Apple iPhone 4 gets torn apart

By on Jun 23, 2010 at 8:21 AM
Hardware June 23, 2010

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We weren’t the only ones to get an iPhone 4 early — iFixIt just released one of their famous teardowns, and while nothing is really new, we do have confirmation on some of the bigger points:

  • RAM is confirmed to be 512MB compared to 256MB in the iPad and iPhone 3GS
  • The two screws on the bottom allow removal of the back glass plate, not the front LCD as with previous models
  • The battery, while not user accessible, is easily replaceable — and huge!
  • The entire from LCD assembly will require replacement if damaged. On earlier models people would buy either the LCD or digitizer separately and adhere them together, but with Apple’s new manufacturing process, this won’t really be possible
  • The integration of cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth radios into the case assembly is “genius”. We agree

So, interested in checking out some more shots of the iPhone 4′s insides? Couple more photos after the jump, and hit iFixIt for the rest!

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47 Comments

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  • T Man

    “The integration of cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth radios into the case assembly is “genius”.”

    I’d hold off calling it “genius” until we see what the performance is. It may very well solve the problems, but I’ll wait for some real world tests and months of usage before we can claim this one is solved and call it revolutionary.

    • badonkadonk

      Here’s mental image: picture yourself holding your phone in your hand. Where do you put your hand? around the edges of the phone, you say?

      I’d be interested in some real-world performance testing as well, since I’m expecting at least a 10dB drop in receive sensitivity when you’re actually holding the phone versus when you aren’t. Most phones put the antenna in a location where the user is not going to hold the phone specifically for this reason. Time will tell if this was a good idea or not.
      PS: Where is the GPS antenna, or is that just not called out in their press materials as also being part of the frame?

      • Channan

        The part of the band for UMTS and GSM runs from the top middle of the phone down one side, to the bottom, and around to the bottom of the other side. It covers about 2/3 of the outline of the phone.

        If your hand is covering the entire thing, you’re either holding it wrong or you have very, very big hands.

      • Channan

        Also, if you do happen to cover up the entire antenna on the iPhone 4, you’re most likely covering the inner antennas on other phones.

      • http://www.drzahwa.com GT

        Why not consider that holding the phone would increase reception as the body will act as an antenna? If you were to hold your TV rabbit ear antenna the reception gets better not worse, why would that be any different with this contraption. I think if it increases reception it is a brilliant move.

      • Sugar Grove

        @GT
        I believe you are on point here! In addition to increasing the performance Apple has managed to extract even more from their customer base. they’ve left the user to hold up a deal they shouldn’t have with AT&T
        perhaps they will gain more money we we have to hold up one leg for better reception and use this on a Capt’n Morgan commercial

      • Jake

        The towers output level is stupendous, the phones is in question. You are absorbing the output signal. You are an absorbent pad for a radio signal, not an amplifier.

      • movieman1942

        Hummm, wonder why a TV picks up better when you touch the antenna???

  • ~phel

    “The integration of cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth radios into the case assembly is “genius”. We agree”

    Kind of like how Nokia was already manufacturing the 6350 by integrating the Cell radio into the back of the whole battery cover? I will admit I can’t wait to see this display for myself though.

  • zxc

    “Apple iPhone 4 gets torn apart”…Yeah Giz took care of that 2 months ago. Old news.

    • RattyUK

      But notice that Giz, dispite having it’s hands on one so early, missed every single major update about it. No info about the hi-res screen, nothing about the processor, nothing about the arials…

      So 5k paid out and missed all the actual noes. Way to go.

      • Channan

        They confirmed the screen was higher resolution, but didn’t know the exact amount. They confirmed the camera lens was bigger and had a flash. Confirmed new design, second microphone, and micro SIM. So they did get quite a bit of info out from it.

      • movieman1942

        Yea, they were busy looking over therir shoulder!

      • movieman1942

        Yea, they were to busy looking over their shoulder !

  • ctfd

    Does it have a radio?

    • ron

      Yes, and a turn-table.

  • Bigfish

    All I want to know is the speaker in this phone louder than the 3GS?? Speaker phone calls on the 3GS is awful!

    • ron

      Get a Bose bozo.

      • crazylegs

        what a bozo YOU are. a bose for speaker phone calls? really?

      • whaaa!

        Ron is a dummy.

  • ~phel

    ■The entire from LCD assembly
    Spellcheck BoyGenius…

    • ron

      It’s grammar not spelling, dontcha know?

    • sirpaul

      I don’t understand why people down rank you for pointing out an obvious spelling mistake. DAILY spelling mistakes on such a popular site are unacceptable, considering that most articles aren’t even very long. A proofread and spell/grammar check should easily fix everything.

      • D

        I agree!

      • http://www.drzahwa.com GT

        I aslo agere hahahahah

  • Fah Q- yours truly

    Another Apple praising article, BG?
    Previous posters are right, you are the kid in peoples classes that everyone wanted to stomp when they were in school. iPhag!

    • blah

      wtf? If you don’t like it, read elsewhere.

  • Davis

    Why is this considered kissing apples butt? Can you honestly say it’s not a nice, well designed phone? Jesus folks.

    • Shelton

      Depends.. if the screen shatters as easily as blogs are saying. yes, Yes I can say its a poorly deigned phone, It will be a really pretty paper weight though.

  • Jake

    I imagine being mostly glass, this information will be read MILLIONS of times.

  • apbtlvr

    For all of it’s enhancements and faults, this phone will continue to pressure manufactures (& carriers) to improve products and QOA. Like them or not Apple keeps upping it’s game thus forcing the competition to follow suite. So we all benefit from that, regardless of whether one is a fan boy, whiner or troll. kthx

    • Matlock

      Im sorry but I really dont see the innovation in the iphone that most people speak of! After the first one, there really hasnt been much innovation with this phone, aside from them giving the phone features that most phones have had for years.

      I will admit, it is a well made product. As far as quality of manufacturing goes, Apple is at/near the top of the industry. But other than that I have not been impressed with the phones at all.

      • Jay

        I have to agree with you. Apple failed to make the jump in technological advancement with this phone. It’s just a nicer LCD, and upgraded components, nothing ‘revolutionary’. I’ll be skipping this cycle.

  • Joe C.

    Just got mine this morning! Speaker is loud, and clear! Fit and finish is perfect, I’m no fanboy, but this is like a fine watch or something, very high quality.

    • whaaa!

      have fun!

    • RealG

      lol glad to hear from someone who ACTUALLY HAS ONE.

  • Bigfish

    @ Joe. C
    Thanks for the info, I’m happy to hear the speaker is loud and clear, I’m definitely getting it now. Most of these people totally overlook the fact that our devices should work well as a phone first before worrying about the ram, thinness, resolution etc. As I said before the 3GS is a great device but the phone sucks ass for voice calls.

    • Jake

      The speaker being louder does not imply a higher quality radio, priceless.

      Btw, if it does hold a call longer, it only took apple 4 generations to do it, interesting fact. An Apple first, err four, but some don’t remember very long as they have the attention span of a crack addicted ferret.

  • Greg Gebhardt

    Sounds like we, the user, will be part of the antenna!

  • Ian W

    “The battery, while not user accessible, is easily replaceable — and huge!”

    Really? Is it that hard to actually have an honest review of this phone? You make it sound like it is a good thing that the user cannot replace the battery… but then I guess that is what apple fanboys have always known (unlike just about every other smart phone)

    • RealG

      If you put a battery in it that lasts, you do not need to replace it. Probably what they are indicating. If you wanna hate go back to engadget :) I have an ‘ancient’ (lol) iPhone 3G and the battery on it still lasts up to 2 days w/o re-charging. yes, I use it frequently. On the new 4th version, the battery is even larger (mAh value)

      • Ian W

        BGR is usually pretty good and I like reading the site. Just this line makes me think that they are blinded by the phone. I am sure the battery does last a long time and yes the number of people who swap their battery on a daily basis is small. However, can you not see how lame that line is?

        They are saying that while the user cannot change the battery the user could easily change the battery.

  • jonathan

    @Matlock, the iPhone is not for everybody, it’s just difficult on these blog sites to differentiate between a plain apple hater or one who simply is not impressed with the phone. Even if the iPhone can cure cancer, haters will still trash it, while someone like you will acknowledge Apple’s positives and say that the iPhone is simply not for me.

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

  • jonathan

    @Shelton, which blogs are you talking about? So far all the major tech blog sites I’ve read talks about the opposite. They have done tests simulating accidental drops and the screen remains intact.

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

  • http://markdemaio.com Mark DeMaio

    Got mine this morning, activated it no prob. It is AMAZING. screen is blindingly crisp and bright, feels amazing in your hand, speaker is loud and clear, folders are perfect UI along with all the other updates. This phone is major, its going to be bigger than ever. It’s pretty close to perfect!!

  • Sally

    Looks like the dated original iphone

    LOL

  • Sal
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