Apple Takes New Approach to iPhone Camera Assembly as Cost-Cutting Method

Urian B., Tech Times 12 August 2021, 07:08 am

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Apple is now taking a new approach towards its iPhone camera assembly by applying a cost-cutting method. The company is switching up the way they are produced to help the company save on manufacturing costs.

Apple iPhone Camera Assembly

Apple, the popular iPhone maker, is now reportedly changing how it produces its popular camera modules for the Apple iPhone. The company is now opting to individually produce every single camera lens separately. A new FTC ruling might drop Apple phone repair prices.

This approach comes instead of procuring them together and deciding to have them pre-assembled, according to a report coming from The Elec. The report notes that up to 2020, the Apple iPhone camera lenses were produced by the company's suppliers, Sharp, LG InnoTek, and O'Film.

Pre-Assembled to Whole Production

The lenses were reportedly pre-assembled and now, Apple is now consolidating the whole production of its very own camera modules to its largest supplier Foxconn in order for the company to save costs. Up to 2020, Apple has been able to procure double and triple camera modules coming from its very own suppliers LG InnoTek, Sharp, as well as O'Film that are already pre-assembled.

The company, however, is now procuring these camera modules individually and even gave the job of assembly still to Foxconn. The measure is already in motion in order for the company to be able to save costs. Apple is currently facing a patent infringement lawsuit for its mobile wireless technology.

Foxconn Apple iPhone Camera

Foxconn is now in preparation for its very own new camera assembly responsibility. They have reportedly received new inspection equipment coming from the South Korean firm known as Hyvision System. The new system will reportedly check whether the Ultra Wide and even Telephoto cameras' lenses, including all optical axis and image sensors, are already correctly aligned on their higher-end iPhone models.

According to the story by MacRumors, an incorrect alignment could result in a more drastically reduced image quality. The new changes are reportedly being done in order to help "save costs."

Apple Increases Orders

As of the moment, however, it still remains unclear if those particular savings would be presented directly to customers. It is also still unclear whether the new production methodology and Foxconn's role when it came to camera assembly will be in practice for the highly anticipated iPhone 13.

Given that the upcoming new iPhones are all already in production, this is still very highly unlikely to be the actual case. Apple has already ordered components for the whopping 90 million units of Apple iPhones for the company's upcoming iPhone 13. This is 20% higher compared to its previous order for the iPhone 12.

The article by The Elec reports that South Korean analysts expect Hyvision to post 200 billion won in sales or a little over $172 million USD in sales. The analyst also reported a whopping 17 billion won or over $14.6 million in operating income this 2021.

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Written by Urian B.