iPad mini the same on the outside with completely new internals, demonstrates teardown

The fifth-generation iPad mini may be physically similar to the previous version externally, but a teardown of the latest pint-sized Apple tablet shows nearly everything inside has been changed to bring the mobile device up to date.

Retaining the same visual appearance as its predecessor, the iPad mini 5 offers no real clues to its updated nature, according to iFixit, except for the appearance of the model number A2133 and the removal of regulatory markings from the rear of the device.

Moving the teardown inside by the use of heated pads, suction cups, and prodding tools, the components used for the refreshed model have gone through considerable changes. One early discovery is how the battery flex connector is glued to a cover bracket, a design change that automatically disconnects the battery when the bracket is removed, a change that can potentially save from accidentally damaging the display's backlight.

The battery is a 19.32 Watt-hour unit that is similar to the fourth-generation in capacity, but with new connectors that makes it incompatible to use with earlier models. The front-facing camera module has been updated, along with the True Tone ambient light sensors, and the microphones have also been moved.

A disassembled iPad mini 5 (via iFixit)

The camera is the same 7-megapixel f/2.2 version used in the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, though it uses a similar housing to the 1.2-megapixel version from the previous iPad mini.

The chips inside the casing include what is believed to be a Parade timing controller, Texas Instruments LCD bias and level shifters, a Broadcom touchscreen controller, NFC and USB charging controllers from NXP, Toshiba flash memory, and Apple Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and power management chips. The A12 Bionic system-on-chip is noted as being layered over 3 gigabytes of Samsung RAM.

The iPad mini 5 has been given a "repairability" score of two out of a possible ten. Though a single Phillips screwdriver is needed to deal with all of the screws, and that many components are modular and independently replaceable, the difficulty of the battery replacement and the need to replace the display for Touch ID repairs, as well as the heavy usage of glue, counts against the tablet's score.

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13 Comments

Fatman 513 comments · 8 Years

About 5 years ago

Apple needs to find a new exterior case designer that insists each refresh also gets SOME new exterior change as well. The confused public sees an ipad that looks identical to the old one - not one change, yet the internals are completely new. The exact opposite approach of the car industry. People want to believe they are getting something new - IMO one of the contributing reasons sales are losing to competitors, particularly in China.

mike1 3432 comments · 10 Years

Fatman said:

Apple needs to find a new exterior case designer that insists each refresh also gets SOME new exterior change as well. The confused public sees an ipad that looks identical to the old one - not one change, yet the internals are completely new. The exact opposite approach of the car industry. People want to believe they are getting something new - IMO one of the contributing reasons sales are losing to competitors, particularly in China.

Would like to see your ideas.
Other than color, there's not much to work with on a device that is mostly screen.
Squared off edges versus rounded edges. Round buttons versus rectangular. I guess they could alternate those every year if change for change's sake was important..
Smaller bezels will happen if/when they go to Face ID. Then it will be all screen.

neilm 1000 comments · 16 Years

Fatman said:

Apple needs to find a new exterior case designer that insists each refresh also gets SOME new exterior change as well. The confused public sees an ipad that looks identical to the old one - not one change, yet the internals are completely new.

Who cares?

Owners of updated devices are happy knowing they have the latest and greatest.
Owners of old iPads are happy knowing that nobody else knows they don't.

Win-win!

davgreg 1046 comments · 9 Years

I am glad they updated the mini, but wish they had updated the case and supported the newer pen design.

Have not seen the new one in person, does the new one use USB C or is it on the Lightning connector?

sflocal 6135 comments · 16 Years

mike1 said:

Fatman said:

Apple needs to find a new exterior case designer that insists each refresh also gets SOME new exterior change as well. The confused public sees an ipad that looks identical to the old one - not one change, yet the internals are completely new. The exact opposite approach of the car industry. People want to believe they are getting something new - IMO one of the contributing reasons sales are losing to competitors, particularly in China.

Would like to see your ideas.
Other than color, there's not much to work with on a device that is mostly screen.
Squared off edges versus rounded edges. Round buttons versus rectangular. I guess they could alternate those every year if change for change's sake was important..
Smaller bezels will happen if/when they go to Face ID. Then it will be all screen.

Public is not confused. Just you.