Inside Consumer MEMS: Teardowns, Process Insights, and Cost Drivers

Session details:

Representing an estimated $15.4B market in 2024 and projected to reach $19.2B by 2030, MEMS-based sensors and actuators enable miniaturization, high integration, low power consumption, and cost-effective solutions. Continuous advances in MEMS technology are pushing performance to meet the stringent requirements of leading makers of TWS earphones, smart glasses, smartwatches, and smartphones.  

To understand where the value comes from design choices, process flows, and cost drivers, Yole Group has conducted laboratory teardowns and cost analyses of hundreds of MEMS devices found in products from Apple, Samsung, Huawei, and others. Our work includes detailed images and cross-sections at the package, MEMS, and ASIC levels, using X-ray, infrared, optical, and SEM techniques. It enables precise structure analysis and cost comparisons across devices such as microspeakers, MEMS microphones, and consumer IMUs from leading manufacturers including xMEMS, Bosch, Goermicro, and STMicroelectronics. 

 This presentation will share recent technical teardown findings, technology and cost analyses to highlight on a selection of recent MEMS sensors and actuators.