The baseline iPhone 4S model with 16 gigabytes (GB) of NAND flash memory carries a bill of materials (BOM) of $188, reveals an iHS iSuppli Teardown.

When the additional $8 manufacturing cost is added in, the total increases to $196. The other iPhone 4S models are identical to the baseline version, with the exception of the addition of more NAND flash. This gives the mid range, 32GB model a BOM of $207, and the high-end 64GB version a BOM of $245.
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FBR Capital Markets predicts the iPhone 5 will begin production in Q3 featuring an 8MP camera and a Qualcomm CDMA-GSM chip, according to PCWorld.

In a research note, FBR says they expect about about 20 million iPhones will be produced in the third quarter with the iPhone 5 accounting for about 8 million of those.

OmniVision is predicted to be the supplier of an 8 megapixel CMOS sensor with Sony being a possible backup supplier.
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An iSuppli teardown analysis of the iPad 2 has revealed a Bill of Materials of $326.60, according to a press released from the company.

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With the second-generation iPad, Apple Inc. has held the line on the bill of materials (BOM), maintaining virtually the same costs as the first version of the device, an IHS iSuppli teardown analysis of the product has revealed. The 32GB NAND flash memory version of the iPad 2 equipped the with Global System for Mobile Communications/high-speed packet access (GSM/HSPA) air standard carries a BOM of $326.60. The 32GB version equipped with the code division multiple access (CDMA) air standard carries a BOM of $323.25. The compares with $320 for the first-generation 32GB 3G iPad, based on pricing from April 2010.

When manufacturing costs are added, the cost to produce the GSM/HSPA version rises to $336.60, and the CDMA version goes to $333.25. The attached table presents the IHS iSuppli preliminary BOM and manufacturing cost estimates for the two versions of the iPad 2 torn down by IHS iSuppli.

The component and vendor selection in the second-generation iPad 2 closely conforms with that of the original iPad. “Despite the obvious changes to iPad like the enclosure and the battery, and the less obvious changes in the touch screen, the iPad 2’s components and design are remarkably similar if not the same as those of the iPad 1,” Rassweiler observed. “The iPad 1 and iPad 2 use the same components and suppliers for the NAND flash, the multi-touch controllers and touch screen drivers, as well as the same core chip in the wireless section as was found in the iPhone 4. Many of the other components—including the apps processor and the Bluetooth/frequency/global positioning system/wireless local area Read More

Zibri, best known for releasing the ZiPhone jailbreak utility, has reportedly discovered evidence that the next wave of iDevices will use a Qualcomm baseband.

In the picture above you see a “chunk” of code from the latest iTunes. Maybe, for the most of you, names like “partition.mbn” or “AMSS.MBN” means little or nothing. For me and a few others that means only one thing: QUALCOMM. Those files are the building blocks of any Qualcomm baseband.

So I can tell you that the next wave of iProducts will be using a QUALCOMM baseband. Which one I don’t know… maybe the iPad2, maybe the iPhone5 most probably all of them. What is clear is that they are testing them using the same Read More

Apple’s iPhone 5 will get a complete redesign, the iPad will get a Retina Display, and the Apple TV will get 1080p video, according to an Engadget report.

The site claims to have concrete information from reliable sources about the upcoming devices.

iPad 2
Apparently the temp designs which have received so much press coverage of late are very early versions of the device and contrary to rumor, the new iPad will arrive in April. The display will sport a new technology similar to the Retina Display and be “super high resolution”. It will get front and rear cameras, and feature an SD slot. “In fact, see that weird notch in the photo Read More

The iPhone 5 will reportedly use a Qualcomm baseband and an IC substrate from Kinsus, according to DigiTimes.

Kinsus Interconnect Technology could break into the supply chain of Apple’s iPhone 5 as the new smartphone will adopt Qualcomm’s baseband chipsets, which use Kinsus IC substrates, according to a Chinese language Apple Daily report.

It has been long rumored that Apple will develop a hybrid iPhone that supports both GSM and CDMA using a Qualcomm chip.

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John Gruber, from DaringFireball, has learned that a CDMA variant of the iPhone 4, code named N92, has reached EVT status.

I do know that engineering-wise, the wheels are turning on N92, the CDMA variant of the iPhone 4. It’s certainly not in production yet, and hasn’t reached DVT status (device verification test — like Gray Powell’s infamous stolen unit), but it is, a few little birdies claim, at EVT (engineering verification test). That’s one step below DVT, which is one step below production. So it’s right about where you’d think it would be if it were scheduled to go on Read More