Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Box

ntThe 2011 MacBook Air is available in four basic configurations–11-inch with 64GB of storage, 11-inch with 128GB of storage, 13-inch with 128GB of storage, and 13-inch with 256GB of storage. Within each of these divisions, you can further customize the processor and RAM.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Opening the box

ntOur $1,199 MacBook Air (11-inch) came with a 1.6GHz dual-core Intel i5 CPU, 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM, 128GB flash storage, Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor with 384MB of shared DDR3 SDRAM, and an 11.6-inch LED-backlit display.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Power adapter and product documentation

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Top

ntOur 11-inch 2011 MacBook Air has the same dimensions as the 11-inch 2011 model. The 2011 Air measures 0.11-0.68 inch (H) x 11.8 inches (W) x 7.56 inches (D). It weighs 2.38 pounds.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Front edge

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Back edge

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 11.6-inch Display

ntThe MacBook Air has an 11.6-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display that supports several resolutions–including 1366 x 768 pixels (native).

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): MagSafe power connector, USB port, headphone jack, and microphone

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): USB port and Thunderbolt port

ntApple added a Thunderbolt port to the 2011 MacBook Air. Unlike the 13-inch Air, the 11-inch model does not have an SD-card reader.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Bottom

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 5-point petalobe tamper-resistant screws

ntAs on the 2010 MacBook Air and some iPhone 4’s, Apple used tamper-resistant pentalobe screws on the 2011 Air’s bottom cover. Using a small Phillips I was able to remove the screws, but not without damaging one of the screws beyond future use. I’ll be looking for replacement screws before reassembling this laptop.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the bottom cover

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Internal hardware

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the battery screws

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the battery

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 7.3V 4680mAh Li-ion Polymer Battery (Model A1406)

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Battery removed

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the SSD screw

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the Samsung SSD

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 128GB Samsung MZ-CPA1280/0A2 SSD

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the Broadcom mini-PCIe wireless card screw

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the Broadcom mini-PCIe wireless card

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Broadcom BCM943224PCIEBT2BX mini-PCIe wireless card

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the cooling fan screws

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the cooling fan

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Delta Electronics KDB05105HC-HM04 cooling fan

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the left-side PCB screw

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the left-side PCB

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Left-side PCB

ntThe left-side PCB contains the MagSafe power connectors, USB port, and headphone jack.

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Cirrus 4206BCNZ audio controller

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Disconnecting the motherboard cables

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the motherboard screws

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the motherboard

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Aluminum body and display assembly

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Right-side speaker

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Left-side speaker

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Trackpad

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Silicon Storage Technology - SST 25VF020 20-4C-QAE 111335S-AB

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Cypress CY8C24x94-24L PSoC

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Broadcom BCM5976A0KUB2G

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Motherboard and heatshink

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the heatsink screws

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Removing the heatsink

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Heatsink

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Motherboard - Top

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Motherboard - Bottom

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 Processor with integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Intel E78296 Platform Controller Hub

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Intel DSL2310

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Texas Instruments 58864D

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Fairchild AB22AF FDMS 0355S and AB21AK FDMS 0348

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Samsung K4B2G0846D DDR3 SDRAM (4GB)

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): MAXIM 15092G

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Intersil 80 14AIRZ F119HH

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Texas Instruments 51916

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): SMSC USB2513B USB 2.0 Hub Controller

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): SMSC 1704-2 146696C CMY

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): F2117LP 20H RVP AE0268 1111JPN

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 25Q064A 13E40 99 PHL 7B122A2R66

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Texas Instruments TPS 51980

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Intersil 625 9AHRTZ F120BR

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): NXP 1112 /A 11231B

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 14AD D68B

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): 3148V 1R603 MPA

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Linear Technology 121 3957 B28281

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Parade PS8301 U08FUC ARTFH 2011 A2

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): NXP 04DP081A 1238.121 ZSD120

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Texas Instruments SN1010 017 TI 17K ATRP

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 11-inch): Complete teardown

ntAs with the 2010 MacBook Air and 13-inch 2011 model, the 2011 11-inch MacBook Air is simple to disassembled, once you remove the bottom cover. Apple’s use of tamper-resistant pentalobe screws, makes the Air very difficult to open.

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ntFor a more in-depth analysis of the hardware inside the MacBook Air, check out my post, MacBook Air (2011 11-inch) Teardown: Ultra-efficient internal design.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler