Apple Rumored to Switch to Automated Battery Assembly for Next-Gen iPhones
According to a new rumor out of the Far East, batteries for Apple’s next-gen iPhone may be assembled on fully automated production lines in China, rather than through manual labor. Alleged details on Apple’s manufacturing process for the company’s anticipated “iPhone 6” were shared recently by Digitimes, a Taiwanese publication which has a spotty record of Apple-related rumors. The report claims that Apple already relies heavily on automation rather than worker-driven manual assembly for its made-in-America Mac Pro and iMac desktops.
The anticipated move by Apple is said to be driven by increasing cost of minimum wage in China. Younger workers are also said to be avoiding jobs in the manufacturing industry which leads to labor shortages and higher turnover.
Although automated production lines would allow Apple to move manufacturing wherever the company pleases, the recent report said it’s unlikely that iPhone assembly would be moved from China, as most other component supply partners are still based out of the Far East.
Batteries in Apple’s next-gen devices have been the subject of much speculation in recent months after it was revealed that Apple executives have held discussions with electric car maker Tesla. Tesla’s forthcoming mega battery factory in the US has been seen by some as a potential partnership opportunity between the two forward-thinking companies.
We’ll have to wait and see what comes of the whole ordeal.
Source: Digitimes
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