Apple is reportedly changing up the way it produces camera modules for its iPhone, now opting to individually produce each of the camera lenses separately, rather than procure them together and have them pre-assembled, according to a report from The Elec.
The report notes that up to last year, Apple's iPhone camera lenses were produced by its suppliers LG InnoTek, Sharp, and O'Film. The lenses were "pre-assembled." Now, Apple is consolidating the production of its camera modules to its largest supplier, Foxconn, to save costs.
Up to last year, Apple has procured double and triple camera modules from its suppliers LG InnoTek, Sharp, and O'Film that are pre-assembled.
But it is now procuring these camera modules individually and gave the job of assembly to Foxconn. The measure is being done to save cost.
Foxconn, in preparation for its new camera assembly responsibility, has received new inspection equipment from the South Korean firm Hyvision System. The new system will check whether the wide, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto cameras' lenses, including their optical axis and image sensors, are correctly aligned on higher-end iPhone models. An incorrect alignment could result in drastically reduced image quality.
The new changes are being done to "save costs," but it remains unclear if those savings would be presented to customers. It's also unclear whether the new production methodology and Foxconn's role in camera assembly will be in practice for the upcoming iPhone 13. Given that the new iPhones are already in production, that's unlikely to be the case.
Wednesday September 29, 2021 5:27 am PDT by Sami Fathi
The newly launched iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro are apparently hitting a snag in production, mainly due to a new wave of health concerns and limited manufacturing capacity for the devices' camera systems in Vietnam, according to a new report from Nikkei Asia. The iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max all feature sensor-shift optical image stabilization, a feature...
Friday October 1, 2021 4:27 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple supplier Foxconn has agreed to buy a former General Motors factory in Ohio, a move that potentially puts it in a better position to assemble cars for Apple, should the tech giant choose to formally enter the automotive sector in the future (via Bloomberg).
Image credit: Dustin Franz/Bloomberg The purchase is part of a $280 million deal Foxconn has agreed with embattled automaker...
Wednesday August 25, 2021 2:09 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple supplier Luxshare has reported record revenue and profit in the first half of 2021, thanks largely to the Chinese assembler's increasing involvement in Apple's supply chain.
From a new report by Nikkei Asia:
The Guangdong-based company sometimes called "Little Foxconn," which has been deepening its relationship with Apple and is assembling iPhones for the U.S. technology giant for the ...
Thursday August 12, 2021 4:59 am PDT by Sami Fathi
Foxconn, one of Apple's largest suppliers, has said it will begin construction of all-electric vehicle plants in the United States and Thailand this year, with hopes of them being operational by 2023, according to a report from Nikkei Asia.
From the report: Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics producer, on Thursday said it will build electric vehicle manufacturing facilities...
Friday November 12, 2021 8:08 am PST by Sami Fathi
Major iPhone supplier Foxconn says that it expects the ongoing chip shortage to continue well into the second half of next year, prolonging struggles of manufacturers, including Apple, to keep up with consumer demand, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Apple has been dealing with the chip shortage for the past several quarters, but it only started significantly impacting Apple’s business in...
Apple's largest manufacturing partner Foxconn is offering "record-high" signing bonuses in an effort to recruit workers for iPhone 13 production over the next few months, according to the South China Morning Post.
iPhone 13 Pro in Matte Black render via EverythingApplePro The report claims Foxconn is offering up to 8,000 yuan ($1,235) as a signing bonus to former workers willing to return...
Tuesday September 28, 2021 7:11 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Following the launch of the iPhone 13 models, Apple's vice president of camera hardware engineering Graham Townsend and vice president of camera software engineering Jon McCormack spoke with British GQ's Robert Leedham about iPhone cameras.
Townsend revealed that Apple starts planning future iPhone camera systems about three years in advance of public availability, suggesting that the...
Friday October 8, 2021 3:10 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple suppliers in China are scrambling to keep production on track ahead of the busy holiday season in the face of widespread power outages in the country, according to a new report from Nikkei Asia.
Widespread power outages in China are reigniting a push by tech manufacturers to shift production away from Asia's biggest economy, with suppliers to Apple, Amazon and others scrambling to keep...
Top Rated Comments
iPhone 12 is $829, up from the $699 iPhone 11.
Oh wait.