Apple

Cracking Open the Apple iPad 2012 (Wi-Fi + 4G Verizon)

By // March 16, 2012, 6:45 AM PST // billdetwiler

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  • Apple iPad 2012 W-Fi + 4G 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. Follow along as I crack open Verizon's version of the 2012 Apple iPad Wi-Fi + 4G.

    For a detailed analysis of the teadown, check out my article and video, Apple iPad 2012 Teardown: Amazing display, difficult to repair.

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

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Pricing

    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 4G: Dimensions and weight

    Our 2012 Apple iPad (Wi-Fi + 4G Verizon) 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, 4G LTE and CDMA EV-DO, and 5MP iSight and VGA-quality FaceTime cameras. The tablet measures 7.31" (W) x 9.50" (W) x 0.37" (D). It weighs 1.46 pounds.

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

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Back

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: microSIM slot and headphone jack

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: RF window

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Speaker

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Home button

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: FaceTime camera

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Heating the front panel adhesive

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Gently prying loose the front panel

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Front panel removed

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Digitizer ribbon cable

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Removing the Retina display screws

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Lifting up the Retina display

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Retina display still connected

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Disconnecting the Retina display

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Removing the Retina display

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Retina display

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Retina display back

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Retina display identification numbers

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Ready to disconnect the front panel

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Disconnecting the front panel

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Front panel

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Internal hardware

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Disconnecting the headphone jack connector

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Disconnecting a motherboard connector

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Removing the motherboard screws

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Disconnecting the 30-pin dock connector

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Removing the motherboard

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Motherboard connected with antenna wires

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Disconnecting the antenna wires

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Aluminum case and attached components

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Motherboard with EMI/RFI shields

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: 30-pin dock connector

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Speaker

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: 45Whr Li-ion battery pack

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: microSIM slot and headphone jack

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: FaceTime camera

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: 5MP iSight camera

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Volume buttons and lock switch

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: A5X system-on-a-chip (SoC)

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: 16GB Hynix H2DRDG8UD1MYR NAND Flash

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Unknown Apple chip (343S0561-A1 12058HCA)

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: 1 GB Samsung DRAM (512MB mobile DRAM K3PE4E400E XGC1 x2)

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Broadcom BCM4330 802.11a/b/g/n MAC/Baseband/Radio with Integrated Bluetooth 4.0+HS & FM Transceiver

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Fairchild FDMC 6683

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Texas Instruments CD3240 driver device (CD3240B0 1CAY7KT)

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Broadcom BCM5973 I/O controller (BCM59731A1 KUFBG HE1202 P11 179034 03 W)

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Broadcom BCM5974 microprocessor (BCM5974 CKFBGH HE1205 P12 184595 N3 W)

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Qualcomm MDM9600 - 3G and 4G wireless modem

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Avago A7792 and other misc. chips

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Unknown MT chip (2CDI8 NQ312 BDDT)

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Qualcomm RTR8600 multi-band/mode RF transceiver for LTE bands

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Triquint TQM7M5013 quad-band linear power amplifier module

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Unknown Apple chip (338S0987 B0RJ1152 SGP)

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Qualcomm PM8028 Power Management IC

  • Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Completely disassembled

Apple iPad 2012 W-Fi + 4G 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. Follow along as I crack open Verizon's version of the 2012 Apple iPad Wi-Fi + 4G.

For a detailed analysis of the teadown, check out my article and video, Apple iPad 2012 Teardown: Amazing display, difficult to repair.

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

Related Topics:

Apple Mobility Hardware Innovation Software Consumerization Cloud

About Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop supp...