If you’ve ever opened your cell phone, you would have noticed the gold-colored components. There is actual gold in your phone, used because of its excellent conductivity and resistance to corrosion. However, the amount of gold contained in a phone is smaller than one might expect. On average, a smartphone might have around 0.034 grams of gold. That might not seem like a lot, but considering the millions of cell phones produced each year, it quickly adds up.
Where is Gold within Cell Phones?
Now that we’ve established gold in your phone, the next question is, where exactly is this gold located? The answer is that the gold is primarily found within the phone’s circuit board.
The circuit board, also known as the motherboard, is like the brain of the cell phone. It houses the phone’s main components and enables everything to communicate. Gold is used in the connectors of the integrated circuits and the memory chip within this circuit board. These areas require highly reliable materials that won’t corrode or impair the device’s functionality over time, hence using gold.
It’s important to note that this gold is not in a form that can be easily harvested. Instead, it’s typically plated onto other metals and alloyed with small amounts of nickel or cobalt to increase its durability and wear resistance. Learn about hidden scrap gold
Why do we use Gold in our Smartphone electronics?
There are a few reasons why gold is used in the electronics of our smartphones. One of the primary reasons is that gold is an excellent conductor of electricity. It enables efficient transfer of electricity, which is essential for the fast processing times that modern smartphones require.
In addition, gold is highly resistant to corrosion and tarnish. This makes it ideal for long-term use in a device like a smartphone, which is exposed to various conditions that could damage its internal components.
Gold is also very malleable, which means it can be made into extremely thin sheets or wires. This property is helpful in the production of tiny components and intricate circuit found in smartphones.
Lastly, while gold is a relatively expensive material, the amount used in each phone is relatively small. Therefore, the cost is justified by gold’s performance and longevity benefits.
What Device has the Most Gold in it?
While smartphones do contain gold, other electronics tend to contain more. For example, high-end desktop computers and servers have more gold content than smartphones. This is because these devices require more powerful and reliable components and have larger circuit boards.
Out of these, server-grade motherboards hold the most gold. For instance, while a smartphone might contain around 0.034 grams of gold, a desktop computer’s motherboard might contain up to 0.15 grams. Server motherboards can have up to 1 gram of gold.
Televisions, particularly older models, also contain considerable gold, as do specific medical and scientific instruments.
How Much Gold is in a SIM Card?
A SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card is a tiny chip that connects your phone to your specific carrier, allowing it to access the network. These cards are also gold-plated, contributing to the overall gold content of a cell phone.
However, the amount of gold in a SIM card is very small. A SIM card is estimated to contain about 0.030 grams of gold. This is smaller than the amount in the phone’s circuit board but still significant considering the number of SIM cards produced annually.
How Much Gold is in an iPhone?
Apple’s iPhones, on the higher end of the smartphone spectrum, contain more gold than other brands. The exact amount varies depending on the model, but on average, an iPhone contains around 0.034 grams of gold.
This might seem insignificant, but with over 200 million iPhones sold annually, the total amount of gold used by Apple is considerable. This further underscores the importance of recycling electronic waste, as many precious metals can be recovered and reused.
So next time you look at your phone, remember – it’s not just a communication device but also a tiny vault of gold! However, with the small quantities involved and the difficulty of extraction, it’s best to leave the gold recovery to professional recyclers. Instead, if you’re interested in gold as an investment, consider buying gold bullion or coins from a reputable dealer.
Whether you are new to gold investing or have been a collector for years, it is essential to research and work with a reputable dealer. American Bullion is a trusted resource for those looking to invest in gold IRAs, offering a wide selection of gold coins from around the world and expert guidance on which coins are right for you.
So why wait? Invest in gold coins today and start building a brighter financial future.