Apple Inc.'s announcement of the iPad mini on Oct. 23 was widely expected. It was the second announcement that caught many industry observers off guard -- going against the typical one iPad-per-year product cycle, Apple stunned reporters with the announcement of a fourth-generation iPad (or iPad 4), just over six months since the launch of the iPad 3.
The iPad 4 introduces a new variant on the Apple A6 processor found within the iPhone 5. The Apple iPad 4 features the latest processor in the "A" family, the A6X. Like the A6, the A6X features two customized ARM cores. However, this new processor features four graphic cores, as opposed to the three graphic cores featured in the A6.
Apart from the change in processor, Apple has been quite mum on what other changes are featured in the latest iPad. Will taking apart this device reveal some design changes from the previous-generation iPad, or has Apple created a product that only requires a change of software and a swapout of processors?
Taking a look inside will answer those questions. Click on the photo below to check it out.
This is what is left of our iPad 4. Click through the slideshow to see how we got here.
Allan Yogasingam is a technical research manager at UBM TechInsights, which is owned by the same company that publishes Design News and EE Times, UBM plc.
This is an interesting teardown. It's surprising how small the actual brain is for the Apple iPad 4. So what happens after the teardown? Is the product re-assembled for use?
Interesting question Rob! I'd like to see this pile of parts put back together, but sadly, I'm pretty sure it gets sent to the electronics recycling bin.
This just seems so odd to me. Why would Apple release the iPad 4 and the iPad Mini on the same day? Furthermore, I have not seen any advertising for the iPad 4. Anyone have any insight/opinions as to the timing of this release?
Tear downs make great artwork. There was as store window that had a "tear down" of a motorcycle in Asia recently (can't remember the exact city). Each piece was suspended from the ceiling with wire. It was beautiful.
If Allan frames his tear downs, he could have a side career as an artist!
I think it's obvious - Apple wants/needs to spread the Lightning connector across their product line as quickly as possible, otherwise it remains something of a "quirk" on the iPhone 5 and iPad mini vs the enormous installed base of the larger dock connector.
Personally at this time I'd still go for the iPad4 as the CPU change is IMO not worth dealing with the connector incompatibility (also have an iPhone 4 and a 4S).
I've always wondered what it is about that iPxxx dock connector that makes it so much better than USB2.0 micro connector that seems to work for everybody else.
Never thought of a tear down as art. Personally, I would try to put the device back together and use it. But I will say the brains of this device is a thing of beauty.
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