iPhone

Apple’s new robot, Daisy, recycles high-quality materials from up to 200 devices per hour

By April Gocha / April 24, 2018

In an effort to increase its sustainability and materials recycling efforts, Apple just unveiled a new robotic iPhone disassembly system, Daisy, that can separate and recover valuable materials from used iPhone devices in a matter of minutes.

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‘An iPhone formed from glass’—New slate of Apple smartphones feature glass front and back faces

By April Gocha / September 15, 2017

By now, you’ve probably heard that the rumors are true—Apple’s newest iPhones have shed their aluminum skins for an “all-glass design” instead, complete with front and back glass surfaces.

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What’s really inside your smartphone: A pile of raw minerals and serious social consequences

By April Gocha / August 22, 2017

According to a laboratory compositional analysis, the elemental recipe for a 129-g Apple iPhone includes about 24.1% aluminum, 15.4% carbon, 14.4% iron, and 14.5% oxygen by weight. And altogether, that pile of smartphone powder—ground from a $700 device—has a raw elemental value of about $1.03.

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Continuing the trend: Essential Phone joins list of smartphones featuring ceramic exteriors

By April Gocha / June 5, 2017

The trend of incorporating ceramic materials into smartphone exteriors seems to be continuing, at least for now—Essential’s new Phone is about to enter the market with a titanium, Gorilla Glass, and ceramic exterior.

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Apple iPhone 6

Apple’s investment in Corning is investment in US manufacturing

By Faye Oney / May 26, 2017

Apple’s latest announcement of its $200 million investment in Corning’s Harrodsburg, Ky., manufacturing facility appears to solidify a partnership it has had with Corning since 2007. The Kentucky facility makes screens for the iPhone with Corning’s Gorilla Glass.

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Video: Lithium-ion hacks to keep your smartphone battery charged and explosion-free

By April Gocha / September 14, 2016

A new Reactions video from the American Chemical Society explains the science behind exploding lithium-ion batteries, in addition to three hacks to keep lithium-ions lasting longer.

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Apple releases latest harvest of fruit with new iPhone 7 and ceramic Watch

By April Gocha / September 9, 2016

Apple unveiled the latest iteration of its tech products this week, debuting the new iPhone 7 and Series 2 Watches.

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Video: Corning ‘takes tough to new heights’ with Gorilla Glass 5

By Stephanie Liverani / July 27, 2016

Corning unveiled the next generation of tough with Gorilla Glass 5, which “touts dramatically improved drop performance compared with competitive glass designs and earlier versions of Gorilla Glass,” according to Corning’s website.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By April Gocha / June 1, 2016

Nanoparticle catalysts could reduce precious metal needs, Apple supplier confirms glass rumors, and other materials stories that may be of interest for June 1, 2016.

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Shattering expectations: Will the Apple iPhone 8 go all-glass next year?

By April Gocha / May 6, 2016

One of the most reliable Apple trend analysts, KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, predicts that next year’s iPhone iteration will say sayonara to its metal casing—and opt for all-glass instead.

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