“iSuppli estimates the 4GB version of the Apple iPhone will carry a $229.85 hardware BoM and manufacturing cost and a $245.83 total expense, yielding a 50.7 percent margin on each unit sold at the $499 retail price,” said Andrew Rassweiler, teardown services manager and senior analyst for iSuppli. “Meanwhile, the 8GB Apple iPhone will sport a $264.85 hardware cost and a $280.83 total expense, amounting to a 53.1 percent margin at the $599 retail price.”This large margin means Apple will be able to offer significant price cuts in the future. “With a 50 percent gross margin, Apple is setting itself up for aggressive price declines going forward,” said Jagdish Rebello, PhD, director and principal analyst with iSuppli.
The research firm further estimates that there are already 14 phones on the market from phone makers including Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and LG with features that come close to the Apple iPhone. One of the biggest iPhone competitors will be the LG KE850, which will start shipping later this year. Another product that comes close to the iPhone is the Nokia N800, but this phone is more focused on niche markets.
The single most expensive item, besides the flash memory, is the 3.5" touch screen which costs $33.50. Here's the full breakdown of the expected material costs:
While iSuppli has a high degree of confidence in its conclusions, these figures are considered preliminary until they perform an actual physical teardown and analysis of the iPhone.