Just recently, media reported that Apple plans to test production of new phones this year in advance in the second quarter to avoid recurring iPhone X parts supply and mobile phone assembly problems.
According to an industry source quoted by Taiwan’s e-Times website on March 26, Apple has already completed supplier procurement negotiations on new mobile phones. The changes in the scale of purchases compared to last year are still unknown.
This year, Apple will introduce three new mobile phones, namely 5.8-inch and 6.45-inch mobile phones with OLED screens, and 6.1-inch mobile phones with LCD screens.
Apple will implant three-dimensional recognition modules on which face recognition relies on three mobile phones, which will benefit many suppliers.
The products of the 3D identification module industry chain involve dedicated semiconductors, semiconductor test equipment, and optical component packaging services. The Taiwanese technology companies that have entered these fields include Win Semiconductor, test service providers Xintec and Tong Hsing Electronic, and test equipment manufacturer Chrome ATE. These companies will have orders for Apple this year over last year.
Sources said that Apple will also seek competitive suppliers in the above-mentioned dedicated semiconductors this year. Taiwan's Visual Photonics Epitaxy Company will have an opportunity to become an Apple supplier through Apple's product review.
Most of the components of Apple’s mobile phones come from China, Japan, and South Korea in East Asia. Many of the companies in Taiwan have long been Apple suppliers. Each quarter of Apple’s mobile phone sales changes will directly affect the performance of these Taiwanese suppliers. , Share price.
Affected by the sluggish sales of iPhone X, the performance of Apple's supply chain in Taiwan has been unsatisfactory in the past few months. They have also begun to focus on new mobile phone orders this year.
New machines
According to previous media reports, Apple's three new mobile phone screens will be fully expanded this year, and will use the iPhone X's fringe screen. In addition, through the optimization of sensors, Apple may narrow the bangs area.
In addition, in terms of pricing, Apple may learn lessons from the high price of 999 US dollars last year that caused iPhone X sales to be poor, and may keep the LCD version of it at a traditional price of 650 US dollars.
In fact, the 2017 price increase trend has caused all mobile phone manufacturers to suffer. The global mobile phone market fell for the first time and the Chinese market fell by 10%. In the spring, Samsung Electronics has taken the initiative to lower the price of high-end mobile phones. 'Close to 1,000 US dollars' will be difficult to become a pricing trend in the future.
It should be pointed out that the Liu Haiping design that Apple plans to popularize in all mobile phones has so far been in controversy. Many consumers and media evaluations pointed out that Liu Haiping interfered with the user's vision and was an existential design. Apple should Learn the rectangular screen design of Samsung and other manufacturers to ensure the basic visual experience while reducing the border.
In the past many years, Apple's mobile phone has fallen into a mode of minor repairs, affecting the desire of consumers to purchase. So far, Apple's new mobile phone features in 2018, did not have a big bright spot.