The FCC was kind enough to show the internals of the WiFi iPad before it was released! The photos that they put up had the interesting bits hidden behind grey squares, but we were able to extract the raw files! We're analyzing the images now. The WiFi iPad is officially Apple model #A1219.
Apple requested this information stay concealed until August 17th. Clearly, the FCC ignored them.
Step 1 — iPad FCC Teardown
• Performing analysis as we go. Please help out in the comments! To see highest resolution files, log in and you'll get a large option on each photo.
• One word of caution: This is likely a preproduction board, and Apple very well may have changed some suppliers since they gave the FCC a sample unit. Take this data with a grain of salt until we are able to analyze a production model tomorrow.
• It looks like there is a LOT of glue holding these chips down to the board. More than we've seen before— Apple is really serious about durability on this thing.
• 2X Toshiba Flash
• Apple A4
• Broadcom BCM5973
Step 2
• Bottom of logic board, with and without the EMI shield.
• We're very happy to report that Apple didn't solder the battery! The iPad uses the same battery attachment system as the iPhone 3G and 3GS.
• It looks like this board was made by AT&S. It will be interesting to see if their marking remains in the final production board. We haven't seen Apple's PCB manufacturers brand their boards before.
Step 3
This cable carries the signal from the dock connector to the logic board.
Never one to waste space, Apple also managed to tack the wifi and bluetooth boards onto the cable.
Like some other Apple devices we've seen, the home button is low-tech. There's two contact points that mate with pads on the display assembly. When the button is pressed, the circuit is completed.
Step 4
• Wi-fi and Bluetooth are integrated into a single board. Broadcom has been one of Apple's favorite suppliers recently. It's possible this is the same BCM4329 chip that Apple used in the 3rd Gen Touch.
• Laser engraved on the cover:
• X17B ES2.0-A4
• APN 339S0107
Step 5
• A shot of the speaker assembly.
• The dual speakers provide stereo sound. Their placement near the bottom of the case along with two small sealed channels allow for more sound to to escape through three audio ports carved into the bottom edge of the iPad.
• The connector found on the speakers and other components is typical of the connectors seen in MacBook Unibody laptops. Translation: the iPad isn't too cramped for space.
Step 6
• Rear of display.
• The part number is hard to make out, but it looks to be LP117X12. If that's correct, then the display is made by LG-Phillips. However, based on standard LG part numbers, that means this is an 11.7" display (which doesn't match up with its actual size of 9.7").
• This is very likely the most expensive part of the iPad, it used the more expensive IPS (in-plane switching) technology and is LED backlit (as opposed to the cheaper TN and CCFL backlit).
• Display LED barcodes: 1579CN7346569 3225 LG0NJ 'GK65284221MTA', and 5091L-0942B 091214 R51 K319CED5D61R0094B2
Step 7
• The battery is quite obvious to pick out of this picture of the rear case (sans display).
• The 3.75V, 24.8 watt-hour (6.5 Amp hours [!]) battery provides the juice for an advertised 10 hours of use. In contrast, the iPhone 3GS has a 4.51 watt-hour battery and the MacBook Air has a 40 watt-hour battery.
• The battery seems to integrate two separate 3.75V lithium polymer cells wired in parallel for such ample battery life.
• The USB power supply had to be enhanced specifically for the iPad. It's a 10W unit manufactured by Foxlink Technology, Ltd., part #A1357 W010A051.
Step 8
• Some other markings on the battery:
• APN: 616-0447
• VPN: DAK 120670-01HH00LH
• The small black box in the second picture is one of the AirPort antennas.
• Hopefully the wifi reception will be decent, as the back of the iPad appears to be a single block of aluminum. One wifi antenna is clearly located in the lower right corner. The Apple logo in the center might be a way out for the other antenna. We saw Apple do this on the newest iMacs.
Step 9
• What a lonely iPad...
• This is probably a shot inside an RF interference test lab contracted by the FCC.
• This type of test checks compliance with part 15 of the FCC Rules and Industry Canada RSS-210: this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Step 10
• This shot shows the iPad connected to a cube-like power inverter.
• This appears to be the 10W USB power adapter available as an accessory from Apple in late April.
• We're guessing that Apple is using the rear case as ground for everything, including batteries - not just tying it to ground for EMI shielding. We won't know for sure until we get a real iPad.
Step 11
• This step shows the test setup used for the Specific absorption rate report.
• The FCC hosts
• The iPad manual.
• The SAR evaluation report for iPad (With 802.11abgn and Bluetooth Radios).
• Gratuitous amounts of test data in the FCC/IC Test Report.
Step 12
• The iPad's model number of A1219 is interesting.
• A1219 falls right between the 1st Gen iPod Touch (A1213) and the MacBook Pro 15" Santa Rosa (A1226).
• We would have expected the iPad to have a model number in the A13XX range, not A12XX. It's a little tricky to read into this, but our guess: This is indicative of a longer than typical development cycle.
• According the FCC filing, the version that includes 3G will be model A1337. Is Apple having fun with their model numbers?
Step 13
• Bottom side of iPad.
• Hate how grainy/terrible these FCC pictures are? Upset that your tax dollars are not being spent on producing quality images of gadget guts? Tune in tomorrow as we tear apart the iPad in 12.3 Megapixel awesomeness.
Step 14
• This leaked FCC photo appears to be the communications board from the iPad 3G. Can anyone find the source file for this?
• Parts:
• Infineon PMB 8878 X-Gold baseband IC.
• Skyworks SKY77340
• At least one, and maybe three Triquint filters
• Infineon U6952
• Intel 36MY1EE
