Apple has implemented QR codes on iPhone screens to improve production quality and reduce material waste. These QR codes are engraved on each screen and enable Apple to closely monitor and evaluate the screen quality from suppliers Lens Technology and Biel Crystal. This innovation has reportedly reduced material waste from 30% to 10%, according to a report by The Information.

Implementing QR Codes to Scrutinize Production Quality

The tech giant has invested heavily in an innovative barcode initiative for its iPhone screens. They’ve placed two barcodes on each screen, one on the inner edge of the bezel and another tiny one measuring 0.2mm at a different location. This initiative has significantly reduced screen defects from 30% to 10%, leading to substantial cost savings for Apple. It has also given Apple better control over production quality, preventing suppliers from charging for supposed faulty screens.

Apple initially faced challenges when trying to attach QR codes to iPhone screens, as it weakened the displays and caused cracks during drop tests near the code location. However, they overcame these problems by developing new scanning methods and using microscopic lenses to avoid excessively deep etchings in the glass.

The QR codes on iPhone screens serve distinct purposes: the smaller one investigates screens reported as faulty, while the larger one identifies truly faulty displays, specifying the supplier and potentially narrowing down to specific production batches. This advancement has improved production quality and reduced waste, reflecting Apple’s strategic commitment to maintaining stringent quality control.

According to AppleInsider, both display firms have faced allegations of using forced labor, with Apple accused of not addressing these claims adequately. However, Apple continues to monitor the firms and their manufacturing issues.

So far, the Apple 15 series is experiencing problems like overheating and USB-C cable complications. These devices use 3nm chipsets, with the Apple A17 Pro being the first. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts weak demand for this technology next year, leading Apple to cut orders for 3nm chips.

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China is among those few countries that have widely adopted the mobile payments system, making the system quite easy to use compared to the traditional ways. The popularity of mobile payments in China was driven by the use of QR codes, making the process super easy as the user just need to scan the code to make payments.

But now, since the QR codes are gaining more popularity outside China, the tech giants in the Chinese market are moving towards a newer system for mobile payments — facial recognition. Companies like Ant Financials, an arm of Alibaba and WeChat backed by Tencent, have already started using facial recognition.

The facial recognition-based payments system provides more ease and security as well as portability compared to the QR codes method. Also, the use of this new method could further boost the usage of mobile payments as it has the potential to bring a new wave of less tech-savvy users, such as the elderly.

Alipay first rolled out its Dragonfly facial recognition system, which is an upgrade of its Smile-to-Pay system, in December last year. Since then, the company has expanded it to over 300 cities in China.

Following its footsteps, rival WeChat Pay also started offering its device to merchants around three months later. The device is capable of scanning both a customer’s face as well as QR codes for payment. However, the company has not shared statistics.

The adaptation of this new system of facial recognition has made the shopping experience a breeze. During checkout, all the user needs to do is choose facial recognition to pay and look at the tablet’s camera. Once authorized, the amount will be deducted from the user’s account. Now, the user doesn’t need to take out the phone and scan the QR code and then proceed with the steps to make payment.

This is also leading to less reliance on cashiers. For instance, Alipay is now offering solutions such as vending machines and self-checkout machines that both use face-scans to process payments.

The battle for the mobile payments market share in China is majorly between two giants — WeChat Pay and Alipay. As per the reports, both the companies jointly accounted for over 90 percent of China’s mobile payments last year. Both are almost equal when it comes to ticket size, with WeChat Pay accounting for 45 percent of total transaction amounts and Alipay for 46 percent, reveals market research firm Ipsos.

There are currently about 583 million users who are using mobile payments technology. With over 562 million Chinese still remain to get connected to the internet, the market has a lot of room to grow.

(Source)

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