iPad Pro teardown shows tweaks to internals in Apple’s new larger tablet

It’s no surprise that the people over at repair guide portal iFixit have already started their ritual teardown of Apple’s new iPad Pro. The new device features a larger 12.9-inch display, the 3rd generation 64-bit A9X chip, and other upgraded internals, but are there any other new surprises inside the iPad Pro?

Immediately the team noticed a different layout for the logic board making things a little different when cracking open the new iPad Pro compared to previous generations:

This isn’t quite what we’re used to! With the logic board situated in the center of the iPad, the display cables connect in the very middle, we can’t even lay the display down while we work… Instead we have to support the weight of the display while taking out a few screws securing the display cable bracket…. Here’s a first in iPad history. We have to remove the logic board EMI shielding to remove the logic board itself.

And here is a list of components iFixit found inside that aren’t publicly detailed by Apple:

2 × Broadcom BCM15900B0
NXP Semiconductors 8416A1 Touch ID Sensor
Parade Technologies DP695 Timing Controller
This is likely an iteration of the DP665 LCD timing controller found in the iMac Retina 5K, modified to support the display’s variable refresh rate.
Texas Instruments TPS65144 (Likely an iteration of the TPS65143A LCD Bias found in the Air 2)
One thing iFixit notes in its teardown is that the speaker boxes for the device take about half the space as the battery cells. “Premium audio means reduced battery life,” the team notes.

Overall, iFixit gives the iPad Pro a 3/10 for repairability. The team cites the ability to remove the battery with only adhesive tabs as one the easiest repair to perform.

The battery is not soldered to the logic board, and can now be removed with adhesive tabs, greatly simplifying battery removal.
The Smart Connector port is virtually impossible to replace—but incorporates no moving parts and is unlikely to fail.
The LCD and front panel glass are fused together. This slightly simplifies the opening procedure.
The fused front panel increases the cost of screen repair, and the risk of damaging the LCD when opening.
Gobs of adhesive hold everything in place making all repairs more difficult.