Updated December 10: article initially posted December 9.
Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will provide the same design to the earlier fashions, however new leaks reveal how Apple is working onerous to remain answerable for manufacturing because it upgrades the expertise.
Apple continues to work on diversifying its provide chain. Given the amount of gross sales of the iOS-powered smartphone, this isn’t a simple process, however it’s important for Tim Cook and his workforce to not change into reliant on a single provider for iPhone elements. Part of that’s to make sure no provider has important leverage over Apple throughout negotiations; one other half is to construct resilience into the manufacturing course of.
Update: Sunday December 10. Writing for the Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman notes that Tang Tan, Apple’s head of product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch, is leaving the corporate. Tan has been concerned within the design course of of each iPhone. His departure could not influence the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro design; a lot of the design course of has been accomplished—whereas there are choices that have to be made, the designs—and doubtlessly the prototypes—will already be out there.
What it means trying additional out is extra essential. Product design performs an enormous half within the engineering choices on what is going to function in new {hardware}, the elements used, and the look and total really feel of the iPhone.
Tan will take with him important historic information and experience. Notably, Apple has not chosen a one-to-one substitute for Tan; as a substitute it’s sharing out duties throughout a number of deputies in every {hardware} division.
New stories from the availability chain have highlighted Apple’s latest strikes to diversify the availability of batteries for the upcoming premium iPhones, not simply between producers however between international locations. Apple has signalled to suppliers its choice for batteries manufactured in India.
Writing for the FT, Qianer Liu and John Reed observe two key suppliers—China’s Desay and Taiwan’s Simlo Technology—have “been requested to scale up manufacturing in India for future orders, mentioned three individuals conversant in the scenario.”
This determination is be certainly one of many who replicate the rising commerce tensions between America and China. Moving a few of the provide of a business-critical piece of expertise is an apparent transfer, much more so when contemplating Apple’s work to enhance the iPhone’s battery.
Recent stories level to Apple bringing the design of its batteries in-house, in a lot the identical method because it introduced its silicon design in-house—which led to the extra environment friendly pairing of {hardware} and software program with Apple Silicon. Details on the iPhone 16 Pro reveal a brand new battery design utilizing a frosted steel shell somewhat than the foil casings used beforehand. This ought to assist the thermal administration of the iPhone, with the battery one of many largest sources of warmth when the iPhone is in use.
With the presumptively named A18 Pro chipset set to supply extra efficiency for the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, Apple might want to stability the chipset’s efficiency in opposition to the endurance anticipated by the consumer, two areas the place Apple’s new supplies and designs can come to the fore.
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