Hardware

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch)

By // July 22, 2011, 3:46 AM PST // billdetwiler

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  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch)

    In July 2011, Apple released the 3nd generation MacBook Air (Model A1369). As with the 2nd generation Airs, the 2011 notebooks are available in 11-inch and 13-inch models.

    We cracked open the 1st generation MacBook Air (released in 2008) and 2nd generation MacBook Airs (released in 2010). Follow along as we go inside Apple's ultra-thin laptop.

    To disassemble the new MacBook Air you'll need a screwdriver with Torx T5 and T8 bits and either a very small Phillips screwdriver or special pentalobe bit.

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

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Box

    The 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.

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

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): In the box

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Documentation and Power adapter

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Display

    Our MacBook Air had an 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display that supports several resolutions--including 1440 x 900 pixels (native).

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

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Model A1369

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Top

    Our 13-inch 2011 MacBook Air has the same basic dimensions as the 13-inch 2010 model. The 2011 Air measures 0.11-0.68 inch (H) x 12.8 inches (W) x 8.94 inches (D). It weighs 2.96 pounds.

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

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Front edge

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): MagSafe power connector, USB poirt, headphone jack, and microphone

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): SD Card slot, USB port, Thunderbolt port

    Apple added a Thunderbolt port to the 2011 MacBook Air

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

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Bottom

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Pentalobe screws

    As on the 2010 MacBook Air and some iPhone 4's, Apple used tamper-resistant pentalobe screws on the 2011 Air's bottom cover. You can remove these screws using a special screwdriver bit or a small flat-head bit.

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

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Removing the back cover

    With the external case screws removed, you can lift off the MacBook Air's bottom cover.

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

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): First look inside

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Removing the battery screws

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Disconnecting the battery

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Removing the battery

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): 7.3V 50Wh 6700mAh Li-ion battery

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Removing the 128GB SSD

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): 128GB SSD

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Removing the Broadcom mini-PCIe wireless card

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Broadcom BCM943224PCIEBT2BX mini-PCIe wireless card

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Left-side PCB ribbon cable

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Removing the cooling fan screws

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Removing the cooling fan

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Cooling fan

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Removing the left-side PCB

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): MagSafe power connector, USB port, headphone jack, and microphone PCB

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Cirrus 4206BCNZ audio controller

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Removing the motherboard screws

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Removing the motherboard

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Upper case with speakers, trackpad, keyboard, and display

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Right speaker

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Left speaker

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Trackpad

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Broadcom BCM5976A0KUB2G

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Cypress CY8C24x94-24L PSoC

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Silicon Storage Technology - SST 25VF020 20-4C-QAE 1052Y1E-AB

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Motherboard and heatsink

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Removing the heatsink

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Heatsink

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Motherboard - Top

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Motherboard - Bottom

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Intel Core i5 Processor-2557M with integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Intel E78296 Platform Controller Hub

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Texas Instruments 58864D

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Fairchild DB12AC FDMS 0355S and AB20AL FDMS 0349

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): GL822 IAM0303 1152481

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Linear Technology 117 3997 B24938

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): MAXIM 15092G

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Intersil 80 14AIRZ F112NK

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): SMSC USB2513B USB 2.0 Hub Controller

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Macronix MX25L64 serial Flash chip

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Intersil 625 9AHRTZ F115QB

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Texas Instruments TPS 51980

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): SMSC 1704-2 146007B CTW

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): F2117LP 20H RVP AC03453 1111JPN

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Parade PS8301 U08FUC ARR97 1411 A2

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): NXP 1112 /A 11161B

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): PI3VeDP 212ZLE W1116GG

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Texas Instruments SN1010 017 TI 15K D9PF

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Hynix H5TQ2G83BZR DDR3 SDRAM (16 chips = 4GB RAM)

  • Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch): Completely disassembled

Cracking Open the Apple MacBook Air (2011 13-inch)

In July 2011, Apple released the 3nd generation MacBook Air (Model A1369). As with the 2nd generation Airs, the 2011 notebooks are available in 11-inch and 13-inch models.

We cracked open the 1st generation MacBook Air (released in 2008) and 2nd generation MacBook Airs (released in 2010). Follow along as we go inside Apple's ultra-thin laptop.

To disassemble the new MacBook Air you'll need a screwdriver with Torx T5 and T8 bits and either a very small Phillips screwdriver or special pentalobe bit.

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

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About Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research 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 supp...