Bare iPhone 7 Logic Boards Surface in New Photos

Monday August 8, 2016 7:58 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Just a month before the iPhone 7's expected unveiling, a few new images allegedly depicting the device's bare main logic board have surfaced on Chinese microblogging site Weibo (via Steve Hemmerstoffer), showing the major part before any of the device's chips have been added onto the circuit board.

Not much context is given in the images thanks to the lack of chips, but it is widely believed that the 2016 iPhone will house a next-generation A10 processor, produced solely with a variant of TSMC's 16-nanometer manufacturing process used on the A9. Although Apple picked TSMC for its 10nm production, that process is believed to begin ramping up towards the end of 2016 and beginning of 2017.

iphone_7_logic_front
Front of iPhone 7 logic board

The logic board layout is generally consistent with previous iPhones, with a large patch on the front corresponding to the location of the A10 main chip that appears to be roughly the same size as the current A9 chip used in the iPhone 6s. The A10 does appear to sit a bit higher on the logic board than usual, however, with another significant chip placed between the A10 and the SIM card lot in the center of the board.

iphone_7_logic_back
Rear of iPhone 7 logic board

Other internal parts of the iPhone 7 have leaked this year, like a Lightning cable assembly image in May, which opposed rumors that the new iPhone devices will ditch the 3.5 mm headphone jack in favor of a sole Lightning port for both audio and charging. Given the steady growth of rumors surrounding a Lightning-only iPhone 7 in 2016 -- with multiple reports this summer focused on Lightning-enabled EarPods and Accessories -- the internal cable assembly leak from May appears false.

In June, Weibo was the source of another internal iPhone 7 leak that showed dual SIM trays as a possibility for this year's iPhone. Today's logic board leak, however, shows a space for the SIM slot that appears nearly identical to current iPhones and smaller than the leaked dual-SIM tray, suggesting that the dual-SIM leak was also false.

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smacrumon
44 months ago
This staged leaking business is completely lame.
Rating: 7 Votes
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mistasopz
44 months ago
You better triple down on security there Timmy.
Rating: 6 Votes
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morcutt11
44 months ago

Going all the way down to the unrouted motherboard... seems like these Chienese (sic) bloggers are going to get a visit from the Apple KGB soon. On a more non-joking related note, Apple really needs to re-evaluate their partners as by the looks of things, it seems bloggers, not Apple are doing all the next gen iPhone announcements.

I don't really know what Apple could do here. There are way too many people involved in the assembly process and way too high a bounty paid for leaked pics. Even with cameras, searches, etc., stuff is going to leak out if someone is willing to pay good $ for it.
Rating: 6 Votes
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NT1440
44 months ago

If Apple didn't want leaks to occur, or leak itself, it would make sure they didn't.
This. Is. Absolute. Nonsense.

You think Apple has the ability to make a supply chain involving thousands of vendors (services/assembly/manufacturing) involving dozens of countries complete leak free?

You sir (or madam) don't understand a globalized technology supply chain.....
Rating: 4 Votes
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Rogifan
44 months ago

This staged leaking business is completely lame.

Nah, it's not difficult for iPhone parts to leak. No need for Apple to be behind it.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Karma*Police
44 months ago

I don't really know what Apple could do here. There are way too many people involved in the assembly process and way too high a bounty paid for leaked pics. Even with cameras, searches, etc., stuff is going to leak out if someone is willing to pay good $ for it.


Yeah, I agree... that's why in recent years the biggest surprises have generally been in software, like Swift and some OS features.
Rating: 3 Votes
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pat500000
44 months ago
I think that's Tim Cook's shadow in those pictures.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Carvensno
44 months ago

This might sound like a stupid example, but when it comes to Coca Cola's secret formula, there is no "leaks". Several people are involved in the manufacturing of equipment and of the soft drink itself, and yet the official formula has not leaked.



There's only 2 people that have access to the formula at corporate level and the syrup is delivered to the mixing plants from a undisclosed manufacturers. Those manufacturers only parts of the syrup. One makes the flavorings part and another makes the sweetener part of the syrup. Watched travel channel and they had a thing a on how Coca Cola was made. This was how it was explained how the making/mixing process happens. Then of course they show the canning/filling process which is no secret.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Relentless Power
44 months ago

You think Apple has the ability to make a supply chain involving thousands of vendors (services/assembly/manufacturing) involving dozens of countries complete leak free?

You sir (or madam) don't understand a globalized technology supply chain.....


Excellent post. Some have difficulty understanding how a leak actually begins and ends on sites like Macrumors. And with Apple being so secretive as they are, I always like to think someone wants to expose Apple.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Zirel
44 months ago

next-generation A10 processor, produced solely ('https://www.macrumors.com/2016/02/10/tsmc-sole-manufacturer-iphone-7/') using TSMC's 10-nanometer manufacturing process.


No Samsung?

That's good!
Rating: 2 Votes

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