Apple

Cracking Open the Apple iPad Air

By · November 8, 2013, 6:14 PM PST · billdetwiler

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  • Apple iPad Air teardown

    The iPad Air is the thinnest and lightest version of Apple's full-size tablet. It also has a faster processor, better front-facing camera, a completely flip flopped internal layout, and lots of other hardware updates.

    In this Cracking Open gallery, I show you how to get inside the device and give you a tour of the redesigned interior. For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, iPad Air teardown reveals significant internal design changes.


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  • 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.

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Box contents


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  • 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).

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Back

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Front

    Apple didn't upgrade the Air's Retina display, rear-facing camera, 802.11n Wi-Fi, or Home button--no Touch ID sensor here. But they did give their flagship tablet the company's new 64-bit A7 processor, their M7 motion co-processor, an upgraded FaceTime HD camera, and a new battery.

    They also redesigned the internal hardware layout, which changes slightly how you crack open the Air compared to previous iPads.


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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Lightning connector and speakers

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

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: 5MP iSight camera

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Lift up on the front panel

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

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

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Front panel ribbon cables

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Removing the LCD panel screws

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Lifting up the LCD panel

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  • 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.

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Detaching the LCD panel connector

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Retina LCD panel - Front

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Retina LCD panel - back

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: LCD panel model number

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Detaching the front panel connectors

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Front panel - Front

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Front Panel - Back

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: FaceTime HD camera bracket

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Home button

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Internal hardware

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Removing motherboard shield tape

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Removing the motherboard shield

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Motherboard shield removed

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Motherboard shield removed

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Upper case hardware

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Headphone jack

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: 1.2MP FaceTime HD camera

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

    Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic

  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Lower hardware

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Lightning connector

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Motherboard

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: 64-bit A7 processor

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Toshiba THGBX2G7B2JLA01 16GB NAND flash

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Elpida 1GB LPDDR3 SDRAM

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

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

    Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic

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

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Fairchild BDCAR FDMC 6683

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

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  • Cracking Open iPad Air: Disassembled

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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.

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Related Topics:
Apple Mobility Hardware Innovation Software Consumerization Cloud

By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Editor in Chief of TechRepublic 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 support specialist in the ...

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