Apple Watch production process is extremely difficult: the first good product rate or less than 60%

Apple's watch is only 1/50 the size of the ipad, so the pocket space is crammed with microphones, speakers, antennas, chips, batteries, sensors and many more. "Also to solve electromagnetic compatibility, components of the conductive, heat dissipation problems, but also to ensure the sound quality of the speakers."

Apple's watch supply is likely to be much lower than expected, influenced by the manufacturing yield.

"Apple Watch is now too low, not more than 60%, probably around 40%." A Foxconn insider told reporters: "The screen, internal components, the requirements of precision is too high." He added: "This data was learned in a previous private communication with Quanta, and I don't know how much good it is now." “

Apple Watch by Quanta Group Foundry, its foundry is located in Changshu, Jiangsu. The reporter consulted the Quanta group, who did not respond positively to the low yield, saying only: "Apple has used a lot of new materials to increase the complexity of the process." At the same time, how to make the new sensor to achieve the best user experience, also brings a lot of challenges. “

However, the Quanta stressed: "The rate of improvement is very good, Apple watch first quarter prepared 5 million sets of materials, production of 3 million watches is no problem." This is Apple Watch shipments from March to May this year. “

In September 2014, Apple unveiled the demo version of the smart watch Apple Watch while releasing Iphone6. Apple Watch was officially launched at its spring launch March 9, 2015, with 10 sports versions of Apple Watch Sport, 20 general Apple Watch and 8 custom edition Apple Watch Edition, totaling 38 Starting on April 10, 2015, the starting area is 9 countries including China.

Extremely difficult

"In fact, according to the details of Apple's release now, 40% of the yield is very high," he said. Yu Haidong, vice president of electronic software, said in an interview with reporters. Shell Electronics is the first batch of Intelligent Watch enterprises, in June 2013 launched the debut of Smart watch Geak Watch, sales of a total of 500,000. December 2014 sale of the second generation of intelligent watches Geak Watch2, the current sales have exceeded 100,000.

"According to the results shown at the press conference, Apple Watch's function is not much different from an ipad, and most of the hardware on the basic ipad, Apple Watch," Yu Haidong said. “

However, Apple watch only 1/50 of the ipad, so the pocket space is crammed with microphones, speakers, antennas, chips, batteries, sensors and many more. "Also to solve electromagnetic compatibility, components of the conductive, heat dissipation problems, but also to ensure the sound quality of the speakers." Even a iphone,apple watch is a few times more difficult than a highly difficult. “

At the same time, Apple watch a variety of shell materials also increased the difficulty of the process. Apple Watch has stainless steel, aluminum, 18K gold and other shells, but also with ceramic underside, Yu Haidong pointed out: "Each material conductivity is not the same, contact with the human body when the electromagnetic interference is not the same, different materials to achieve electromagnetic consistency needs to be particularly many attempts, groping." “

In addition, the sapphire screen is considered to be one of the manufacturing difficulties. Previously, Apple had planned to use the sapphire screen in the iphone 6, but eventually gave up. Foxconn people have told reporters, "initially tested Sapphire, but because of the technical difficulty is too high, machining costs and difficulties are greatly increased, Apple later gave up the sapphire." “

Yu Haidong: "The proficiency of the production line workers is also an important reason, these new materials, workers have not been contacted before, the impact on the yield is very large." However, he added: "With the rise in skilled workers, it is likely that quanta will rise sharply in the first quarter, close to the basic standards of the industry." "At present, the other intelligent watches in the industry, the rate is basically about 80%."

"Initially, Apple planned to officially launch Apple Watch in early 2015, but the release date was delayed by nearly 4 months." "The above 4 months have seen a lot of improvement," said the Kwong. "He told reporters:" The industry speculated that Apple Watch sales of 30 million a year, this speculation is more reliable. “

The regret of the industrial chain

Previously, Quanta had been in touch with Apple's OEM ipod. The initial yield was particularly low. "According to the level of material at that time, as well as the production line process, cutting the circle on the screen can easily lead to fragmentation, but Apple has the ability and willingness to support low yield, and ultimately lead the entire supply chain maturity." “

Apple's watch, he believes, is also on the way, and Apple's watch rate will also accelerate the maturity of the entire wearable equipment industry chain. "During the first few months of receiving Apple Watch, there were a lot of wearable industry chains around our factory, asking what the Apple was using. He recalls to reporters: "Once Apple is used, these products will become the trend, and will quickly mature." So everyone will follow the Apple Walk, early one day know, Early day layout. “

"TPK (Chen Hong Technology) is an example, if not the pressure of Apple, touch screen today will not have such a high degree of maturity." The quanta told reporters: TPK for Apple all iphone, ipad supply touch screen, but initially touch the industrial chain is very fragile, TPK first batch of screen yield is only 8%. But as the process improved, it was raised to 80% in a very short time. Among the Apple Watch suppliers, TPK is the sole supplier of touch screen components.

In fact, a number of wearable industry people interviewed by reporters said, "Apple is a wearable industry accelerator, he will detonate the entire industry, Shenzhen, many companies have been waiting for Apple Watch, one out, we will expand capacity." “

But after the Apple Watch conference, some people hesitated. "Apple does accelerate the maturity of the supply chain, and the production of components associated with Apple Watch will increase and prices will fall." Yu Haidong told reporters, however, that there is no clear way for wearable devices to be found on Apple Watch. "Apple's watch of these features, which have been there before, is certainly an excellent experience, but it is not something that other people can learn." “

Yu Haidong that Apple Watch is more of an "expensive iphone peripheral" than a "benchmark for the smart-wearing industry", so it's more or less regrettable. “

(Responsible editor: Lvguang)