iFixit's initial iPad mini 6 teardown investigates 'jelly scrolling' issue

The repair specialists at iFixit have completed an initial teardown of the new iPad mini 6, investigating the device's modular port and the so-called "jelly scrolling" issue.

In a short video published Wednesday, iFixit disassembled the new iPad mini model and shared some preliminary findings. For example, the iPad mini sports an A15 chipset that is "downclocked" slightly versus the A15 Bionic in the new iPhone 13 lineup.

The USB-C connector on the new iPad mini is also more easily removable than on the previous generation. Early signs pointed toward Apple mulling a similar move with the device's battery. That did not pan out, however, since the battery is still adhered to the chassis.

On the so-called "jelly scrolling" issue, iFixit notes that it isn't uncommon for LCD and OLED displays to exhibit similar display scrolling behavior. It's just that the iPad mini's "jelly scrolling" issue appears to be more noticeable than on other devices. It isn't clear why, but iFixit suggested it could be because of a specific board placement.

Compared to the previous iPad mini model, iFixit claims that the new 2021 device is slightly more repairable. The site gave it a three out of 10 score.

The clip covers some of the major components and changes, but doesn't go in-depth on the device's internal hardware. A full iFixit teardown of the new iPad mini can probably be expected in the coming days.

6 Comments

DAalseth 3033 comments · 6 Years

About 3 years ago

RudolfGottfried said:

There is simply no issue. Even iFixit's pompous and speculative chatter does not change the fact that this is a completely normal technology-related behavior. And, no, this iPad mini does not particularly stand out. The fact is, this so-called problem existed long before and of course Apple's competitors are also affected. It's just that no one was interested in it until now. Only when Dieter Bohn brought this allegedly flaw to the light - with a lot of slow-motion voodoo and on a brand new Apple device - the always click-hungry media did pounce. Pavlov would have been very happy. :D

Sadly though the same was true of “Antennagate” and “Bendgate” and any number of “issues” with Apple products that were blown out of proportion, and hyped interminably. I swear all it takes is some yahoo with a Twitter account to observe some expected behaviour, and give it a catchy name, and people go insane.

dewme 5737 comments · 10 Years

About 3 years ago

RudolfGottfried said:

There is simply no issue. Even iFixit's pompous and speculative chatter does not change the fact that this is a completely normal technology-related behavior. And, no, this iPad mini does not particularly stand out. The fact is, this so-called problem existed long before and of course Apple's competitors are also affected. It's just that no one was interested in it until now. Only when Dieter Bohn brought this allegedly flaw to the light - with a lot of slow-motion voodoo and on a brand new Apple device - the always click-hungry media did pounce. Pavlov would have been very happy. :D

Actually, this is a classic "artifact" in the very definition of the term:

According to Webster's dictionary definition of artifact:

" a defect in an image (such as a digital photograph) that appears as a result of the technology and methods used to create and process the image"

If this artifact bothers you, don't buy the product. If this artifact bothers you after you've already bought the product, you have to decide whether this artifact overshadows all other attributes of the product to the point where you feel compelled to return it for a refund. If you are nervous about it and haven't yet purchased the product, go into any store that sells this product and test drive it for yourself.

Most of us here are adults and can decide for ourselves whether we want to buy a product or keep a product that we've already bought. No amount of bashing or praising from one side or the other is going to change a thing.

My take on this is that had nobody ever brought the presence of this artifact to light I would never have noticed it, and I still don't notice it. But that's just me. Your eyes & brain are different than mine. Coming from an iPad mini 1, which towards the end of its life would barely react to scroll inputs on its low resolution screen, I'm blown away by how fast and crisp the display is on this new device. Seeing videos play at more than 5 fps and Safari pages load in less than 20 seconds is like living in a whole new world for me. If there's a jelly roll scroll hiding inside my new mini, I can obviously live with it. Although, in the spirit of the season I'd prefer that it be a pumpkin roll scroll.