Apple To Use Cheaper, Less Complex Battery Tech In Flagship iPhone 12 To Offset High Price Of New 5G Tech: Report

With the launch of its flagship iPhone 12 in October this year, Apple is set to release first of its 5G devices . However, the high-production cost due to inclusion of the 5G hardware has reportedly forced the company to cut costs by using less-expensive components in the phone to minimise the need for price hike.

According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, adoption of Sub-6GHz 5G technology will increase Apple's costs by $75–$85, while millimeter wave technology will incur a $125–$135 cost for Apple, so the company is cutting costs on other components wherever it can, reports MacRumors.

One of the biggest cost reductions, Kuo believes, is to come from battery technology. Kuo said that Apple is reducing the number of layers in the battery board and placing cell components in a smaller area.

The reduction in number of layers in battery board will result in a battery board that’s 40 to 50 percent cheaper than the iPhone 11’s equivalent part, according to Kuo.

He further said that the 2021 iPhone batteries will get a further 30 to 40 percent price decrease due to additional design changes in which Apple is likely to ditch rigid-flex boards for a flexible architecture.

Apple's this year batteries cells are supposedly rated at 2,227 mAh, 2,775 mAh and 2,815 mAh, compared to 3,110 mAh for iPhone 11 and 3,190 mAh for iPhone 11 Pro, reports Apple Insider.

However, the only upgrade in battery capacity could be a 3,687 mAh component rumored for inclusion in the 6.7-inch "iPhone 12 Pro Max", compared to 3,500 mAh version used in iPhone 11 Pro Max.