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

Apple iPad 2012 W-Fi + 4G teardown

\n\tApple 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.
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\n\tFor a detailed analysis of the teadown, check out my article and video, Apple iPad 2012 Teardown: Amazing display, difficult to repair.
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Pricing

\n\tDespite 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.
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Dimensions and weight

\n\tOur 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.
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Back

Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: RF window

Cracking open Apple iPad 2012 4G: Home button

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