New 'iPhone 8' 3D Touch tech rumored to be more expensive than Apple expected
Apple's alleged supplier for the 3D Touch implementation for the OLED "iPhone 8" has hiked its price, and is reportedly charging more than double for the assembly in the new phone, versus what it charges for the iPhone 7.
According to a new report from the Economic Daily News, TPK Holdings is charging between $18 and $22 for the technology for 3D Touch. For comparison, supply chain reports believe that the same company currently charges between $7 and $9 per iPhone.
Implementing the technology in an OLED screen requires a different manufacturing process. It is believed that the 3D Touch sensors are embedded between two glass panels that sandwich the screen and the sensor film. On a conventional TFT screen, the sensors are bonded directly to the display panel, not requiring embedding in a glass sandwich.
As implemented in the iPhone 7 and earlier, 3D Touch employs an array of capacitive sensors integrated with an iPhone display's backlight. The system measures the distance between iPhone's flexible cover glass and the sensor array many times per second, then translates the results into force data, with location data being passed by the regular touch sensing technology.
Film sensors such as those needed for an OLED display operate under the same working principles, but offer more accurate deflection readings in a design that takes up much less internal space. In theory, it could also allow for multiple locations to sense different pressures simultaneously.
In January, it was thought that the more involved lamination process would increase costs between 10 and 20 percent.
The "iPhone 8" is predicted to sport an edge-to-edge OLED panel with a 5.1-inch user space -- the rest dedicated to virtual buttons. Slimming or removing the bezels would allow Apple to cram a larger battery into a form factor similar in size to the 4.7-inch iPhone 7. Also expected is a new 3D facial scanner .
With a complete redesign, plus the inclusion of a 2.5D curved glass back with wireless charging, some reports have pegged the starting price of the "iPhone 8" at more than $1,000.
According to a new report from the Economic Daily News, TPK Holdings is charging between $18 and $22 for the technology for 3D Touch. For comparison, supply chain reports believe that the same company currently charges between $7 and $9 per iPhone.
Implementing the technology in an OLED screen requires a different manufacturing process. It is believed that the 3D Touch sensors are embedded between two glass panels that sandwich the screen and the sensor film. On a conventional TFT screen, the sensors are bonded directly to the display panel, not requiring embedding in a glass sandwich.
As implemented in the iPhone 7 and earlier, 3D Touch employs an array of capacitive sensors integrated with an iPhone display's backlight. The system measures the distance between iPhone's flexible cover glass and the sensor array many times per second, then translates the results into force data, with location data being passed by the regular touch sensing technology.
Film sensors such as those needed for an OLED display operate under the same working principles, but offer more accurate deflection readings in a design that takes up much less internal space. In theory, it could also allow for multiple locations to sense different pressures simultaneously.
In January, it was thought that the more involved lamination process would increase costs between 10 and 20 percent.
The "iPhone 8" is predicted to sport an edge-to-edge OLED panel with a 5.1-inch user space -- the rest dedicated to virtual buttons. Slimming or removing the bezels would allow Apple to cram a larger battery into a form factor similar in size to the 4.7-inch iPhone 7. Also expected is a new 3D facial scanner .
With a complete redesign, plus the inclusion of a 2.5D curved glass back with wireless charging, some reports have pegged the starting price of the "iPhone 8" at more than $1,000.
Comments
"For 3D Touch solution used in existing iPhone series, TPK and fellow maker General Interface Solution (GIS) quote US$7-9 per smartphone. The solution directly bonds 3D Touch sensors on LTPS TFT-LCD display panels of the iPhone, but 3D Touch solution for OLED panels entails bonding of a glass cover on the front and back side of an OLED panel each to reinforce the fragile OLED panel.
Due to the additional bonding of glass covers, overall processing cost for OLED-based 3D Touch solution is about 50% higher than that for the LCD-based one but the quotes for the client is about 150% higher. Therefore, TPK and GIS are expected to significantly benefit from Apple's orders for OLED-based 3D Touch solution.
TPK has passed certification for OLED-based 3D Touch solution and expects to obtain significant orders."
Which is not the same as saying TPK has the entire order.
Why don't we just wait until the god damn thing is released and then we'll know for sure of every detail?
So Apple could ship the next iPhone on time, but might have slightly lower margins. I think they'd rather ship on time with some new technology that wows the world, then worry about 1-2 points on their margins for the initial devices.
That is the funniest thing i have read regarding Apple, in a long time!...
apple makes so much "margin" on iphones, why not just eat the cost?...
Because that hasn't traditionally be Apple MO. I do think they will be careful about crossing that $1000 price barrier (at least for the price of the base configuration of each model).