Apple's 2018 iPhone X will have new metal frame allowing for faster wireless data transfer...
Supply chain reports suggest that Apple will expand it's casing business for the 2018 iPhone to Catcher and Casetek, with a new casing required to improve data transmission quality.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, in a note obtained by AppleInsider, claims that the metal frame of Apple's fall 2018 iPhone will be composed of more than the four parts that the iPhone X has. The move, to improve transmission and reception, will necessitate additional suppliers to fill demand.
Kuo believes that Catcher will obtain stainless steel metal frame and casing assembly orders. However, should Casetek pass certification late in 2017 or early 2018, the company may win aluminum frame and casing assembly orders. As a side-effect, Kuo believes that Catcher may capture new design orders for any 2018 iMac Line, and benefit in assessment of a predicted 2018 augmented reality-based product.
Casetek supplies the mechanical keys for the iPhone now. The current iPhone X boasts a stainless steel metal frame.
At present Foxconn and Jabil supplies the internal supporting structure. It is not clear if the reported suppliers for 2018 will amplify offerings from the pair, or supplant it.
Photo: iFixit
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, in a note obtained by AppleInsider, claims that the metal frame of Apple's fall 2018 iPhone will be composed of more than the four parts that the iPhone X has. The move, to improve transmission and reception, will necessitate additional suppliers to fill demand.
Kuo believes that Catcher will obtain stainless steel metal frame and casing assembly orders. However, should Casetek pass certification late in 2017 or early 2018, the company may win aluminum frame and casing assembly orders. As a side-effect, Kuo believes that Catcher may capture new design orders for any 2018 iMac Line, and benefit in assessment of a predicted 2018 augmented reality-based product.
Casetek supplies the mechanical keys for the iPhone now. The current iPhone X boasts a stainless steel metal frame.
At present Foxconn and Jabil supplies the internal supporting structure. It is not clear if the reported suppliers for 2018 will amplify offerings from the pair, or supplant it.
Comments
Interesting...
How many antennas will it support?
In this case it is probably factual that the frame will be made of more pieces - because that is unexpected and something a supplier would likely know.
What Kuo says about the purpose of this new design being to improve radio signal reception is probably his own invention. He knows antenna lines are there for the cell antenna and so his assumption is that more parts are for a similar reason. Suppliers of a metal frame don’t know anything about the purpose or design intent in relation to radios. They simply don’t need to know that. Kuo invented it or chose to repeat someone else’s assumed explanation.
There might be several other explanations for a frame design that uses more parts. So we should keep an open mind and not charge in the direction Kuo points.
The headline for for this article should at least end with a question mark.
/s
Kuo typically gets his information a bit confused. The new glass backed iPhone X has a steel plate inside that is spot welded to the frame to form the casing - could the suppliers be referring to internal structural steel parts?
With the current design much the glass is supported by a steel sheet. This sheet has a cutout to create a ‘wireless charging’ window.
Apparently, Apple prefers the look of an ‘all glass’ back rather than a metal case with a glass window. Such a window would interfere with the iconic Apple Logo styling.
If this year's model is "eye fone ecks" next year's is "eye fone zee"?
it's: a contraction for "it is"
Seen it wrong several times here lately.
I as well take this with a grain of salt for improved radio signal. Maybe it would improve off axis connection for wifi or BT, but otherwise, not seeing it as necessary for the glass backed models. (Not an RF guy, but I've been around them for a couple of decades).
Kuo appears to be talking to suppliers that are geared up to machine steel and aluminum parts. This suggests phones with steel and aluminum frames will be in the lineup next year.
Bulk Metallic Glass alloys (aka LiquidMetal/ other brand names) are shaped with an injection molding process. This process is probably outside of the expertise of typical machine shops.