Apple iPad 2 Teardown

Apple iPad 2 Teardown

With the release of the 2nd generation iPad, Apple hopes to remain king of the tablet/slate PC market. The iPad 2 is thinner, lighter, and faster than the original Apple iPad. It also has front- and rear-facing cameras. Inside the iPad 2 are chips from Samsung, Texas Instruments, Broadcom, and more. Follow along as I crack open the Apple iPad 2 in thisTR Dojo Teardown gallery.

And if you're thinking about buying on of the new iPads, check out Jason Hiner's article, "Apple iPad 2: Who should buy and who should pass."

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

Apple iPad 2: Box

In the US, the Apple iPad 2 is available in three storage sizes (16GB, 32GB, 64GB), two colors (black and white), and in three wireless configurations (Wi-Fi only, Wi-Fi + AT&T 3G, or Wi-Fi + Verizon 3G). We purchased this white, 16GB Wi-Fi only model at Target for $499 plus sales tax.

Apple iPad 2: Still in the box

The iPad 2has the following technical specifications:

• 1 GHz Apple A5 dual-core CPU
• 16, 32, or 64 GB internal storage
• Rear-facing camera (HD 720p up to 30 fps)
• Front-facing web cam (VGA up to 30 frames per second)
• 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi-Touch display (1024x768 resolution at 132 pixels per inch)
• Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity (on 3G models)

Apple iPad 2: Box contents

Under the iPad 2 are the dock connector to USB cable, 10W USB power adapter, and product documentation.

Apple iPad 2 and iPad 3G side by side

Here's the iPad 2 (left) next to the original iPad 3G (right). The Apple iPad 2 weighs 1.35 lbs. (compared to the original iPad 3G's 1.6 lbs.) and measures 9.5 x 7.31 x 0.34 inches (compared to the original iPad's 9.56 x 7.47 x 0.5 inches).

Apple iPad 2 and iPad 3G height comparison

Looking at both the iPad 2 (left) and iPad 3G (right) from this angle, you can see the significant difference in height between the two tablets. The newer tablet also has a beveled edge, which makes the iPad 2 feel even thinner than it actually is.

Apple iPad 2 30-pin dock connector and speaker grill

Along the bottom of the iPad 2 are the 30-pin dock connector and speaker grill. The iPad 2's model number is A1395.

Apple iPad 2: Rear-facing camera and buttons

Along the top edge of the iPad 2 are the On/off and Sleep/wake button, rear-facing camera, Silent/Screen rotation lock button, and volume up/down button. The 3.5mm headphone jack is also located along the top edge.

Apple iPad 2: Front-facing camera and ambient light sensor

The Apple iPad 2's front-facing camera and ambient light sensor are located along the top of the front panel.

Apple iPad 2: Home button

The iPad 2's Home button is located at the bottom of the front panel in the center.

Apple iPad 2: Heating the front panel adhesive

Apple used metal clips to hold the original iPad and iPad 3G's front panel in place. On the iPad 2, Apple abbandoned the clips for extermely strong adhesive. To remove the front glass panel, I first heated the edges with a hair dryer.

Apple iPad 2: Prying loose the front panel

While heating the edges of the iPad 2's front panel, I used several plastic and metal tools to gently pry the panel away from the frame. This was by far the longest part of the teardown. It took at least an hour to remove the front panel. I was able to remove the panel without cracking the glass, but it was a very slow process.

Apple iPad 2: Front panel removed

The front panel is connected to the rest of the iPad 2 with a thin ribbon cable. I'll need to disconnect the ribbon cable before separating the two halves of the iPad 2.

Apple iPad 2: Front panel ribbon cable

This photo shows the ribbon cable that connects the front panel's digitizer to the iPad 2's main system board.

Apple iPad 2: Removing the LCD screws

Before disconnecting the front panel's ribbon cable, I'll need to remove the LCD, which covers the connector and most of the iPad 2's internal components. Luckily, Apple uses standard Phillps #00 screws inside the iPad 2's case.

Apple iPad 2: Lifting the LCD away from the frame

After removing the four Phillips #00 screws that hold the iPad 2's LCD in place, I was able to lift it up from the frame.

Apple iPad 2: LCD cable

The LCD is connected to the iPad 2's main PCB with a single cable. I'll need to disconnect the cable before completely removing the LCD.

Apple iPad 2: Disconnecting the LCD cable

The LCD's ribbon cable connector has a small handle that you can hold when detaching the cable from the iPad 2's main PCB.

Apple iPad 2: LCD completely removed

With the LCD cable detached, you can completely remove the Apple iPad 2's LCD from the frame.

Apple iPad 2: LCD front

The Apple iPad 2's 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit LCD delivers a 1024x768 resolution at 132 pixels per inch.

Apple iPad 2: Back

Apple iPad 2: LCD labels

The labels on the back of the Apple iPad 2's LCD have the following markings:

6091L-1402A
110226 R87
Q2112S 1F1 87RH1402A6

LP 097X02-SLN1
LGDNJ
097A2N4303HX4 322A
C8CA99650B9DD31A3

Apple iPad 2: With LCD removed

With the LCD removed, we can turn our attention back to the ribbon cable on the Apple iPad 's front panel.

Apple iPad 2: Disconnecting the front panel ribbon cable

The ribbon cable for the front panel's digitizer is attached to the Apple iPad 2's main PCB via two connectors. The cable is also attached to one of the metal EMI shields on the main PCB with adhesive. I was able to gently peel the cable away from the shield. And after lifting the catch on both connectors, I detached the cable.

Apple iPad 2: Peeling the front panel cable away from the frame

The front panel's cable is also attached to the Apple iPad 2's frame with adhesive. Using a plastic spudger, I was able to detach the cable from the frame.

Apple iPad 2: Front panel ribbon cable disconnected

Apple iPad 2: Front panel remove

The iPad 2's front panel is significantly thinner than the one used on the original iPad. I also seems to be more flexible. According to Apple's website, the glass has a "fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating". I'm not sure about resisting finger prints, but when placed front-side down the panel slid all over the table in our photo studio.

Apple iPad 2: Front panel home button

The Home button is attached to the Apple iPad 2's front panel two Phillips #00 screws and a small bracket.

Apple iPad 2: Front panel holes for camera and ambient light sensor

These two clear spots are for the Apple iPad 2's front-facing camera and ambient light sensor.

Apple iPad 2: Front panel and LCD removed

With the LCD and front panel completely removed, we get our first unobstructed view inside the Apple iPad 2.

Apple iPad 2: Removing the Wi-Fi antenna screws

Before removing the Apple iPad 2's main PCB, I'm going to remove the Wi-Fi antenna, which is attached to the frame with two Phillips #00 screws.

Apple iPad 2: Peeling loose the Home button ribbon cable

The Apple iPad 2's Wi-Fi antenna wire run under the ribbon cable for the Home button. Unfortunately, this ribbon cable is also glued to one of the EMI shields on the main PCB and the frame. Using a thin metal blade, I peeled the Home button's ribbon cable away from the EMI shield.

Apple iPad 2: Detaching the Home button ribbon cable

After peeling the Home button ribbon cable away from the EMI shield, I popped loose its connector from the Apple iPad 2's main PCB.

Apple iPad 2: Speaker wire

Under the Home button's ribbon cable, there's also a connector for a wire that goes to the Apple iPad 2's speaker.

Apple iPad 2: Peeling loose the lower cables

The Home button ribbon cable, speaker wire, and Wi-Fi antenna wire are all glued to the Apple iPad 2's frame. I was able to gently peel them all loose.

Apple iPad 2: Wi-Fi antenna removed from frame

Finally, the Wi-Fi antenna comes free from the Apple iPad 2's frame.

Apple iPad 2: Disconnecting the rear-facing camera and nearby buttons cable

After disconnecting the lower cables and peeling free the Wi-Fi antenna wire, I turned my attention to the connector for the the Apple iPad 2's rear-facing camera, volume up/down button, on/off sleep/wake button, and silent/screen rotation lock switch. Like the LCD connector, this one has a handle with which you can pull it loose from the main PCB.

Apple iPad 2: Rear-facing camera and nearby buttons cable disconnected

With the cable for the rear-facing camera and nearby buttons disconnected, I'll next disconnect the cable for the Aplle iPad 2's front-facing camera.

Apple iPad 2: Front-facing camera ribbon cable disconnected

The ribbon cable for the Apple iPad 2's front-facing camera is glued to the frame and attached to the main PCB with a gated connected. I lifted the catch up, but did pull the cable out of the connector. I'll let is slip out when I remove the main PCB from the frame.

Apple iPad 2: Removing the main PCB screws

With all the cable disconnected, I removed the four Phillips #00 screws that hold the Apple iPad's main PCB to the frame.

Apple iPad 2: Removing the main PCB

With the screws removed and all the cable disconnected, I lifted the Apple iPad 2's main PCB away from the metal frame. The Wi-Fi antenna is still connected to the board.

Apple iPad 2: Main PCB and frame

I left the Wi-Fi antenna connected to the Apple iPad 2's main PCB.

Apple iPad 2: Battery and other components glued to the frame

Before turning our attention to the main PCB, let's look at the components still attached to the Apple iPad 2's metal frame.

After careful consideration, I decided to leave them in place. I want to reassemble this iPad 2 in working order. As nearly all the remaining components or their ribbon cables are glued to the frame, I feared removing them might cause damage.

Apple iPad 2: 3.8V 25 Whr Li-Ion Polymer battery

The Apple iPad 2 has a 3.8V 25 Whr Li-Ion Polymer battery.

Apple iPad 2: Front-facing camera

The Apple iPad 2's front-facing camera can record VGA video at up to 30 fps and shoot VGA-quality stills. Above the camera is the ambient light sensor.

Apple iPad 2: Headphone jack

In the Apple iPad 2's upper-left corner is the 3.5mm stereo headphone jack.

Apple iPad 2: Rear-facing camera and nearby buttons

In the Apple iPad 2's upper-right corner, are the power on/off sleep/wake button, and silent screen rotation lock switch, and rear-facing camera.

Apple iPad 2: Volume up/down button

Just below the silent/screen rotation lock switch is the Apple iPad 2's volume up/down button.

Apple iPad 2: Main PCB with Wi-Fi cable attached - Top

The Apple iPad 2's main PCB is significantly longer than themain board on the original iPad 3G.

Apple iPad 2: Apple iPad 2: Main PCB with Wi-Fi cable attached - Bottom

The connector for the Apple iPad 2's Wi-Fi antenna is access through the underside of the main PCB.

Apple iPad 2: Main PCB and Wi-Fi antenna (detached)

I detached the Apple iPad 2's Wi-Fi antenna wire from the main PCB with thin metal blade.

Apple iPad 2: Main PCB - Bottom

With the Wi-Fi antenna removed, let's take a closer look at the underside of the Apple iPad 2's main PCB.

Apple iPad 2: Battery contacts

The Apple iPad 2 battery connects to the main PCB via these contacts.

Apple iPad 2: Wireless antenna connectors

The Apple iPad 2's wireless card has two contacts. Only one was being used for Wi-Fi antenna.

Apple iPad 2: Main PCB markings

Some of the markings on the Apple iPad 2's main system board are obscured by a black sticker that covers most of the board's underside.

Apple iPad 2: Main PCB - Top with EMI shields

Before we can see the chips on the Apple iPad 2's main PCB, we'll need to remove the EMI shields from the top of the board.

Apple iPad 2: Main PCB - Top with EMI shields removed

With the EMI shields removed, we can see the chips mounted to Apple iPad 2's main PCB.

Apple iPad 2: 1GHz dual-core Apple A5 CPU

The Apple iPad 2 has a 1GHz dual-core Apple A5 CPU.

Apple iPad 2: Samsung 16GB NAND Flash chip

Our Apple iPad 2 has a 16GB Samsung NAND Flash chip (K9HDG08U5A-LCB0).

Apple iPad 2: Apple branded chip (343S0542-A2)

Apple branded chip with markings 343S0542-A2 11038HCG.

Apple iPad 2: N33UUN0Z U1104 A1

Some of the markings on thi chip are too faint to read, but these are visible N33UUN0Z U1104 A1.

Apple iPad 2: Chip with no markings

This chips has no markings.

Apple iPad 2: Broadcom BCM5973KFBGH

Apple iPad 2: Texas Instruments 11AD8CT G1

Some of the markings on this Texas Instruments chip are obscured by the metal bracket for one of the EMI sheilds.

Apple iPad 2: CM5974 CKFBGH E1102 P! 118328 N3

Chip with markings: CM5974 CKFBGH E1102 P! 118328 N3

Apple iPad 2: Two Fairchild Semiconductor chips

The Apple iPad 2 had two chips from Fairchild Semiconductor with the following markings:

PB0AH
FDMC
6676BZ

PB1AU
FDMC
6683

Apple iPad 2: Wireless card still attached to main PCB

The Apple iPad 2's wireless card is mounted to the top of main PCB.

Apple iPad 2: Wireless card removed

I removed the wireless card from the Apple iPad 2's main PCB using a thin metal blade. I'll be interested to see if the iPad 2 3G version has a different wireless card. I assume it will.

Apple iPad 2: Wireless card with Broadcom BCM4329

The Apple iPad 2's wireless card has a Broadcom BCM43291HKUBC "low-power 802.11n with Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and FM transceiver" chip.

Apple iPad 2: Disassembled

The Apple iPad 2 was more difficult to crack open than theoriginal iPad or iPad 3G. Its front panel, battery, main PCB, and many of the ribbon cables inside are glued to the metal frame. In fact, the iPad 2 is constructed more like an iPod Touch than the other tablets I've cracked open. Cracking open the Motorola XOOM a snap compared to the iPad 2.