations of Nano and Shuffle were anodized aluminum. I think the faceplate of the Classic was anodized aluminum. I wonder how much of this is extra scrutiny from the users.