The cool cats at iFixit have just torn down the 9.7-inch iPad Pro and found the typical mix of components from Samsung, Bosch Sensortec, NXP Semiconductors, and others, plus a whole lot of battery. Cutting to the chase, iFixit rates the smaller iPad Pro’s repairability at a low 2 out of 10, which is the same as the iPad Air 2 it replaces but one point below what it rated the 12.9-inch iPad Pro last year.
Comparing the two, iFixit gave the 12.9-inch iPad Proa slightly higher repairability score because its battery features pull tabs which help when removing and replacing it; the smaller iPad Pro’s battery lacks these pull tabs and can’t be easily removed due to a ton of adhesive that keeps it in place almost like soldering.
The 9.7-inch iPadPro’s battery is slightly smaller than the iPad Air 2’s battery at 7,306 mAh versus 7,340 mAh, but note that battery life is rated at the same base line of 10 hours thanks in part to the usual gains in processor efficiency.
iFixit noted the following components:
– Apple APL1021 A9X 64-bit Processor
– Samsung K3RG1G1 2 GB (16 Gb) LPDDR4 RAM
– SK Hynix H23QEG8VG1ACA 32 GB (256 Gb) NAND Flash Memory
– 2 × Broadcom BCM15900B0 (as seen in the iPad Pro 12.9″)
– Apple 339S00109 Wi-Fi Module
– NXP 66V10 NFC Controller and
– 1610A3 Charging IC (as seen in iPhone SE/6s/6s Plus)
– InvenSense EMS-A 6-axis Gyroscope and Accelerometer Combo (also found in iPhone SE).
The new iPad Pro has a Smart Connector for a new class of accessories just like the first iPad Pro, which iFixit describes as virtually irreplaceable but also unlikely to fail due to the lack of moving parts. In comparison to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, iFixit describes the smaller version as being designed inside around the battery, whereas the big Pro noticeably accommodates the larger speakers which are packed into the smaller version. There’s also the not one but two relocated ambient light sensors found in the smaller iPad Pro and not the larger version, and generally a lot less room to pack hardware into.
So, no major surprises, but there’s some interesting stuff in there.