Apple to adopt forging process for iPhone 8 stainless steel frame

iPhone 7 display

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that iPhone 8 will be switching to an all-glass design akin to iPhone 4 with a stainless steel metal frame rather than aluminum. Today, trade publication DigiTimes shed more light on the matter.

Quoting supply chain sources, the report states that Apple will adopt a stainless steel forging process for the new chassis frame instead of the traditional CNC machining process although the metal frame will need to be further refined by CNC machining.

Component orders will be shared between iPhone manufacturer Foxconn and US-based supplier Jabil, both of which supplied a stainless steel frame for iPhone 4.

The two reinforced glass panes and the metal frame manufactured using the forging process will result in enhanced sturdiness while reducing costs and manufacturing time.

That’s because the cost of the forging process is between thirty percent and fifty percent cheaper than the current unibody CNC machine process.

Quality control is more stable with the forging process, too.

iPhone 8 should be assembled by Foxconn, Pegatron and Wistron, the report states.

Source: DigiTimes