Teardown of iPad 3G shows Apple using LCD frame as an antenna

Apple's iPad 3G, which went on sale in the U.S. on Friday, reveals a new approach to achieving optimal wireless reception and some interesting differences internally when compared to its Wi-Fi-only sibling, according to a new tear-down analysis.

Most of the differences are due the iPad 3G's additional 3G / GPS functionality, said iFixIt, which also noted the following highlights from its internal examination:

• 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.
• Apple looks to be using the entire LCD frame as an antenna. This approach draws parallels to Apple's decision to also mount a wireless antenna to the frame of the optical drive on its new MacBook Pros.
• 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 iFixIt was 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 -- a 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.