How to open ipad mini. Self-disassembly of the Apple iPad Mini tablet. Unscrew one securing screw, disconnect the cables and remove the headphone output
They represent almost the pinnacle of technical achievements, sometimes they still have to be repaired, damaged elements or parts of the hardware that have ceased to perform their functions must be replaced. To do any repair operation, you need to know how to disassemble the iPad. Let us note right away that the procedure is quite complex and requires considerable skills. So, let's go step by step.
For different models, the glass is attached in the same way - it is glued. Therefore, disassembling the iPad begins with the most delicate operation - removing the display protection. Let us immediately note two very important points.
- Glass is very fragile. If you are not sure of your accuracy or are disassembling for the first time, use suction cups and pads around the perimeter.
- Apple doesn't skimp on glue. This is a special composition that softens at high temperatures.
To dismantle the glass and subsequent disassembly you will need:
- thin plastic tools - spatulas and spatula plates;
- linings for glass - you need thin plastic strips, you can use mediators (paper will not work - it absorbs glue);
- powerful suction cups for working with glass;
- screwdrivers of different sizes for hourly work.
So, there are two ways to disassemble and remove glass.
- The first involves the use of a construction heating pad. This is a tube with a special composition that heats up in the microwave and maintains a high temperature for a long time. By laying such a heating pad along one side of the screen, you can smoothly and safely heat the entire plane of the connection. This creates a kind of insurance against the fact that when one zone is lifted, the second will maintain contact and the protective glass will crack.
- The second is more barbaric, designed for an experienced repairman. The glass around the perimeter is heated using a heat gun. Here it is important to control the uniformity of heating, temperature and not damage the device body. Therefore, you need a lot of experience.
The dismantling itself looks the same for both methods. The glass is carefully lifted with a thin plastic tool, lifted a little, and a pick or strip is placed. After this, you can move on to the next zone. Gaskets are required - the glue tends to cool quickly when exposed to air and set again.
After all the glass around the perimeter is separated from the base, it is taken using suction cups or simply lifted and carefully lifted from one edge.
Removing the display
So, the first stage has been completed. In the future, how to disassemble an iPad will be clear to the uninitiated. Let's start filming.
First, carefully unscrew the screws that secure it to the body. It is important not to damage the heads and use the right tools.
The display can then be raised. It is connected along one edge to the motherboard by several cables. Protective tape is applied at the places where they are connected. First of all, we remove it.
Hardware
Now we have access to all key areas - motherboard, power controller, camera, speakers, and so on. It's all quite easy to remove. Screws are used everywhere, so simple steps are enough: unscrew the necessary fasteners, disconnect the component from the cables and put it aside.
Video on how to disassemble an iPad:
- Motherboard.
- Battery. Important note: A bulk battery is used. If it is bent or damaged in any way, it will no longer work. Therefore, you need to carefully pry it off with a spatula and just as carefully remove it.
- Cable and antenna.
- SIM card slot.
- All connectors and modules are located on one strip and are removed together.
That's all - only the body of the device remains, from which all the hardware parts have been removed.
Brief summary
According to general estimates, the iPad's maintainability is the worst of all devices, about two points out of ten. The reason is glue and no other connections. Therefore, disassembling a tablet without experience, and without spoiling anything, is almost impossible. But even if it succeeded, it still needs to be assembled later.
Any technology is short-lived, even the vaunted iPad Mini from Apple. Nobody says that it constantly breaks down, but user negligence or careless use periodically forces you to “open” the device in order to replace one or another module.
If you think that taking your tablet to a service center is stupid and you decide to fix the device yourself, use our instructions.
Required Tool
How to disassemble an iPad? This is difficult to do without special tools. You will need:
- clock screwdriver (preferably 5-point);
- plastic card/mediator/stack;
- tweezers;
- patience.
Display
We pick up our iPad Mini and see that the back cover cannot be removed, and the bolts are nowhere to be seen. Let's start with the fact that glue is used in the design. To do this, take a hairdryer and begin to gently “blow” over the entire front area of the screen.
As soon as you feel that the display has begun to “fidget”, carefully pry up the frame with a pick/card, as in the screenshot.
Slowly draw the tip of the card around the perimeter of the front. If you run into something, don’t pull.
Once the frame of the iPad Mini is removed, we proceed to removing the display itself. It is held on by 16 screws hidden by plugs like this one.
If the piece of metal is finally defeated, you can congratulate yourself. Now the disassembly process will be much faster.
Not only the sensor cable is “hidden” under the sheet of metal, but also part of the iPad Mini motherboard, as well as a Wi-Fi module with a set of letters in the name.
Carefully unscrew all the bolts around the perimeter, being careful. Mobile contacts are quite fragile.
We get to the treasured display cable, which is pryed off with the same pick or stack.
But the cunning Cupertino residents prepared another “trap” in the form of a couple of pieces of electrical tape. Carefully peel them off using tweezers. Now you can put the iPad Mini screen aside with a clear conscience.
Battery
We get to the battery, which is attached to the same adhesive tape. The peeling procedure is similar to manipulating the screen. Don't forget to disconnect the cable with the contact.
The battery is pryed around the perimeter with a plastic card and then removed.
Modules
So, let's get to the key components. At the bottom there are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas attached near the speakers.
Some day iFixit You won’t need to use all your connections to get hold of and disassemble the next Apple gadget before sales start. Someday they will be included in the list of especially close ones, they will be invited to presentations, and immediately afterwards they will be given free pre-sale copies of the devices. Apple will take such a step without fear, since by then it will be impossible to disassemble the devices without damaging them. MacBook Pro with Retina, aka 13 inches, now -... Everything is leading to this.
Model number is A1432.
No, this is not a tablet pillow. This is a new creation from iFixit - a heating pad specifically for opening the iPad! You heat it up in the microwave and then place it on top of the edges of the device. The glue between the display and the case melts, you carefully insert several supplied mediators, use plastic tools... In a word, you remove the touch panel in no time. And, yes, this is sarcasm.
It's funny that at this stage the touch panel can be moved slightly to the side of the display, and it will still remain operational (like the display itself). Funny, but worrisome: will dust get between them?
The iPad mini opens up like a book with pages stuck to each other. The touch panel cannot be removed, since its cable goes under the display on the main part. This means that the display should be removed, but its screws are insidiously hidden.
Inside, the next “page” is found, namely, a metal shielding plate the entire length and width of the mini. This panel is attached to 16 screws A real test for even the most diligent repairman.
This is where the analogy with the book is best seen. The case and touchpad are the cover, and the display and plate are two pages. Only at this stage can you start taking something out of the case.
The panel cable goes under the plate. Record, goodbye.
Here is the edge of the motherboard with the Murata 339S0171 Wi-Fi module.
The connector is disconnected, but the display is still held in place by adhesive tapes along the bottom. There's a Lightning connector hiding in there somewhere...
The display is disconnected! In terms of ease of replacement, Apple beat Amazon and ASUS (did you know the Nexus 7 is made by ASUS?). But this is just the beginning.
The display has its own board, however, it is hidden under adhesive tapes and another plate.
Display board:
Red - Samsung W1235 S6TNMR1X01 hardware driver. This means that the display is also made by Koreans;
Orange and yellow - go and find out.
iFixit are taken for the battery. The connector design is inherited from the large iPad.
This is a 1-cell battery, and the easiest way to peel it off from the case is with a plastic card. It's better not to rush.
Different markings in different places on the battery indicate different readings. The voltage “fluctuates” from 3.72 to 3.78 volts, the energy characteristic is from 16.5 to 16.9 watt-hours, and the capacity is from 4400 to 4440 milliamp-hours. Apple's official specifications contradict everything, stating 16.3 Wh. They got smart.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas are laid close to each of the two speakers. The speakers themselves are mounted on Very small screws.
The size of a speck of dust. Next to it is a standard oversized screw from the iPhone 5.
An attempt to remove Lightning even with the screws unscrewed is doomed to failure: the connector is an integral part of the motherboard.
The board is still not accessible - firstly, because of the cable with the volume buttons and the Power key...
...secondly - because of the glue. Here you can’t get by with a heating pad; you have to blow with an industrial hair dryer from the back. The aluminum panel gets so hot that it becomes impossible to hold it. iFixit has silicone pads at the ready.
It's scary to peel off the board without seeing what you're putting the tool under.
Fortunately, it later turns out that there is nothing on that side - the board is one-sided.
The A5 chip is the undisputed record holder for the number of devices in which it is installed. iPad 2, iPhone 4S, Apple TV 3rd generation, iPod touch and iPad mini - A5 everywhere. RAM? According to the markings, 512 megabytes.
Chipworks kindly provided a detailed diagram of the crystal superimposed on the high-resolution image. At least put it on your wallpaper, it’s clickable:
Clickable
Orange - 16 GB Hynix H2JTDG8UD2MBR flash memory module;
Green - Apple 338S1116 audio controller, manufacturer - Cirrus;
Yellow, blue, purple - markings are marked, but are not in anyone’s database;
Red - Apple 338S1077 audio amplifier, again manufactured by Cirrus.
These instructions will help you disassemble your iPad mini, but do everything as carefully as possible. iPad mini has glued parts. If the analysis occurs with effort, it means that something is going wrong.
- We disassemble the iPad mini, to do this you need to remove the glass, to pry the glass off, use guitar picks.
- On the iPad mini, all the cables are located at the bottom, so we carefully lift the glass from the top side and fold it back with a slight movement.
- There are four mounting screws around the perimeter of the display; unscrew them.
- Using the top edge, lift the iPad mini display with a slight movement.
- The iPad mini has a metal plate that protects the insides and is held on by 16 screws; they are needed to provide access to the display and glass cables.
- The cable protection is held on by three screws; unscrew them to disconnect the cables.
- To disconnect the glass cable, you need to detach the display hidden under it.
- We snap off the contacts located next to the cable with a plastic tool so as not to damage it.
- Removing the touchscreen
- The dock connector cable is protected by electrical tape holding the display in the back cover, disconnect the electrical tape and pull out the display.
- The iPad mini display has markings, this is what it looks like.
- Now, with a slight movement, disconnect the glass.
- We also disconnect the battery cable.
- We pry up the adhesive layer under the battery and remove the battery with a slight movement.
- This is what the battery looks like for an iPad mini.
- At the bottom of each speaker is a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi antenna.
- All iPad models have one built-in speaker, while the iPad mini has two speakers.
- The connector on the back cover is held in place by two hidden screws, and a docking connector is soldered to the motherboard.
- The power button and volume button are held in place by several bolts. We remove them so that the brain of this device is available for study.
- Now a hairdryer is needed as the motherboard is attached to the back. Use a plastic tool to carefully pry up the motherboard and remove it.
- In front of you is a motherboard with a docking connector. It contains the main elements - video chips, memory and audio processor.
- As you can see, there is nothing interesting on the back of the board.
- We also take a hair dryer and use a plastic tool to disconnect the headphone jack and front camera cable from the body.
- Rear camera.
- So we disassembled the entire iPad mini.
The key difference between Apple mobile devices and competitive solutions is their de jure non-separable design. This feature makes it possible to guarantee iPhone and iPad users a high level of performance in a fairly compact package and unprecedented build quality. Each successive generation of them becomes more complex, which does not make it easier to replace their components. The iPad Mini 3 was no exception, but using a few special tools and a short set of rules will allow you to de facto completely disassemble it in a few minutes, even at home.
So how do you disassemble the iPad Mini 3?
Please note that the images show individual disassembly points of the device and not the entire progress of the process.
1. Warm up the front part of the case around the perimeter of the screen and lift the front panel:
You can warm up the device using a special heating element, a construction or household hair dryer. You can lift the front panel using several sharp-edged plastic tools and suction cups.
2. Remove the protective cover from the front panel, if it remains on it, and install it back on the front camera:
The operation can be performed manually.
3. Unscrew the four screws that secure the device screen and open it like a book:
The screws, made by Phillips, are of a standard design and can be removed with a few common screwdrivers from a quality tool kit.
4. Unscrew the seven screws that secure the device screen protective plate and remove it:
The screws, made by Phillips, are of a standard design and can be removed with a few common screwdrivers from a quality tool kit. The screen protector plate can be removed using a sharp-edged plastic tool.
5. Unscrew the four screws of the metal protection and remove it, disconnect the screen cable and remove it:
The screws, made by Phillips, are of a standard design and can be removed with a few common screwdrivers from a quality tool kit. The metal protection can be removed using tweezers, the cables are disconnected using a plastic tool with a sharp edge.
6. Disconnect the front panel cables and remove it:
7. Disconnect the Home button cables and remove it:
This can be done using a plastic tool with a sharp edge.
8. Warm up the back of the case and remove the battery:
You can warm up the device using a special heating element, a construction or household hair dryer. You can remove the battery using a plastic tool with a sharp edge.
9. Disconnect the front camera cable, remove its protection and remove the camera itself:
You can disconnect the cables and remove the front camera using the most ordinary tweezers and a plastic tool with a sharp edge.
10. Disconnect the cable, warm up the case and remove the microphone:
You can warm up the device using a special heating element, a construction or household hair dryer. You can disconnect the cables and remove the microphone using the most ordinary tweezers and a plastic tool with a sharp edge.
11. Unscrew one screw of the metal protection, disconnect the main camera cable and remove it:
The screws, made by Phillips, are of a standard design and can be removed with a few common screwdrivers from a quality tool kit. You can disconnect the cables and remove the main camera using the most ordinary tweezers and a plastic tool with a sharp edge.
12. Unscrew one screw securing the volume button cable, two screws securing the volume buttons, two screws securing the power button, disconnect the cables and remove the button block:
The screws, made by Phillips, are of a standard design and can be removed with a few common screwdrivers from a quality tool kit. You can disconnect the cables and remove the buttons using the most ordinary tweezers and a plastic tool with a sharp edge.
13. Unscrew one securing screw, disconnect the cables and remove the headphone output:
The screws, made by Phillips, are of a standard design and can be removed with a few common screwdrivers from a quality tool kit. You can disconnect the cables and remove the headphone output using the most ordinary tweezers and a plastic tool with a sharp edge.
14. Disconnect the cables, unscrew the three fastening screws and remove the left part of the Wi-Fi antenna:
The screws, made by Phillips, are of a standard design and can be removed with a few common screwdrivers from a quality tool kit. You can disconnect the cables and remove the left side of the Wi-Fi antenna using the most ordinary tweezers and a plastic tool with a sharp edge.
15. Disconnect the cables, unscrew the three fastening screws and remove the right side of the Wi-Fi antenna:
The screws, made by Phillips, are of a standard design and can be removed with a few common screwdrivers from a quality tool kit. You can disconnect the cables and remove the right side of the Wi-Fi antenna using ordinary tweezers and a plastic tool with a sharp edge.
16. Unscrew the two securing screws and remove the left speaker:
The screws, made by Phillips, are of a standard design and can be removed with a few common screwdrivers from a quality tool kit. You can remove the left speaker using ordinary tweezers and a plastic tool with a sharp edge.
17. Unscrew the two securing screws and remove the right speaker:
The screws, made by Phillips, are of a standard design and can be removed with a few common screwdrivers from a quality tool kit. You can remove the right speaker using ordinary tweezers and a plastic tool with a sharp edge.
18. Disconnect the cables, unscrew the two screws securing the Lightning port, one screw securing the chip, heat the back of the device and remove the motherboard:
The screws, made by Phillips, are of a standard design and can be removed with a few common screwdrivers from a quality tool kit. You can warm up the device using a special heating element, a construction or household hair dryer. You can disconnect the cables and the motherboard using the most ordinary tweezers and a plastic tool with a sharp edge.
Thus, you can disassemble the iPad Mini 3 using several tools, only some of which are specialized, in just a few minutes, even at home. However, it is better to use the services of qualified specialists from the EtoService company, who will definitely not cause any harm to the device components.