Apple iPhone SE teardown reveals mashup of iPhone 5 & 6 series chips, few new parts

The first teardown of Apple's iPhone SE was posted to the Web on Wednesday, and as expected the handset's logic board is an amalgamation of parts mostly borrowed from iPhone 5s and iPhone 6/6s, with a few new chips thrown in to keep the platform fresh.

In its report, silicon experts Chipworks said the new 4-inch iPhone might appear identical to the iPhone 5s it replaces, but a bevy of new chips, not the least of which being an iPhone 6s-class A9 processor, makes it a unique addition Apple's lineup. Indeed, the PCB looks like a parts bin dive

As for the A9 SoC, the firm notes its Verizon unit came with a chip bearing part number APL1022, meaning it came from Apple partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Additionally, a 1604 date code suggests the chip was produced only nine weeks ago. Apple is using system memory from SK Hynix, which appears to be the same 2 gigabyte LPDDR4 mobile DRAM from iPhone 6s.

Apple tapped NXP to bring NFC touchless payments to its low-cost iPhone. Like the iPhone 6s, iPhone SE boasts an NXP 66V10 module that incorporates the Secure Element 008 and an ear-field communications controller labeled NXP PN549. Chipworks said the SE's InvenSense 6-axis inertial sensor also made its way from iPhone 6s.

Dating back to 2014's iPhone 6 is a Qualcomm MDM9625M modem and WTR1625L RF transceiver.

Along with parts bin components, iPhone SE packs in new hardware including a Skyworks SKY77611 power amplifier module, a Texas Instruments 338S00170 power management IC, Toshiba NAND flash, an EPCOS D5255 antenna switch module and AAC Technologies' 0DALM1 microphone, the report said. A separate as-yet-unidentified chip could be a new power management IC designed by Apple in cooperation with Dialog Semiconductor.

Apple took the wraps off its new entry-level handset at a special event earlier this month. The iPhone SE is thought to address burgeoning markets, Android switchers and users who prefer smaller form factor devices. The company has not released official first weekend sales numbers, though reports indicate preorders surpassed 3.4 million units in China alone.

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24 Comments

ireland

said about 8 years ago

Super looking forward to my 64 GB SE arriving. So happy to be going back to the 4" form factor I far prefer. I find the 4.7" form factor uncomfortably wide in the hand and slightly too heavy. I've noticed this odd pattern of women liking larger phones over guys. Or perhaps is just what I see near me.

I much preferred the pocket-ability of my 5 and the seated position comfort while in pocket. Interestingly one-handed use is not one of the reasons I prefer a 4" iPhone. I never used any iPhone one-handed that I can recall. I just prefer an inconspicuous smartphone that gets out of the way as much as possibly. A more seamless experience is afforded to me by a smaller phone I find.

davidmalcolm

said about 8 years ago

So excited for my 64 gig SE I'll be picking up tomorrow :D

lkrupp

said about 8 years ago

We don’t need Chipworks or iFixit anymore. Just let Liam take it apart from now on.

mcarling

said about 8 years ago

ireland said:

I've noticed this odd pattern of women liking larger phones over guys.

Typically, women have handbags and long fingers.

rob53

said about 8 years ago

Why are you saying Apple's parts come from a "parts bin"? This term is used for antiquated parts, usually from garbage PCs, but never from Apple products. Using this term, then saying it's also using parts from the iPhone 6s makes it sound like the 6s is also using old parts. Just because Apple is using some parts from the 5s doesn't mean those parts aren't any good. I see the iPhone SE as a smaller 6s, not a reloaded 5s. Give it its due instead of making fun of it.

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