Chinese component makers have secured a significant supporting role in Apple’s first foldable iPhone, supplying precision parts for ultra-thin glass and hinges while core assembly and displays stay with Foxconn and Samsung Display, analysts told Yicai.
Foxconn is handling primary assembly. Samsung Display is the exclusive panel supplier for the initial batch, according to Zhou Hua, chief analyst at CINNO Research. Lens Technology is the main ultra-thin glass supplier, with BIEL Crystal also producing cover plates.
Hinge assembly is led by Amphenol and Taiwan’s Shin Zu Shing. Chinese firms fill secondary positions: Eontec supplies Liquidmetal hinge spindles, and Jiangsu Gian Technology handles metal-injection-molding parts.
“Chinese firms have achieved deep integration in Apple’s foldable display supply chain, but still mainly play a secondary supporting role in core links,” Zhou said.
Foldable designs raise the value of structural components well above conventional phones. Lens Technology is shipping ultra-thin glass, colorless polyimide film, support plates, and 3D covers. Eontec is expanding Liquidmetal capacity, with a new Dongguan plant due in the first half of next year and a Zhuzhou facility entering trial production. Lingyi iTech is providing hinge-chain parts, support plates, vapor chambers, and battery-case modules.
MacDailyNews Take: We can hardly wait for the iPhone Duo teardowns!
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
Apple continues to show Chinese companies how to engineer and manufacture electronics. To the credit of the Chinese, they’ve been more than willing to learn from America’s best company when it comes to electronics and computers. Unfortunately for America, they’re getting better and better at doing what we do. Worse, they’re realizing Apple’s dependence on China and leveraging it against Apple.