Apple’s 2024 environmental report for the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro Max confirms the use of recycled precious metals but does not disclose how much silver is in an iPhone today. The widely cited figure of about 0.34 grams of silver per device originates from earlier models like the iPhone SE (2016) and serves only as a reference point.
Given Apple’s shift toward material efficiency, the current silver content is potentially lower in light of increasing efficiency in electronics over the last 9 years.
Material Role and Economic Value of Silver in iPhones
Silver’s unmatched conductivity and corrosion resistance make it essential in subsystems like RF switches, antenna contacts, soldering, and EMI shielding. These roles are inferred from Apple’s 2016 disclosure and standard electronics design, not current specifications.
Although silver represents a small share of the bill of materials, its functional and recoverable value is significant. Apple sources silver from RMAP-audited, conflict-free refiners. In 2023, approximately 10% of procurement moved away from Peru due to export restrictions.
Declining Precious Metal Use: 2016 vs. 2025
Apple’s environmental reports reflect a trend toward reduced precious metal use over time, but none since 2016 provide specific silver content. The 0.34 g figure is the last known reference and likely represents a high-end estimate for today’s models.
Since Apple stopped reporting silver separately after 2016, no recent figures exist.
Environmental Impact and Apple’s Recycling Goals
In 2024, global silver production reached 25,000 tons, with 15% going to electronics. Apple plans to source 30% of silver in new iPhones from recycled content by 2026 and to achieve 90% internal recovery efficiency by 2028.
Silver Recovery and Circular Sourcing
Conventional shredding and leaching methods typically recover 60–80% of silver, depending on how it’s bonded to PCB substrates. Apple’s Daisy robot, which disassembles 200 iPhones per hour, has been highlighted as part of its recovery strategy. Past reports suggest Daisy achieves approximately 7.5 kg of silver recovery per 100,000 devices, though no updated 2024 recovery totals have been confirmed.
Emerging methods like ionic-liquid extraction and bio-leaching are being piloted but remain under development. If smartphone recycling participation improves significantly, silver recovery from e-waste could reclaim up to 2,000 tons annually by 2030, which could offset a significant share of primary demand.
Consumer Action and Best Practices
While each device yields only $0.34 worth of silver at the silver spot price per gram, collective recycling efforts yield substantial material savings.
Best practices for recycling:
- Remove accessories and cases.
- Leave batteries installed (some silver may reside on terminal tabs).
- Avoid DIY chemical recovery, as professional systems are safer and more efficient.
Although scrap silver is not worth as much as scrap gold, its value still adds up over time.
Viable Alternatives to Silver and Their Limits
Silver’s unique balance of conductivity, corrosion resistance, and affordability has kept it central to key iPhone functions. While alternative materials like copper, Pd-Ni alloys, gold, and emerging technologies such as graphene inks are being explored, each presents cost, performance, or durability tradeoffs.
No flagship phone has eliminated silver use entirely. Even rugged industrial models continue to rely on silver in performance-critical areas such as RF modules and EMI gaskets. A partial substitution, up to 30% by 2030, could reduce global demand, but performance tradeoffs remain.
Future Outlook
Silver content has declined from 0.45 grams in early models to 0.34 grams by 2016, with current estimates trending lower. Substitutes are being explored, but none fully match silver’s conductivity and corrosion resistance in all required use cases.
While Apple’s environmental disclosures for the iPhone 16 confirm the use of recycled precious metals, they do not specify the amount of silver used. Based on historical disclosures and consistent trends in material miniaturization, it is reasonable to infer that the current silver content may be 0.34 grams or even less. Despite its small footprint in terms of weight and cost, silver remains indispensable in performance-critical areas such as RF switches, EMI shielding, flex connectors, and solder applications due to its unmatched conductivity.
Apple’s sustainability strategy is focused on increasing recycled silver inputs and boosting recovery efficiency. It aims for 30% recycled silver by 2026 and 90% recovery by 2028. However, silver is unlikely to be eliminated from iPhones in the foreseeable future.
