Disassemble to explore the "iPad" case without screws

On April 3, 2010, Apple launched the iPad in the United States as an internet-connected device. The iPad runs on the iPhone OS, is powered by the A4 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and features a 9.7-inch capacitive touch LCD screen. Though it may look like a larger version of the iPhone, which initially raised questions about its innovation, the iPad quickly became a hit. On its launch day, over 300,000 units were sold, far exceeding expectations. As a result, Apple delayed its international release until late May. Market analysts and Taiwanese component suppliers are even more optimistic, predicting sales could surpass 10 million units.

Application Developer Hub

Despite its popularity, the iPad has some drawbacks. It can be heavy to hold for long periods, and the touchscreen tends to show fingerprints easily. In terms of pricing, the $499 model with 16GB of NAND flash storage is still quite expensive for the average consumer. Additionally, it lacks 3G connectivity, which limits its appeal for users who rely on mobile data.

Therefore, while the iPad’s success isn’t yet clear-cut, it has the potential to carve out a unique market between smartphones, laptops, and netbooks. Application developers are flocking to the platform. According to a survey by Mobclix, by April 5, the iPad had already reached 3,122 apps, including many e-book and newspaper reading applications that have been popular among consumers in recent years.

Figure 1: Background Factors Behind the iPad's Popularity

The iPad has become one of the most anticipated consumer electronics products in the first half of 2010. The factors behind its popularity are outlined in the figure above.

Ubiquitous Entertainment, a Japanese app developer, shared their excitement about the iPad on their blog: “The iPhone was just a prelude to the iPad. It’s rare to see such a well-crafted experimental model. The iPad is the main product, and previous devices like the iPhone will seem small in comparison.”

Apple applied the intuitive operating system from the iPhone to the larger screen of the iPad, significantly improving the user experience on the touch panel. This also led to a wider variety of applications. Venture capital firms like Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB) have invested heavily, allocating $100 million to support developers creating iPad apps.

With the help of engineers from the electronics manufacturing and parts supply chain, we took apart the iPad and are sharing our findings here. We focused on the $499 model, which is the base version of the device.

Leveraging iPhone Manufacturing Experience

One of the biggest challenges in disassembling the iPad was opening the case. I’ve worked with iPhones before, and I know that Apple typically hides screws and avoids revealing internal designs. This trend continues with the iPad. The resin edge on the top casing fits tightly against the aluminum bottom, eliminating the need for visible screw holes. Due to this seamless design, we had to use a screwdriver to pry it open (see Figure 2).

Figure 2: The Disassembly Process

The iPad case doesn’t use any screws; it’s a snap-in design. You can only open it using a screwdriver. The image on the right has been blurred for privacy reasons.

It took over five minutes to open the case, during which the disassembly team observed that most internal components are black (see Figure 3). One engineer from a component manufacturer remarked, “Even the motherboard is painted black—does it look good after being taken apart?”