Average Rare Earth Content in a Smartphone (e.g., iPhone, Samsung Galaxy)
| Component | Main Rare Earth Elements | Typical Amount per Phone | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speakers & Vibrator (Magnets) | Neodymium (Nd), Praseodymium (Pr), Dysprosium (Dy), Terbium (Tb) | ~250–350 mg | Strong NdFeB magnets for speakers, microphones, haptic motor |
| Screen (Display Glass & Phosphors) | Yttrium (Y), Europium (Eu), Terbium (Tb) | ~20–50 mg | Red & green phosphors, color brightness |
| Camera Lenses | Lanthanum (La) | ~10–30 mg | High-refractive index glass for clear lenses |
| Battery / Electronics | Cerium (Ce), Lanthanum (La), Neodymium (Nd) | ~5–10 mg | Polishing powders, additives in battery electrodes |
| Other Sensors & Components | Gadolinium (Gd), Erbium (Er), Ytterbium (Yb), Samarium (Sm) | ~10–20 mg | Optical amplifiers, stabilization, lasers (Face ID, LiDAR) |
? Total per Smartphone
? ~0.5 – 1.0 grams of rare earth metals
? Equivalent to ~0.6 – 1.2 grams of rare earth oxides (REO)
Global Context
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There are ~1.4 billion smartphones produced each year.
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That equals roughly 1,000–1,500 metric tons of REO used annually in phones alone — small compared to EVs or wind turbines, but massive in aggregate.
Summary
| Category | Amount | Key REEs |
|---|---|---|
| Per phone | 0.5–1.0 g metals | Nd, Pr, Dy, Tb, La, Ce, Y, Eu |
