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Apple Orders Capacitive Button Components Allegedly for iPhone 16

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Apple has ordered a large number of capacitative button components from a Taiwan supplier that are allegedly for use in the upcoming iPhone 16 series, claims a new report out of Asia.

unbox therapy 15 buttons

Image credit: Unbox Therapy

According to the Economic Daily News, Advanced Semiconductor Engineering won the order, which is said to include system-in-a-package (SIP) modules that will be used to integrate capcative components with two Taptic Engine motors, one on either side of the iPhone.

The claim in the report is that Apple will replace the existing physical buttons on both sides of the iPhone 15 with capacitive versions that will provide ‌iPhone 16‌ users with haptic feedback. The latter type of button detects pressure and emulates the press of a physical button via a haptic (or Taptic) engine which generates vibrations.

Apple may well have ordered the buttons in preparation for future production plans, but this does not necessarily mean that they are destined for use in this year’s ‌iPhone 16‌ models.

The earliest known prototypes of the ‌‌iPhone 16‌‌ were thought to include haptic power and volume buttons. Project Bongo, as it was known internally, was a redesign of the volume and power buttons on the ‌iPhone 15‌. However, it was scrapped in 2023 following unresolved technical issues, according to MacRumors‘ sources. After the cancelation of the Bongo project, Apple moved back to mechanical buttons for the ‌‌iPhone 16‌‌.

As a result, most rumors suggest that ‌iPhone 16‌ models will have all-mechanical buttons, and this includes the rumored addition of a fourth button. According to The Information, Apple will add a new “Capture Button” to all ‌iPhone 16‌ models, but the button is expected to be mechanical rather than capacitive, and yet it will be able to respond to pressure and touch.

The button will be used for taking photos and videos, and ‌iPhone‌ users will reportedly be able to zoom in and out by swiping left and right on the button, focus with a light press, and activate a recording with a more forceful press.

Today’s report claims the capacitive components will enter volume production in the third quarter of this year, which is unusually late in terms of Apple’s typical initial ‌iPhone‌ production run, so the order may be for the ‌iPhone‌ 17 lineup rather than this year’s upcoming models. That said, as we saw with the ‌‌iPhone 15‌‌ series, things can change fairly far into the process, so watch this space.

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iPhone market outlook mixed as Apple slows component orders

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A flurry of iPhone market outlook reports shows Apple’s juggernaut handset is still the top-seller in Japan while slipping to fourth place in China so far in 2024. And that comes as Apple lowers component shipment targets for the year amid supply chain challenges, pointing to a possibly down year.

Reports: iPhone market outlook mixed amid sales decline and supply chain challenges

As predicted recently, iPhone sales are sliding in Asia so far in 2024 after a reasonably strong beginning and end to 2023. Various reports point to slowdowns and Apple reigning in iPhone component shipments.

China’s massive smartphone market slid 7% in the first six weeks of 2024. But in the same period, iPhone’s share dropped a whopping 24%. Why? Stiffening competition and sliding from a big high in January 2023, according to a Counterpoint Research report.

“Primarily, it faced stiff competition at the high end from a resurgent Huawei while getting squeezed in the middle on aggressive pricing from the likes of OPPO, vivo and Xiaomi,” said Counterpoint analyst Mengmeng Zhang.

“Although the iPhone 15 is a great device, it has no significant upgrades from the previous version, so consumers feel fine holding on to the older-generation iPhones for now,” they added.

iPhone market outlook: 4th place in China in early 2024
After taking first place in China in late 2023, iPhone dropped to fourth place in early 2024.
Photo: Counterpoint Research

Stronger in Japan

Meanwhile, an International Data Corporation (IDC) report showed Apple has retained 49% to 51% of the market since 2022, a very strong first-place showing.

Japan’s smartphone shipments slid 3.5% year over year in 2023’s Q4, having recovered a bit from steeper declines in the first half of the year.

But iPhone shipments for the quarter increased 3.4% year over year as Android’s fell by 8.7%.

Overall, though, 2023 was a bit gloomy for smartphone shipments to Japan, falling by 11.6% compared to 2022. iPhone slid 6.1% while Android plummeted 16.3%.

Apple taps brakes on component shipments

And news of iPhone component shipment volume in 2024 is not particularly bright, so far.

Anaylyst Ming-Chi Kuo noted on X (formerly Twitter) and Medium that iPhone shipments could drop by 15% year over year because of structural challenges in the supply chain. He said Apple needs to launch “better than expected GenAI services this year” to keep up with smartphones from the likes of Samsung, or Nvidia might eclipse Apple’s market cap.

Apple may have biggest 2024 decline among major brands

Kuo echoed reports of Huawei’s resurgence and China’s love of folding phones as negatives for iPhone’s outlook, among his seven points:

  • My latest supply chain survey indicates that Apple has lowered its 2024 iPhone shipments of key upstream semiconductor components to about 200 million units (down 15% YoY). Apple may have the most significant decline among the major global mobile phone brands in 2024.
  • iPhone 15 series and new iPhone 16 series shipments will decline by 10–15% YoY in 1H24 and 2H24, respectively (compared to iPhone 14 series shipments in 1H23 and iPhone 15 series shipments in 2H23, respectively).
  • The iPhone faces structural challenges that will lead to a significant decline in shipments in 2024, including the emergence of a new paradigm in high-end mobile phone design and the continued decline in shipments in the Chinese market.

China still loves folding phones

  • The new high-end mobile phone design paradigm includes AI (GenAI) and foldable phones. The main reason for the decline in the Chinese market is the return of Huawei and the increasing preference for foldable phones among high-end users as their first choice for phone replacement.
  • Benefiting from the higher-than-expected demand due to the high integration of GenAI functions, Samsung has revised up the shipments of the Galaxy S24 series in 2024 by 5–10%, while Apple has revised down the shipment forecast of iPhone 15 in 1H24.
  • Apple’s weekly shipments in China have declined by 30–40% YoY in recent weeks, and this downward trend is expected to continue. The main reason for the decline is the return of Huawei and the fact that foldable phones have gradually become the first choice for high-end users in the Chinese market.
  • It is expected that Apple will not launch new iPhone models with significant design changes and the more comprehensive/differentiated GenAI ecosystem/applications until 2025 at the earliest. Until then, it will likely harm Apple’s iPhone shipment momentum and ecosystem growth.

 

 

 



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Skoda Scala and Kamiq UK orders start 6th February

Skoda Scala and Kamiq

The new Skoda Scala and Skoda Kamiq are going to be available to order soon in the UK. Pricing for the Scala starts at £22,095 on the road and pricing for the new Skoda Kamiq starts at £24,030.

There are three different engine options to choose from, these include the new evo2 generation 1.0 TSI options and there are also three trim levels, SE, SE L and Monte Carlo, both models will be available to order from 6th February.

The new Scala features a number of subtle design changes that further emphasise its sporty looks. New bumpers front and rear give the Scala a more dynamic look while revised badging reflects the brand’s new Corporate Identity.

Skoda Scala

The Scala adopts the interior concepts first seen on the Enyaq range with Loft, Lodge and Monte Carlo design selections available on SE, SE L and Monte Carlo models respectively. All feature increased use of recycled materials and natural fibres to further reduce the vehicle’s production CO2 footprint.

The new Kamiq features a revised design package that includes a number of small but significant styling changes. The include a larger front grille with double slats, the option of full LED Matrix technology for the first time and a new rear bumper features a reprofiled diffuser and tailgate lettering that incorporates the brand’s new corporate identity.

You can find out more information about the new Skoda Scala and Kamiq models over at the Skoda website at the link below, the top Scala costs £30,445 and the top Kamiq costs £32,065.

Source Skoda

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