New Apple iPhone costs $179 to produce-iSuppli

* iPhone 3GS costs slightly more to make than 3G model

* Features chips from Samsung, Toshiba, Broadcom

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24 (Reuters) - Apple Inc's (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) new entry-level iPhone model costs $179 in materials and manufacturing expense, according to a teardown analysis on Wednesday by research group iSuppli.

The 16-gigabyte version of the new iPhone 3GS carries a bill of materials of $172.46 and costs $6.50 to make, iSuppli estimated.

The phone retails for $199, although it is heavily subsidized by exclusive U.S. carrier AT&T Inc (T.N: Quote, Profile, Research) with the purchase of a service plan.

Last year, iSuppli estimated the materials and manufacturing cost for the entry-level, second-generation 3G iPhone at $174.33.

ISuppli analyst Andrew Rassweiler said in a statement the iPhone 3GS is similar to the 3G from a component and design perspective.

"By leveraging this commonality to optimize materials costs, and taking advantage of price erosion in the electronic component marketplace, Apple can provide a higher-performing product with more memory and features at only a slightly higher materials and manufacturing cost."

The new iPhone keeps Samsung's (005930.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) applications processor, and features flash memory from Toshiba Corp (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research).