Neodymium magnets play a crucial role in 3C consumer electronics. From smartphones to tablets, these devices rely heavily on neodymium magnets. Market research suggests that with the increasing diversification of smart devices, the demand for neodymium magnets in the 3C consumer electronics sector is expected to grow by 10% annually.
What are 3C Consumer Electronic Products?
3C consumer electronic products primarily include six categories: smartphones, tablets, laptops, watches, earphones, and wireless charging devices. For easier understanding, use Apple products as examples: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch, AirPods, and MagSafe.
Why Use Neodymium Magnets in 3C Consumer Electronics?
Neodymium magnets are currently the strongest permanent magnets available. They have a maximum magnetic energy product of 52M, compared to 32M for samarium-cobalt magnets, and more than 10 times that of ferrite magnets. Due to their high magnetic strength, only a small neodymium magnet is needed to generate a powerful magnetic field, significantly reducing product size and weight.
| Br(Gauss) | Hc(Oesteds) | BHmax(MGOe) | |
| Neodymium(N42) | 130000 | 115000 | 42 |
| Alnico（Alnico5) | 12500 | 640 | 5.5 |
| Samarium cobalt（2:17) | 11000 | 9700 | 28 |
These excellent properties align well with the trend toward thinner, higher-performance 3C consumer electronics. As a result, neodymium magnets are widely used in various 3C consumer electronic products, with demand continuing to grow.
Applications in 3C Consumer Electronics
Acoustic Components
This is the sound-producing unit, commonly known as a speaker. The speaker’s performance significantly affects sound quality. When an alternating current passes through the voice coil, it creates a magnetic field that interacts with the permanent magnet’s field, causing vibration and producing sound.
Different 3C products have varying requirements for neodymium magnets in their acoustic components:
| Mobile phones: Mobile phones are used frequently and consumers have certain requirements for phone weight, therefore high-performance and small-volume neodymium magnets are needed. N54SH is a commonly used neodymium magnet.
|Tablets and laptops: For tablets and laptops, the use of neodymium magnets requires careful consideration. It should be noted that these consumer electronic products are larger than mobile phones and have more available space, therefore they often use slightly lower-performance neodymium magnets, such as N52SH. This approach ensures sound quality while effectively reducing costs.
| Smartwatch: For watch products, which are small in size and where users generally only require the ability to produce sound without high audio quality demands, lower performance magnets can be used, such as N50H neodymium magnets.
Motor Components
| Voice Coil Motor: Voice Coil Motor (VCM) is crucial in Auto Focus camera modules. It moves the lens up and down to switch between close and distant focus, resulting in clearer photos. Like speakers, magnets in the camera module provide a permanent magnetic field. When the coil is electrified, it experiences a force in this magnetic field, moving the lens back and forth.2
Arc magnets are widely used in Voice Coil Motors, with a thickness of no more than 1mm. The main grades of neodymium magnets are 42M, 45M, 45H, 45SH, 48M, 50M, 50SH, 52M, 48H, 48SH, etc.
| Linear Resonance Actuator: The LRA (Linear Resonance Actuator) enhances the user’s interaction experience by providing vibration feedback. A magnetic field is generated when an electric current passes through the coil inside the motor. This magnetic field interacts with a fixed magnet to create a force, which drives the vibration unit to move in a linear direction, thus producing vibrations. Adjusting the intensity and frequency of the current allows the vibration’s strength and pattern to be finely controlled to achieve different vibration effects.
LRAs are divided into horizontal and vertical linear motors. Vertical linear motors vibrate along the Z-axis, with a shorter vibration travel and weaker vibration force. Horizontal linear motors have longer vibration travel, faster startup speed, and controllable direction.
Magnetic Attachment Components
Magnetic attachment utilizes the attraction between magnets and ferromagnetic materials, primarily applied in various attachment accessories. Magnets are adhesive in various wireless charging attachments, computer screen closures, and tablet support.
| MagSafe: Taking MagSafe as an example, it is a magnetic attachment technology. MagSafe chargers and external batteries can attach to the back of an iPhone or its MagSafe case. The magnets ensure proper alignment for fast wireless charging. The neodymium magnets used are primarily N52 or N52SH, arranged in a ring formation.
Magnets Provider
At Tengye, we’re thrilled to be early participants in your new projects. Our passion for magnets extends from material selection and design optimization to providing magnetic solutions. We hope to bring our knowledge and experience to the forefront by actively engaging in your upcoming projects. Work with our magnet experts to get the right magnet solution.
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