iPhone 6s may use smaller LED backlighting chips for thinner design

By

Apple is hoping for big things from its next-gen iPhone.
The iPhone 6s could be slimmer than ever.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple could make its upcoming iPhone 6s handsets slimmer and lighter than ever by taking advantage of new smaller LED backlighting chips, according to a new report.

The new chips have the same 3.0 x 0.85mm dimensions as those used in present generation iPhones, but are an impressive 0.2mm thinner than the current 0.6mm components.

While the chips are smaller than ever, though — which could allow Apple to shave even more size off the iPhone’s form factor if it wanted — they do come with a downside, since they are around 10 percent less bright than the current gen chips. That means that Apple may need to use 2-3 more chips to reach the same overall brightness as the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Personally, I don’t see Apple significantly changing the design of its iPhone until the iPhone 7 in 2016. The “s” releases tend to focus more on under-the-hood improvements, and I’d expect the same to prove true this year — although reports have suggested this will be the biggest incremental iPhone release yet.

If Apple does save space by adopting new LED backlighting chips, it could enable Apple to make room for bigger batteries, which would be a far more welcome iPhone upgrade for many than a marginally-slimmer form factor.

On the battery front, a separate report published today claims that Taiwan-based Simplo Technology — the company which currently makes batteries for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus — is coming under pressure from Chinese manufacturers hoping to poach its Apple business.

Since Apple has been increasing its orders for China-based manufacturers as of late, this could result in Apple switching battery suppliers for future iPhones.

According to the report, “Simplo originally expected to be able to secure its orders for the new iPhone battery orders for the second half of 2015, but may not be able to do so as China battery makers’ technology and production capacity have both been improving.”

With an expected 24 million iPhone 6s units predicted to ship in this year’s third quarter alone (Apple’s forth quarter), you can understand why companies would be tripping over themselves to get a piece of Cupertino’s business!

Source: Digitimes

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.