Cracking Open the Apple iPad 2012 (Wi-Fi)

Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi Teardown

Apple described the 2012 iPad as "resolutionary", and given the amazing picture quality of the tablet's Retina display, I see why. Having cracked open the original iPad and iPad 2, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the 2012 model. I cracked open the 4G version of the 2012 iPad last week, and this week I'm back for a look inside the Wi-Fi version.

For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Apple iPad 2012 Teardown: Bigger battery, better GPU, more RAM.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Box

Despite all the hardware upgrades, Apple kept the iPad's pricing and options scheme the same.

As of this writing, the 2012 iPad is available in two colors (White and Black), two wireless connectivity configurations (Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + 4G), and three storage capacities (16GB, 32GB, and 64GB).

Prices for Wi-Fi only iPads start at $499 and go up to $699. Prices for Wi-Fi + 4G units start at $629 and go up to $829.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Box contents

Along with the tablet itself, the 2012 iPad's box contains a power adapter, USB cable, and product documentation.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Dimensions and hardware specifications

Our 2012 Apple iPad (Wi-Fi ) has a Samsung-made, Apple-branded A5X system-on-a-chip (SoC), 16GB of storage, a 9.7" Retina display (2,048 x 1,536 at 264ppi), 802.11 a/b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth 4, and 5MP iSight and VGA-quality FaceTime cameras.

The tablet measures 7.31" (W) x 9.50" (W) x 0.37" (D). It weighs 1.44 pounds.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Back

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Speaker and 30-pin connector

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: iSight camera, power button, volume buttons, and lock switch

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Headphone jack

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi:

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: FaceTime camera

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Opening the front panel with a hair dryer and thin metal tools

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Lifting up the front panel

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Front panel folded open

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Front panel connector travels under the Retina display

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Removing the Retina display screws

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Lifting the Retina display away from the case

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Opening the Retina display connector's clamp

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Disconnecting the Retina display

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: 9.7" LED-backlit Retina display (2,048 x 1,536 pixels at 264ppi)

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Retina display - back

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Retina display markings

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Disconnecting the front panel

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Removing the front panel

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Front panel

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Home button

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: FaceTime camera cover on front panel

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Case with motherboard

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Removing the motherboard screws

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Removing the motherboard

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Case with attached components

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Headphone jack

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: FaceTime camera

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: 5MP iSight camera

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Volume buttons and lock switch

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi:

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Home button contacts and connector port

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: 3.7V 43.0WHr 11,560mAh Li-ion Polymer Battery (Model: A1389)

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Removing the EMI/RFI shields

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Motherboard - front

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Motherboard - back

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: A5X SoC (Samsung-made, Apple-branded)

For the available evidence, I believe the Apple A5X system-on-a-chip (Samsung-made, Apple-branded) contains a 1GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A9 CPU and a 200MHz quad-core Imagination Technologies PowerVR SGX543MP4+ GPU.

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: 16GB Hynix H2DRDG8UD1MYR NAND Flash

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Unknown Apple chip (343S0561-A1 11508HCF)

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Fairchild FDMC 6676B2

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Broadcom BCM4330 802.11a/b/g/n MAC/Baseband/Radio with Integrated Bluetooth 4.0+HS & FM Transceiver

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Fairchild FDMC 6683

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: 1 GB Elpida DRAM (512MB B4064B2MA-8D-F x 2)

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Texas Instruments CD3240 driver device (CD3240B0 1CA038T)

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Broadcom BCM5973 I/O controller (BCM59731A1 KUFBG HE1151 P11 176760 03 W)

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Broadcom BCM5974 microprocessor (BCM5974 CKFBGH HE1152 P12 178465 N3 W)

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Unknown Apple chip (338S0987 B0RV1151 SGP)

Cracking Open Apple iPad 2012 Wi-Fi: Completely disassembled