Camera, Memory Costs Behind Higher BOM in Flagship Samsung Phone, Report Says

The new 64 GB Samsung Galaxy S9+ carries a bill of materials (BOM) cost $43 higher than previous versions of Samsung smartphones, said a Thursday IHS Markit teardown report. The $375.80, a “much higher” BOM than previous versions, is driven mostly by higher prices for DRAM and NAND flash memory and the much-touted dual-lens mechanical aperture camera module, said analyst Andrew Rassweiler. The camera section’s combined cost for the primary and secondary lens, iris camera and other modules is $44.95, of which $34.95 is for the new primary camera, he said. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor is part of a bundled chipset estimated to cost $67, said the analyst. At 700-nit brightness, the 6.2-inch Super AMOLED display, slightly higher than last year’s Galaxy S8+, has a BOM of $79, making it the most expensive component in the device, said Rassweiler. Wireless charging in the device was upgraded to 15 watts from 7; no cost was given. “Despite the higher cost structure for Samsung, the Galaxy S9+ offers consumers better specs at about the same price point as the Galaxy S8+,” said Rassweiler, citing the brighter screen and advanced camera technology. The unsubsidized retail price for a 64GB Galaxy S9+ starts at $839.99.