The new iPad mini teardown finds a reworked iPad mini 4 with some fresh silicon for 2019

A teardown analysis of the novel iPad mini performed yesteryear iFixit has institute to a greater extent than or less expected features, such equally Apple’s newest A12 Bionic chip paired amongst iii gigabytes of RAM, along amongst to a greater extent than or less surprises similar True Tone sensors as well as a dissimilar type of battery connector.

On the outside, Apple’s smallest fifth-generation tablet looks similar a downsized version of the novel iPad Air, relieve for a few tiny pattern changes as well as a brand-new model issue A2133.

The novel iPad mini as well as the novel iPad Air. Can you lot order which is which?

According to iFixit, the novel tablet is non quite a shrunken down iPad, nor a miniature iPad Air.

After iii as well as a one-half years without a refresh, iPad mini has awoken from its sleep amongst to a greater extent than or less updated internals. Despite appearances, our teardown confirms that this is non simply a shrunken-down version of the novel iPad Air—it’s a reworked iPad mini 4, amongst to a greater extent than or less fresh silicon for 2019.

The iPad mini v has the same 7.9-inch LED-backlit Retina concealment amongst a 2,048-by-1,536 pixel resolution similar its predecessor. And similar iPad mini 4, the novel 1 files equally Apple’s sharpest tablet concealment at 326 pixels per inch (other iPads accept a pixel density of 246 pixels per inch).

This fourth dimension around, the mini has True Tone engineering scientific discipline that uses upgrade ambient low-cal sensors to continuously gibe the display’s colouring textile temperature to the electrical current lighting conditions. While the tablet rocks the same battery capacity similar its predecessor at 19.1 watt-hours, it’s much easier to service right away because Apple is using a novel battery connecter design.

Though incompatible amongst the previous version, the novel connecter auto-disconnects earlier you lot tin unplug the display, a pattern solution that iFixit says should build the dreaded blown backlight a matter of the past. On the downside, the glued-in battery is hard to replace, prompting iFixit to wonder if we’ll e'er come across adhesive trace tabs for iPad batteries.

Here’s an overview of all the other changes worth mentioning:

• The novel iPad mini is powered yesteryear Apple’s newest A12 Bionic chip amongst iii gigabytes of RAM, upwards from 2 gigabytes of RAM inwards the previous model.
• The novel mini works amongst the first-generation Apple Pencil.
• The relocated microphones are right away centered virtually the camera.
• The eight-megapixel bring upwards photographic idiot box camera is virtually unchanged.
• The selfie photographic idiot box camera saw a major upgrade from the onetime 1.2-megapixel sensor to a seven-megapixel ƒ/2.2 one. This is the photographic idiot box camera that showtime appeared inwards the 10.5-inch iPad Pro. If you lot liked it on the 10.5-incher, you lot likely won’t accept whatsoever complaints.
• Bluetooth has been upgraded to the latest Bluetooth 5.0 protocol which doubles the speed land quadrupling the range. This is of import because the second-generation AirPods [iFixit teardown] also job Bluetooth v for faster switching betwixt devices as well as improved connectedness reliability (to bask these AirPods improvements, you lot must span them amongst a device that supports Bluetooth 5, similar the novel iPad mini).
• Other networking improvements include Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Gigabit course of report LTE on cellular models as well as eSIM technology.
• Like amongst iPhones, the regulatory markings are no longer printed on the dorsum because they’re right away available inside the About department inwards the Settings app.
• Yes, it’s got the headphone jack.

While the battery tin move replaced a tad to a greater extent than easily than before, many other parts are hard to service due to copious amount of mucilage that holds everything together.

Furthermore, the Lightning port is soldered to the logic board land removing the Home push is yet required for display replacement inwards lodge to top away along Touch ID functionality.

Removing the Home push is tough because it’s yet a mess of glue

Because of all that, the new iPad mini v has earned a repairability score of 2 out of ten. iFixit should release its teardown analysis of the novel third-generation iPad Air tomorrow.

Do chime inwards amongst your thoughts on this teardown analysis inwards the comments downwards below.

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