Mike Wuerthele
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.
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Amber Neely
28 Comments
New iPhone huh?
Interesting...
How many antennas will it support?
In order to not be misled again (remember the “function area”) it is important to try to deduce what data is factual and what Kuo has added based on his own assumptions.
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.
Ha. Silly Kuo, Apple waits to the last minute to change designs. I mean that's what the rumors led us to believe this year. And rumors aren't wrong.
/s
Liquidmetal?
What I don’t understand is why Apple can’t use a metal case, as they have been, with a cutout in the back for the oval charge coil. They could fill the oval with glass, or ceramic. It would be much less breakable.