Cracking Open iPad Air: Models and pricing

The iPad Air is available with 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB of storage and comes in two finishes–Space Gray (black) and Silver (white). Wi-Fi versions of the Air start at $499 and go up to $799. Cellular models start at $629 and top out at $929.

Cracking Open iPad Air: Box contents

Cracking Open iPad Air: Dimensions and weight

At 6.6 inches wide, 9.4 inches tall, and a mere 0.29 inch thick, the 2013 iPad Air is thinner, shorter, and narrower than the iPad 4. It also weighs nearly half a pound less (1.0 pound for Wi-Fi and 1.05 pounds for cellular).

Cracking Open iPad Air: Back

Cracking Open iPad Air: Front

Cracking Open iPad Air: Lightning connector and speakers

Cracking Open iPad Air: Headphone jack, sleep/wake button, rotation lock switch, and volume buttons

Cracking Open iPad Air: 5MP iSight camera

Cracking Open iPad Air: Heating the front panel adhesive

To begin opening the iPad Air, I heated the edges of the panel to loosen the adhesive that holds it to the aluminum body. Then, starting from the lower-left corner, I used a series of thin tools to gently pry the panel loose.

Cracking Open iPad Air: Prying lose the front panel

Be very careful around the lower-right corner and along the right edge. There are several thin ribbon cables there that connect the front panel to the motherboard.

Cracking Open iPad Air: Lift up on the front panel

Cracking Open iPad Air: Front panel opened, but still connected

You can’t completely remove the panel until you take out the display.

Cracking Open iPad Air: Front panel ribbon cables

Cracking Open iPad Air: Removing the LCD panel screws

Cracking Open iPad Air: Lifting up the LCD panel

Cracking Open iPad Air: Removing the front panel and LCD connector cover screws

The connectors for the front panel and LCD are located under a thin metal shield, which is held in place with three screws.

Cracking Open iPad Air: Detaching the LCD panel connector

Cracking Open iPad Air: Retina LCD panel - Front

Cracking Open iPad Air: Retina LCD panel - back

Cracking Open iPad Air: LCD panel model number

Cracking Open iPad Air: Detaching the front panel connectors

Cracking Open iPad Air: Front panel - Front

Cracking Open iPad Air: Front Panel - Back

Cracking Open iPad Air: FaceTime HD camera bracket

Cracking Open iPad Air: Home button

Cracking Open iPad Air: Internal hardware

Cracking Open iPad Air: Removing motherboard shield tape

Cracking Open iPad Air: Removing the motherboard shield

Cracking Open iPad Air: Motherboard shield removed

Cracking Open iPad Air: Motherboard shield removed

Cracking Open iPad Air: Upper case hardware

Cracking Open iPad Air: Headphone jack

Cracking Open iPad Air: 1.2MP FaceTime HD camera

Cracking Open iPad Air: iSight camera, sleep/wake button, lock switch, and volume button

Cracking Open iPad Air: Lower hardware

Cracking Open iPad Air: Lightning connector

Cracking Open iPad Air: Motherboard

Cracking Open iPad Air: 64-bit A7 processor

Cracking Open iPad Air: Toshiba THGBX2G7B2JLA01 16GB NAND flash

Cracking Open iPad Air: Elpida 1GB LPDDR3 SDRAM

Cracking Open iPad Air: USI 339S0213 Wi-Fi Module

Cracking Open iPad Air: NXP 1610A1 T98020 Z D33123-39 (also found on iPhone 5S)

Cracking Open iPad Air: Apple 343S0655-A1 1335KHGP

Cracking Open iPad Air: Fairchild BDCAR FDMC 6683

Cracking Open iPad Air: Apple 338S1116 Cirrus Audio Code (also found in iPhone 5C)

Cracking Open iPad Air: Disassembled