Hardware

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2012)

By // July 11, 2012, 5:34 AM PST // billdetwiler

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  • MacBook Air 13-inch (2012) Teardown

    The 2012 Macbook Air looks nearly identical to last year's model on the outside. But, what about on the inside? In this Cracking Open gallery, I take you inside the 13-inch, 2012 Air and show you what's changed and what hasn't.

    For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, MacBook Air (2012) teardown reveals better hardware, unchanged battery/internal design.

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

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Hardware specifications

    Our MacBook Air test unit had 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor, Intel HD Graphics 4000, 8GB RAM, a 128GB SSD, and a 13.3-inch LED-backlit display (1440 x 900 resolution).

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

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Dimensions and weight

    Our 13-inch, 2012 MacBook Air measured 0.68" (H) x 12.8" (W) x 8.94" (D) and weighed 2.96 pounds.

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

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): SD card slot, USB 3.0 port, and Thunderbolt port

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): MagSafe 2 power connector, USB 3.0 port, headphone jack, and microphone

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Bottom

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Tamper-resistant pentalobe screws

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the bottom cover screws

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the bottom cover

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Internal hardware

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Disconnecting the battery

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the battery screws

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the battery

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Apple 7.3V, 50WH 6700mAh Li-ion battery pack (Model A1405)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the 128GB Toshiba SSD screw

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the 128GB Toshiba SSD

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): 128GB Toshiba THNSNS128GMFP SSD - Top

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): 128GB Toshiba THNSNS128GMFP SSD - Bottom

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the wireless module screw

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Disconnecting the wireless antenna cables

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the wireless module

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Broadcom BCM943224PCIEBT2 wireless module

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the I/O board/motherboard connector cabe

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Disconnecting the cooling fan

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the cooling fan screws

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the cooling fan

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Panasonic UDQFZYR70DQU DC brushless cooling fan

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Cooling fan - Back

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Cooling fan - Inside

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the I/O board screws

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the I/O board

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): I/O board - Top

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): I/O board - Bottom

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Disconnecting the motherboard cables

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the motherboard screws

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the motherboard

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Upper case with attached components

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Multi-Touch trackpad

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Right speaker

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Left speaker

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Cypress Semiconductor CY8C24794 PSoC Programmable System-on-Chip (CY8C24794-24L QXI 1213 A 04 PHI CYP 610676 181)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Silicon Storage Technology (SST) 25VF020 2 Mbit SPI Serial Flash (SST 25VF020 20-4C-QAE 1203WM9-AB)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Broadcom BCM5976A0KUB26 trackpad controller (BCM5976A0KUB2G TD1203 P10 18 1527 5T)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Motherboard with heatsink and cooling assembly

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the heatsink screws

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Removing the heatsink and cooling assembly

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Heatsink and cooling assembly

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Motherboard - Top

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Motherboard - Bottom

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): 1.8GHz duad-core Intel Core i5 processor with Intel HD Graphics 4000

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Intel Platform Controller Hub (E208B985 SLJ8B G11334 01 YF11)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): 8GB 1,600MHz DDR3L SDRAM (Hynix H5TC4G83MFR x 16)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Intel DSL3510L (Thunderbolt controller?)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Linear Technology LT3957B DC/DC inverting switching regulators (212 3957 B66147)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Texas Instruments (58872D TI 231 A7Q3 E4)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): K03P0 2B4 61R5

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Genesys Logic GL822 card reader controller chip (GL822 IAB0303 2149831)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): 023 15 08 SD213

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Texas Instruments CD3210 A0 TI 221 AH79

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Texas Instruments TPS51980 TI 231 A2EC G4

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Intersil ISL6259A battery charger (6259A HRTZ F209LN)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): R33V TI 21K CCGN

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): 25Q064A 13E40 99 PHL 7B210A2H99

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Texas Instruments/Stellaris LM4FS1AH microcontroller (980 YFC LM4FS1AH 5BBCIG 22AD29W G1)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): SMSC USB2512B USB hub controller (USB2513B D1213-A2P10 8J150018F CSM-MY)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): TL02043A 8284.109 ZSD213

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Texas Instruments TPS51916 DDR2, DDR3 and DDR3L Memory Power Solution Synchronous Buck Controller (51916 TI 22K CXQ1)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Intersil ISL8014A 4A Low Quiescent Current 1MHz High Efficiency Synchronous Buck Regulator (8014AIRZRF209QT)

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): 3049895D

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Maxim MAX15120G TL214 +BSAH

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): BQZ TI K 2397

  • Cracking Open MacBook Air 13-inch (2012): Completely disassembled

    For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, MacBook Air (2012) teardown reveals better hardware, unchanged battery/internal design.

MacBook Air 13-inch (2012) Teardown

The 2012 Macbook Air looks nearly identical to last year's model on the outside. But, what about on the inside? In this Cracking Open gallery, I take you inside the 13-inch, 2012 Air and show you what's changed and what hasn't.

For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, MacBook Air (2012) teardown reveals better hardware, unchanged battery/internal design.

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

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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 ...