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Just add air? That would be too easy. Apple has packaged all kinds of revised hardware into its thinnest tablet yet:
Fully laminated, 9.7" IPS Multi-Touch LCD with a 2,048 x 1,536 resolution at 264 ppi and antireflective coating
A8X 64-bit CPU (rumored to be a triple-core, 1.5 GHz SoC) paired with 2 GB RAM and M8 motion coprocessor
8-megapixel rear iSight camera capable of recording 1080p/30fps or 720p/120fps video + 1.2-megapixel 720p front-facing camera
Touch ID fingerprint sensor + barometer + dual microphones + 3-axis gyro + accelerometer + ambient light sensor
802.11ac dual-antenna MIMO Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0
16, 64, or 128 GB on-board storage
2 gb ram O_o
The iPad Air 2 marks the beginning of a new model number pattern, A15XX. In this case, the iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi bears the model number A1566.
In addition to a new model number, the iPad Air 2 introduces Touch ID into the iPad family.
If you're new to the game, Touch ID allows you to use your fingerprint to unlock your iPad. You can also use it to authorize purchases from the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBooks Store.
The Touch ID sensor is capable of registering your fingerprint from any angle-which means no matter what the orientation, your device reads your fingerprint and knows who you are.
Pencil-thin is so last year. This gold brick is now slightly thinner than a pencil.
In all seriousness, the 6.1 mm profile is impressive. Not only is the iPad Air 2 thinner than the original iPad Air, it's even thinner than the latest iPhones-and lacks the latter's controversial camera bump.
Close inspection also reveals that the dual mic inched its way closer to the iSight camera, apparently chasing the hold switch clean off the device.
Not only is this iPad Air 2 thinner, but it is lighter too. How much lighter? About 12 pennies worth.
Hey, Goose! (Yes, Maverick?) I feel the need… the need for heat!
We had high hopes for finding some exterior screws on the Air 2-after all, the iPhone 6 Plus proved Apple can do tablet-sized gadgets, without the glue.
Alas, it's not to be-the sleek chassis is utterly devoid of screws.
We are forced to pile on-iOpeners, that is.
We promise to post a blow-by-blow description of this thoroughly technical opening procedure at a later date.
But you didnt… .
Coming up next: classic iPad reruns-careful prying and tons of heat.
The newly-bonded front panel is more rigid than in previous iPad models, and therefore feels a bit sturdier to pry against-however, flexing the glass still disturbs the LCD, even when you aren't inserting the pick very deeply.
That being the case, the glued-down display remains the iPad's only access point, so there's still a risk of damaging it even when performing ordinary repairs.
Upon successfully opening the iPad Air 2, we immediately note that all the display cables now reside near the lower edge.
This is a welcome change from the previous iPad Air, whose digitizer and LCD cables effectively booby-trapped two edges of the display.
In case you were wondering how much room you have to wedge your opening pick in between the front panel assembly and rear case, it's not much. There's little margin for error in this Air 2's margins.
The design of the Air 2's Touch ID sensor cable closely resembles that of the new generation of iPhones.
With the home button removed, we discover a single IC on the home button assembly:
NXP Semiconductors 8416A1 Touch ID Sensor
Further inspection reveals even more ICs on the front panel assembly:
Parade Technologies DP675 LCD Driver
Texas Instruments TPS65143A LCD Bias Solution For LCD Panels
Who is the manufacturer of the LCD screen? Also, does it use IGZO technology or not? Thanks.
I see that here the ipad air 2 has gotten the hot glued touch I'd
There's a small chip under the orange marking. It's soldered on the same ribbon connected to the TouchID button.
Does anyone know what this chip does?
I'm trying to figure that out myself. I purchased a replacement LCD assembly and that's not included.
It is a smart cover chip i am trying to figure out the correct name to order the part… it come on each screen but you can never be to careful!
Next we set our spudgers to the fancy, and tiny, new speaker units.
Unfortunately, they are not speaking to us, and their markings don't have many secrets to divulge…
Not waiting around for the awkward silence, we press on to glory.
Our next step is to remove the FaceTime HD camera and microphone-encircled 8 MP iSight camera.
When compared to the larger, bump-inducing iSight camera from the iPhone 6 Plus, we can see they aren't quite the same-but it's indeed a leap in quality over the iSight camera found in the first-gen iPad Air.
Is there any way to identify the manufacturer of the rear-facing camera?
The location and design of the headphone jack remains mostly identical. We say mostly due to one small change…
It seems the FaceTime HD camera ambient light sensor has been split into two sensors-one now residing on the headphone jack.
Our Wi-Fi model's antennas now grace the top of the iPad, where previously they were ensconced along the lower edge.
We're curious to see where the Air 2 LTE models will hide their cellular antennas.
With the swoop of a spudger, the antennas are roused from their foamy beds.
Do you plan on doing a teardown of the LTE version?
Are these easy to change out? Just bought an ipad air 2
and I think the antenna is bad :(
Repairing iPads has never been easy, but it's do-able! We have a guide for replacing the antennas right here. I personally wouldn't recommend cracking your iPad open if it's new, but if you bought it used/out of warranty then go for it.
In a bevy of twos, we pull the first of two microphones, the second ambient light sensor, and the (single) power switch from the iPad Air 2.
A second round of twos brings us the other microphone, and two volume switches on a single cable.
The following markings were found on the microphones:
M1300 5743 M1 334 (found on the power button cable assembly)
M1300 5723 M1 334 (found on the volume buttons cable)
On a side note, the power and volume buttons stack nicely.
Unfortunately, the logic board is still glued in-so we call our trusty iOpener out of retirement for one more gig.
After some careful and tedious prying, we have ourselves a logic board!
Upon removal, we are saddened to see that the Lightning connector cable remains soldered to the logic board.
This makes logic board removal even more of a chore. It also means that replacing the Lightning connector basically requires replacing the entire logic board.
At last, the main course. An entire plate of chips for us! Yum.
Apple APL1012 A8X 64-bit Processor
Elpida/Micron Technology F8164A3MD 8 Gb (1 GB) RAM (1 GB x 2 = 2 GB total)
SK Hynix H2JTDG8UD1BMR 128 Gb (16 GB) NAND Flash
NXP 65V10 NFC Controller (as found in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus)
Apple (Cirrus Logic) 338S1213 Audio Codec
NXP Semiconductors LPC18B1UK ARM Cortex-M3 Microcontroller (Apple M8 Motion Coprocessor)
Murata 339S02541 Wi-Fi Module
So… For everyone who was waiting for iFixit to tell you how much RAM the iPad has, you're SOL. We still have no clue officially.
… It has 2 GB of RAM.
Trust in Miroslav
Glad to know that it has 2GB of RAM :D
It has NFC? what for? Apple made it clear that Pay on the iPad will only work with online purchases!
I'm guessing the NFC is for merchants, not customers. I was surprised when it seemed there wasn't an NFC module, since this would be such a natural for point of sale systems in small businesses!
Isn't the NFC module the buyer/customer side of the equation, and you need other hardware to handle the merchant side?
The NFC module they use can handle both ends of the transaction.
People are saying there's no NFC antenna, so this module is just for the secure hardware for doing apple pay online.
It has the M8 Co-processor like the iPhone 6 and 6+ but no InvenSense MP67B 6-axis Gyroscope and Accelerometer Combo the the M8 uses in the iPhone?
How do you know this information? Teardown reveals just the gyr/accel combo, did not mention the manufacturer… can you clarify?
i want to know differences between material of A7 and A8x
This iPad Air 2 is WiFi only or WiFi with cellular ??
Which one is the iCloud chip
More chips for those who want seconds:
Maxim Integrated MAX98721BEWV Boosted Class Amplifier
Broadcom BCM5976 Digitizer Controller
Texas Instruments TI48WHXDP 343S0583
Fairchild Semiconductor FDMC 6683 and FDMC 6676BZ (two ICs that date all the way back to the iPad 2)
Bosch Sensortec Barometer BMP280 Accelerometer BMA280
Anyone know where is the WiFi module ???
The battery, now freed from the logic board's grasp, is ready for removal.
It looks like we're going to need more help to get out of this sticky situation. Cue iOpener.
It takes more heat and prying to free this dual-cell energy slab from the rear case.
It's not the worst, but it would be nice to leave the plastic cards on the sidelines for a battery replacement, for once.
The 27.62 Wh battery in the iPad Air 2 drops a bit from the previous Air's 32.9 Wh capacity.
Apple claims the same 10-hour battery life as the original Air, so more efficient power use seems to be on tap here-though early reviews indicate that real-world battery life is still down a bit from the Air 2's predecessor.
How much does each cell weigh? It'd be interesting to see cell weights and capacities listed for Apple devices over time.
If the battery was 1 mm thicker, how much more Wh would it provide?
Why the battery is formed by two parts instead of one?
After removing every component from the rear case, all that remains in this lifeless shell are the Smart Cover magnets.
Good news everyone! Last year's Smart Cover is still compatible with the iPad Air 2.
Finally, a small escape from Apple's yearly upgrade cycle!
Well that's the most useful revelation in tis teardown. I can get a smart cover now while waiting for this to get to Thailand.
Smart Cover magnets are on the same place, but what about the sleep sensor ?
Will work the sleep funtion too ? or is it on another place ?
I do not see any reference to that sensor.
I've got a new ipad air 1 case with keyboard that is activated by these magnets on the left edge, but won't activate with the magnets on the air 2 unless i shift over the ipad about an inch and it will turn on not in it's intended spot
iPad Air 2 Repairability Score: 2 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair)
The battery is still not soldered to the logic board.
The LCD and front panel glass are now fused together. This slightly simplifies the opening procedure.
The fused front panel also increases the cost of repairing a cracked screen, and increases risk of damage to the LCD when opening.
Just like in previous iPads, the front panel is glued to the rest of the device, greatly increasing the chances of cracking the glass during a repair.
Gobs of adhesive hold everything in place making all repairs more difficult.
Fusing the screens makes replacing and cracked front glass hellishly expensive as you now have to replace the whole assembly - ebay almost £200.00
WiFi-Direct