How Is Your Smartphone Made? | Manufacturing Process | Software Development

Mobile Phones
Source: Irita Kirsbluma, cc-by-3.0, flickr

The modern smartphone has quickly become one of the most popular devices of our time. With many different brands and styles, the smartphone market is competitive and has a quick turnover with manufacturers and designers constantly looking for ways to make improvements to their models. Despite having become something that many of us depend on in our daily lives as a source of contact and a way to find information, few of us ever consider how smartphones are made. Although a complex process, here is an overview of how a smartphone is developed and made. 

Software Development

The software of any smartphone is constantly being developed. Companies like Apple and Android are constantly competing to create the most advanced smartphone technology, so will always be looking for ways to develop innovative software updates to make their product leap ahead of the competition.

The rate at which software is being developed is incredible, with many existing smartphone owners finding that their devices often need updating to the most current software. Despite many smartphones often having regular device updates, this doesn’t mean that customers will constantly be needing to replace and update the models of the phones that they own, but simply download updates and any new software that is developed and released.

Those who develop software for a smartphone will want to make their device easy to use and for it to contain pre-installed popular and useful apps as well has allow for additional ones to be purchased and downloaded.

Design

The design of a smartphone is important for a number of reasons. With many consumers being interested in aesthetic qualities, smartphone companies need to create a product that has a combination of physical practical and stylish design features. A smartphone needs to be easy to hold and have a screen that is of an appropriate size for use. As smartphones usually have minimal buttons, placements of these need to be well thought out, and those who are designing the phones will carefully consider how it is likely to held and used by the majority of its target audience.

A smartphone will need to be similar yet different to the design of its competitors so as to entice consumers to purchase and use it. Recently, smartphones are being offered in an array of colours, with Apple introducing its iPhone 5s in black, gold, and white, and its iPhone c in a range of bright, vibrant colours and Nokia’s Lumia also offering a variety of clip on colourful backs.

Manufacturing Process

Parts manufacture of a smartphone requires precision and accuracy. Due to the need for a precise part to be created, most smartphones are manufactured using a computer numerical control engineering process. CNC engineering allows for parts to be bored from a solid piece of material meaning that they are not only precise, but also have more strength and durability than parts that are melded.

By having a smartphone that is manufactured using CNC drilling or boring, companies can create a product that is strong enough to resist certain levels of damage, and will last for a long period of time. Quality is of high importance to many smartphone companies as many wish to market their product as a high tech, luxury good, that offers much more than just a practical use.

By Beth Stubbings

Beth Sutbbings thinks that a smartphone is an amazing piece of technology. She would recommend Griffiths Engineering to businesses who are looking to have parts manufactured using CNC engineering.