According to an IHS iSuppli teardown, the CDMA iPhone 4 costs less to manufacture than the previous version of the iPhone 4, despite utilizing more futuristic internals. The total cost of materials to Apple? $178.45.
Despite having nearly the same functionality and a similar bill of materials (BOM) as the previous model, the new code division multiple access (CDMA) version of the iPhone 4 carried by Verizon Wireless includes significant changes in its design and component selection, IHS iSuppli teardown analysis indicates.
The latest version of the iPhone 4 carries a BOM of $171.35, down from $187.51 for the previous model, based on a preliminary pricing estimate issued in June. When manufacturing expenses are added, the total production cost for the CDMA iPhone 4 amounts to $178.45.
Aside from a wide variety of tweaks to the internal structure used in the mainline iPhone 4, Apple has adjusted the design of the antenna, which will hopefully improve reception, and stave off an Antennagate 2.0:
“Apple has decided to isolate the Bluetooth/WLAN antenna from the enclosure/antenna assembly,” said Wayne Lam, senior analyst, competitive analysis at IHS. “This design change leaves the top enclosure antenna segment to serve primarily as the GPS antenna and probably also as a CDMA diversity receive antenna. The use of antenna diversity is significant because this scheme improves signal reception performance.”
While this improved antenna design will have immediate benefits to Verizon iPone users, one can only imagine that the next version of the iPhone will take advantage of it, too. Soon we'll all be able to make calls with our iPhones!
Via iSuppli; for more information on the CDMA iPhone internals, click here
