Apple’s Q4 2020 iPhone 12 Sales in China Exceeded Expectations

The iPhone 12's Bill of Materials (BOM) shows $431. "Application processor, 5G baseband, display and 5G RF components represent the major areas of the cost increase", said the report. We know that because Canalys reported nearly a year ago that Apple shipped just a little over 10 million handsetsin total in China during the last three months of 2019, down from 11.5 million units the year before. The Japanese site MacOtakara writes that sources in the production chain say that all new iPhone models released in 2021 will have the same dimensions as previous models.

Even though many rumours suggested that Apple was working to reduce the size of the infamous notch in the iPhone 12 lineup, not only did that not happen, but it turns out that the size of the notch has actually increased slightly from the notched iPhone models that came before. Equipped with more RF components to support the 5G-related spectrum, the functionality adds around $19 to the costs. Enabling 5G has also brought up the BoM.

The American chipset manufacturer has provided the paired transceivers and RF discrete components for both sub-6GHz and mmWave versions of the new iPhone 12 series.

Of course, the four new Apple A14 Bionic-powered high-enders were not available for the entire duration of last year's final quarter, which makes this already impressive feat that much more remarkable. The report suggests that the new chipset adds another $17 in the BOM.

Apple has diversified its supply sources for the iPhone 12, adding to an increase in the total BoM of the phone. On one hand, the camera elements are taken from Sony, LG, Sharp and on the other, Broadcom, NXP supplies wireless connectivities and touch controls.

The report adds that Cirrus Logic, Goertek, Knowles and AAC supply the audio design of the new iPhone.

In addition to that, the new iPhone leverages the SiP (System in Package) by ASE and USI which is used to miniaturize the design and develop packaging for the smartphone.