Apple Looking to Save Space in Future iPhones With Thinner Circuit Boards

Apple will begin using a new material to make its printed circuit boards thinner starting next year, according to a source with a good track record.

Apple Silicon Teal Feature
Apple will reportedly switch to using resin coated copper (RCC) foil as a new printed circuit board (PCB) material in 2024. The change will apparently allow Apple to make its PCBs even thinner. Current iPhone PCBs are made from a flexible copper substrate material. A thinner PCB could free up valuable space inside compact devices like the ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch to provide more room for larger batteries or other components.

The iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to grow in size from 6.1- and 6.7-inches to 6.3- and 6.9-inches, respectively. The increase in size is believed to be partly due to a need for more internal space for additional components such as a tetraprism telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom and a capacitive "Capture" button.

The information comes from an integrated circuit expert on Weibo, who was first to report that the ‌iPhone‌ 14 would retain the A15 Bionic chip, with the A16 being exclusive to the ‌‌iPhone‌ 14‌ Pro models. Most recently, the user said that the A17 chip designed for the iPhone 16 and ‌‌iPhone 16‌‌ Plus will be made using a fundamentally different manufacturing process to the A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro to cut costs.

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Top Rated Comments

a_politis Avatar
20 months ago
For those who want new iPad mini, I suggest to wait a few more years. The next generations iPhone pro max is just 1-2 inches away.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Love-hate ? relationship Avatar
20 months ago
well hopefully it'll allow them to make their anemic batteries grow a bit
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DominikHoffmann Avatar
20 months ago
I don’t want a larger phone than my iPhone 15 Pro.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tyr2 Avatar
20 months ago
If the regular Pro grows to 6.3 inches, that clearly leaves plenty of space for a Pro Mini to fit into the lineup!
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aluminum213 Avatar
20 months ago
I hope they increase the price also ???
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
840quadra Avatar
20 months ago
Hoping this also means they can make smaller pro phones with full features.

I get the camera modules are in shorter supply, however we took a huge step back by splitting camera specifications on pro phones and only having it in the Max.

One HUGE reason I buy pro models on the iOS side is because ( unlike Android phones ) I could ( in the past ) get the best cameras in the smaller devices too.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)