iPad Wi-Fi + 3G gets torn apart

By on May 1, 2010 at 5:19 PM
Hardware May 1, 2010

ipad-3g-teardown

Whether it be because you’re an admirer of the gear, or you just enjoy seeing Apple products stripped of their dignity, you have to admit it’s mighty satisfying to see the new iPad Wi-Fi + 3G torn asunder. The guys at iFixit continued their tradition of promptly tearing down and analyzing the latest Apple products with the 3G iPad and noted some pretty interesting finds in the process:

  • The immediate visible difference is the inclusion of a black plastic RF window on top of the iPad for better antenna reception.
  • The black RF window significantly changes the opening procedure. You cannot start separating the display using the notches on the top (à la Wi-Fi version), since that will undoubtedly break the RF window. You have to start from the right side and gingerly proceed to the top and bottom of the iPad.
  • There are actually FIVE antennas in this iPad:
    • Two antennas handle the cell reception — one is in the RF window on top, the other attaches to the LCD frame.
    • A single GPS antenna is also housed in the RF window on top.
    • Just like the iPad Wi-Fi, there are two antennas that handle Wi-Fi / Bluetooth connectivity, one in the Apple logo and another to the left of the dock connector.
  • You heard that right, folks: Apple looks to be using the entire LCD frame as an antenna! * Who would’ve thought: Apple uses the same 3G baseband processor in both the iPhone 3GS and the iPad 3G.
  • The baseband processor in question is the Infineon 337S3754 PMB 8878 X-Gold IC. It was actually white-labeled on the production unit, but with enough sleuthing we were able to confirm its true identity.
  • The iPad 3G has a Broadcom BCM4750UBG Single-Chip AGPS Solution, whereas the iPhone 3GS uses an Infineon Hammerhead II package. Big win for Broadcom!
  • Apple did not change any major suppliers between manufacturing the pre-production unit they provided the FCC and their final production run.

Apart from the above, there aren’t any real differences between the two devices.

Read

Tags:
, , , , , , ,
21 Comments

Related Articles

  • moosc

    Very cool

  • TypicalAndroidFanboyDBAG

    Looks like crap inside and out. Apple sucks. DROID FTW!!

    • KHAN

      I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE. CLEVER.

  • Snowman

    As a huge Apple user….this tells me that poor design may be the reason behind the iPhone’s dropped calls…dropped signal and poor 3G Speeds….as well that the fact my 3GS sucks so bad at GPS positioning is probably why Apple changed chip companies. But knowing Apple, just like when the new iMac’s came out with the bad screens….they will not admit major flaws in their designs……I think based off the new iPhone prototype….they may use the iPad design for the Antenna to help.

    • Snowman

      I say all this because I have a 3G iPad and I see a huge difference in speed, signal, and GPS positioning by the way!

      • raypatt

        @Snowman – you’re absolutely right. I used my TomTom app on mine today to test it out and the positioning was dead on.

  • drew dogg

    This just in… no one cares.

  • STFU

    This just in… not one cares.

  • QuickWeevil

    @drew dogg and STFU

    You cared enough to click on the article and post. Go away trolls!!!

    • STFU

      dumbass I didn’t click on it to read the thing, I clicked on it to post.

  • http://www.maemo-freak.com christexaport

    using LCD frame for the antenna isn’t revolutionary. Many laptops have that already.

    I hope the N8 and N9xx get this much pub. I’m overloaded with iPad chatter, and it seems its not even that big a deal.

    We don’t care. Ok? Tell us about something like the N8, the new Dell handies, or anything but this stuff.

    • betchplz

      It is because Apple did it. I had to laugh at that when I saw it, like it’s something they should patent..

  • DubYa

    I wonder if the Wi-Fi + 3G iPad has better a better Wi-Fi reception than the Wi-Fi only version.

    Any feedback BGR?

    • kp

      I was wondering the same thing. If somehow the change in the frame made the Wifi reception better.

  • Jon

    GPS isn’t really any different. The “Infineon” was designed by Global Locate and fabbed and marketed by Infineon. Broadcom bought Global Locate and moved it in house.

  • Jenny T

    What’s more boring than an Apple gadget teardown?

    Nothing, absolutely nothing.

  • jonathan t

    @QuickWeevil, ha so true! all the haters posting about not caring, but continually going out of the way in every apple post to comment negatively to the point where they have the majority of apple comments. I see it more than apple fans trolling on android posts.

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

    • ks

      How true. Reminds me of school when people picked on the straight A students for being “losers” when, in fact, the opposite was true!

      • ThatDudeThere

        As a straight A student I can safely say i was definately a loser

  • http://www.videotoipads.com/ video to ipad

    ipad got so many problems,but still can’t stop people buying.
    Why?
    I guess just outlooking attract many,and some Personalize setting make you more comfortable.
    Specially,it never similar with any others,so if you are conditioned to use Apple stuff,you are in.

  • http://www.jailbreak-ipad-unlock.com/ jailbreak ipad

    Anybody hear about that?
    iphone 4 is jailbreak.
    Then ipad is the next.
    Jailbreak is necessary, we all love that.

blog comments powered by Disqus