传闻称苹果折叠机iPhone Duo铰链量产不稳：新日兴仅交付golden samples，领益智造背板爬坡困难

Taiwan's Shin Zu Shing supplies only "golden samples" of foldable iPhone hinges to Apple as production remains unstable

Production of the hinge for the iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable phone unveiled on September 9 (local time), was found on September 10 to remain unstable. The hinge was also the component with the greatest impact on delays to the iPhone Duo production schedule.

The original first vendor for the iPhone Duo hinge was Amphenol of the United States, but Shin Zu Shing, which had been the second vendor, is now producing the hinge as the first vendor. This is because Amphenol's production yield fell far short of expectations.

Industry source A said, "Shin Zu Shing's hinge production yield is still low, and at present only 'golden samples' are being selected and sent to Foxconn." This means that among the hinges Shin Zu Shing makes, only those that meet Apple's standards are being picked out one by one and delivered. Another source, B, said, "Some components are experiencing production disruptions, but the Shin Zu Shing hinge is particularly unstable."

Apple designated multiple vendors for most of the remaining components, excluding items such as the organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel made by Samsung Display. Among iPhone Duo components, the hinge is reportedly the only one for which the first vendor is currently experiencing production disruptions.

Apple applied a "3D printed" hinge module to the iPhone Duo. A hinge module is generally made by combining multiple constituent parts, including gears, shafts, and mechanisms for free stop functionality. A 3D printed hinge module can improve the precision of these constituent parts.

When Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo on September 9, it stated that the hinge contains more than 100 constituent parts. Industry source C said, "Making a foldable phone thinner increases the number of hinge parts," adding, "The hinges in thin foldable phones released by Chinese smartphone makers had 120 to 130 parts." He said, "However, the count differs depending on whether hinge parts are limited to those directly tied to the drive mechanism or whether peripheral parts such as bolts and nuts are included," and added, "We will only know precisely after tearing down the iPhone Duo once it launches."

The change of first vendor is also presumed to be a factor behind Apple's difficulties with hinge production. Typically, the first vendor develops the component together with the set maker and finalizes the specifications. The second vendor is at a disadvantage because it must make the component to specifications that the first vendor has already finalized with the set maker. In effect, Shin Zu Shing is producing hinges to specifications that Amphenol previously finalized with Apple.

Supply of the backplate, another key iPhone Duo component, is also tight. The backplate is the part that supports the foldable panel when it is folded or unfolded. Fine holes are formed in the folding region to secure flexibility and durability. The second vendor for the backplate, China's Lingyi iTech, is reportedly struggling with mass production.

Although production of some iPhone Duo components is still not running smoothly, Apple has reportedly provided suppliers with a component production forecast sufficient to build around 5 million to 6 million finished iPhone Duo units by the end of this year. The number of components exceeds the number of finished units because Apple accounts for yield during final assembly as well as replacement demand from damage after the product is sold.

Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo on September 9, but preorders begin a month later on October 16. The launch date is October 23.

iPhone Duo pricing by storage capacity is $1,999 for 256GB (approximately 2.68 million won at current exchange rates), $2,199 for 512GB (approximately 2.95 million won), $2,599 for 1TB (approximately 3.49 million won), and $3,199 for 2TB (approximately 4.29 million won). Korean launch prices are 3.29 million won for 256GB, 3.59 million won for 512GB, 4.19 million won for 1TB, and 5.09 million won for 2TB.

Source B, quoted above, said, "No iPhone Duo buyer will choose the 256GB model," adding, "The 512GB model is the real 'base model,' and the product price should be viewed as 3 million won or more." By this view, the price of the "base model" (512GB) in the Korean market is 3.6 million won.