Posted: September 13, 2017, Updated: November 8, 2017
Contributing Authors: Daniel Yang, Stacy Wegner, Jim Morrison

Apple iPhone X

Apple iPhone X

Apple used the tagline “Say hello to the future” to introduce the era of the iPhone X, and with the iPhone X in our lab for teardown, we are working to bring our readers news of the innovations made by Apple in their latest smartphone offering.

We recently completed the iPhone 8 Plus teardown, and have examined the evolution of key iPhone hardware – i.e. Application Processors and CMOS Image Sensors – used by Apple for every generation of iPhone over the past 10 years.

There are a lot of firsts for Apple in this phone. The iPhone X is Apple’s first full-screen phone, with a 5.8-inch OLED Super Retina screen.

Here is what we saw inside the phone when we first opened it.

Apple iPhone X
Apple iPhone X
Apple iPhone X
Apple iPhone X Batteries

Apple iPhone X Batteries

The first thing we noticed was that there are two batteries. It looks like this change was made in the interests of real estate: by splitting one larger battery into two, the smaller batteries are easier to position inside the packed phone. The new split-cell configuration provides marginally more power than the iPhone 8 Plus’ single battery (2716mAh vs 2681mAh); however, according to Apple, the iPhone X is estimated to provide the same talk time, but less internet and video playback time than the iPhone 8 Plus. This higher power consumption than iPhone 8 Plus appears to be confirmed by various battery life tests published on the iPhone X since its release.

The iPhone X uses 2 PCBs, which is pretty impressive considering that Apple was able to keep the overall thickness of phone to 7.7 mm. They are Substrate-like PCB (SLB).

Apple iPhone X Batteries
Apple iPhone X Batteries
Apple iPhone X SLPs

Apple iPhone X SLPs

Here in the cross section images we see evidence of this adoption of SLPs. SLPs are very high density substrates. They will employ conductors down to 10 um or 15 um in width. SLPs also make use of microvias that can be blind or buried in diameters down to 10 or 15 um.

We were reminded by iFixit that this stacked solution in the iPhone X is not new for Apple. Whether by design or just coincidence, the iPhone X PCB (SLB) assembly has made a full circle back to the assembly of the original iPhone.

Apple iPhone X SLPs
Apple iPhone X SLPs

Costing

Here is a high-level view into the costs of the various components of the iPhone X:

Cost comparison of the Apple HomePod, Google Home, and Amazon Echo

Costing

Apple iPhone X
A1901
Teardown Date November 2017
Applications Processor $52.00
Baseband Processor $14.50
Battery $4.00
Camera / Image $40.00
Connectivity $11.50
Display / Touchscreen $65.50
Memory: Non-Volatile** $20.50
Memory: Volatile $25.50
Mixed Signal $0.50
Non-Electronics $36.00
Other $16.00
Power Management / Audio $14.00
RF Component $21.00
Sensor $2.00
Substrates $14.50
Supporting Materials $3.50
Final Assembly & Test $16.50
Total $357.50

* Costing note: All cost estimates provided here are compiled using information available to us at the time of the initial teardown. Some assumptions have been made where concrete data is not yet available. We will continue to gather and refine this costing data throughout our on-going deep-dive teardown process and analysis. While we do not expect drastic cost changes, we do expect some adjustments.

Face ID

Face ID

Face ID

Touch ID fingerprint recognition has been used in all iPhones since it was first introduced in the 5S, through to the 8 and 8 Plus. In the iPhone X, Apple replaces Touch ID with Face ID.

Face ID is enabled by the TrueDepth camera, about which Apple has published a white paper and illustrative images on their site.

Face ID functionality is delivered through a combination of a few different components:

Dot Projector

Dot Projector

Dot Projector

On the right side of the TrueDepth assembly we have the Dot projector, which projects 30,000 infrared dots onto your face to map its structure.

We are working on the Dot Projector to get more information.

Dot Projector
Dot Projector
Dot Projector
Dot Projector
Infrared Camera

Infrared Camera

Infrared Camera

The Infrared camera, on the left side, takes the image of your face to form a depth map of the face, along with a 2D infrared image.

We have confirmed that STMicroelectronics supplied the Infrared camera. TechInsights will launch a Device Essentials Image Set and Summary report of the iPhone X Infrared Camera.

Infrared Camera
Infrared Camera
Flood Illuminator

Flood Illuminator

Flood Illuminator

The Flood illuminator is used in low-light and dark environments to illuminate your face using infrared light to enable the IR camera.

We found a manufacturer unknown die.

Flood Illuminator
Flood Illuminator
Flood Illuminator
Time-of-Flight

Time-of-Flight (ToF)

Time-of-Flight (ToF)

We have confirmed that STMicroelectronics wins the ToF socket again. The ToF die is the same S2L012AC used in iPhone 8/8 Plus and iPhone 7/7 Plusa>. As we analyze this True Depth Module, the ToF sensor is being used as a proximity sensor once again.

Time-of-Flight
Time-of-Flight
Time-of-Flight
Ambient Light Sensor

Ambient Light Sensor

Ambient Light Sensor

Not surprisingly, AMS wins the ambient light sensor socket.

Ambient Light Sensor
Ambient Light Sensor
OLED Display Driver

OLED Display Driver

OLED Display Driver

In the previous iPhones, Renesas and Synaptics (display driver IC division of Renesas sold to Synaptics) always supplied the display driver ICs. However, the iPhone X is Apple’s first phone with a Super Retina OLED display. The OLED display driver is supplied by Samsung.

OLED Display Driver
OLED Display PMIC

OLED Display PMIC

OLED Display PMIC

STMicroelectronics wins the OLED Display PMIC socket in the iPhone X. This is different from other teardowns of mobile phones which have used a Samsung OLED display driver for 5” or larger displays. Most of the teardowns of mobile phones with additional display power management have been almost exclusively Texas Instruments wins, and predominantly with TPS65633 ICs.

OLED Display PMIC
OLED Display PMIC
OLED Display PMIC
STMicroelectronics STB600

Another STMicroelectronics Win?

Another STMicroelectronics Win?

Meanwhile, we found an ASIC in the main logic board, with package markings STB600B0. We think it is very likely from STMicroelectronics. We have depotted it and got the die photos. We suspected that it is PMIC with multi buck-boost voltage regulators, might be related to display or Face ID

STMicroelectronics STB600
STMicroelectronics STB600

iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone 8 Key Components Comparison

 

  iPhone X (A1901) iPhone 8 Plus (A1897) iPhone 8 (A1905)
Application Processor A11 Bionic A11 Bionic A11 Bionic
Baseband Intel XMM7480 (PMB9948) Intel XMM7480 (PMB9948) Intel XMM7480 (PMB9948)
RF Transceivers (x2) Intel PMB5757 Intel PMB5757 Intel PMB5757
LPDDR4 SDRAM Vary by manufacturer and part number Vary by manufacturer and part number Vary by manufacturer and part number
NAND Flash Vary by manufacturer and part number Vary by manufacturer and part number Vary by manufacturer and part number
WiFi / Bluetooth Murata w/ Broadcom SoC USI w/ Broadcom SoC Murata w/ Broadcom SoC
Image Sensor(s) - Rear Work in progress Sony / Sony Sony
Image Sensor - Front Sony Sony Sony
ToF STMicroelectronics STMicroelectronics STMicroelectronics
NFC NXP PN80V NXP PN80V NXP PN80V
PMIC (3 total) Intel PMB6848, Apple / Dialog 338S00341&338S00306 Intel PMB6848, Apple / Dialog 338S00309&338S00306 Intel PMB6848, Apple / Dialog 338S00309&338S00306
USB Type-C Cypress CYPD2104 Cypress CYPD2104 Cypress CYPD2104
Audio IC Apple/Cirrus Logic Apple/Cirrus Logic Apple/Cirrus Logic
Wireless Charging Broadcom BCM59355 Broadcom BCM59355 Broadcom BCM59355

Board Shots

Board Shots

Board Shots

Board Shots
Board Shots
Board Shots

Main Board

Board Shots

Main Board

Main Board, back side with shields intact
Main Board, front side with PCB cover removed (part of the SLP module)
Close up of A11 board

Modem side of Main PCB

Note the Intel BB processor PMB9948 and the Intel PMIC (PMB6848) as well as a Murata WiFi module

Board Shots

Modem side of Main PCB

Modem side of Main PCB
Annotated
Img31461
Img31462
Img31464

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