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iFixit tears down Samsung's 'improved' Galaxy Fold
iFixit pulled its first Galaxy Fold teardown after Samsung scrapped the phone's April launch to improve its durability. Now that the foldable has finally reached stores, though, it's ready for take two. The DIY repair site has posted a teardown for the revised Galaxy Fold that reveals both the known innards and, crucially, the additional protections for that folding screen.
Apple's 7th-gen iPad gets bigger but keeps the same size battery
In case you forgot, the iPhone 11 and Apple Watch weren't the only new hardware Apple showed off at its big event a couple of weeks ago, it also upgraded the base iPad line. Now in its seventh generation, the "most popular" iPad that Apple sells has grown from 9.7- to 10.2-inches, ships with iPadOS and added a connector to support the company's still-pricey keyboard add-on. The folks at iFixit attacked the new model with their assortment of tools, and found that despite the new size, inside it's still very similar to the previous model. Unlike the iPhone 11 Pro Max, for example, which made room for a larger battery than ever before, this new iPad has a unit that's the same size as its predecessor at 8,827mAh or 32.9 watt hours, and presumably relies on other tweaks to the hardware and software to achieve its extra hour of estimated battery life.
iFixit's iPhone 11 Pro Max teardown investigates charging rumors
As usual, now that a new iPhone has hit the market, iFixit is pulling it apart an iPhone 11 Pro Max to show you what the insides look like. It's a common annual ritual, and in short order we should have confirmation of the usual things like RAM chips, modem manufacturers and battery capacity.
iFixit teardown takes a look inside the Note 10+ 5G
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G will be available online and in stores tomorrow. Just in time, the folks at iFixit are sharing a peek inside the new device. Most notably, the phone borrows one major design queue from the iPhone, and it won't be super easy to repair.
Teardown shows Apple's latest effort to fix MacBook Pro keyboard
What did Apple mean when it said it changed materials to improve the keyboard on 2019 MacBook Pros? You should now have a better idea. iFixit has torn down the laptop to reveal at least a pair of changes to the butterfly mechanism that might affect reliability. To start, the switch cover now appears to be made from polyamide (aka nylon) instead of polyacetylene -- it's not certain just how this improves the situation, but it's a conspicuous change. There also seem to be changes to the metal dome switch, possibly involving either a new alloy or heat treatment. The added resilience could prevent the switches from breaking or deforming due to wear and tear, heat or other common culprits.
iFixit peeks inside the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL to see what's missing
Now that Google has come back to the midrange phone market, the folks at iFixit have peered inside the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL to see what you do (or don't) get for your money. Just like their more expensive Pixel 3 counterparts, both of these pack Samsung OLED displays, as well as the same rear facing camera. However, expensive hardware items like the Pixel Visual Core chip, wireless charging coils and waterproofing bits aren't in there. If DIY work interests you, some of the changes seem to make these more modular and potentially easier to repair, but for the most part they are what they appear to be, with components and well-established designs that aren't on the bleeding edge of tech, but will work just fine. Whether you're a big fan of headphone jacks, hate smartphone prices that approach or surpass $1,000 or just want to replace a USB-C port without sending your device in for repair, there's something to appreciate about Google's newest phone family.
iFixit pulls its Galaxy Fold teardown at Samsung's request
The Galaxy Fold won't make its planned launch date as Samsung looks into problems experienced by several reviewers with test units. In the meantime, the folks at iFixit did what they do best and pulled one apart, but on Thursday explained their choice to "withdraw" the teardown. While iFixit usually gets a device specifically for the purpose of pulling it apart, this one was apparently provided by a third party. Samsung then asked that "trusted partner" to have the teardown removed and iFixit -- while insisting it didn't have to -- acquiesced to keep the peace. iFixit called the device it undid "alarmingly fragile," but also noted in today's post that "Our team appreciated the chance to look inside this ambitious device. All new products face challenges—this one perhaps more than most." We still don't know exactly what Samsung might tweak before the Galaxy Fold is rescheduled for a proper retail launch, but it's possibly that the company doesn't want to expose problems, or any secrets before the thing is actually on sale. Either way, the teardown is out there now, and preserved in the Internet Archive if someone really wants to what a Fold test unit has inside and, perhaps more importantly, what it might lack in protection that would allow debris inside.
iFixit: Samsung's Galaxy Fold is 'alarmingly fragile' (updated)
There's been another teardown of the Galaxy Fold, and this one might help explain why Samsung decided to delay the phone's launch. iFixit has conducted a part-by-part dissection that suggests the design is "alarmingly fragile," particularly around the hinge. While the actual folding mechanism appears sturdy (if possibly vulnerable to wearing down in the long run), there's no ingress protection -- dirt can easily slip inside, potentially getting stuck between the hinge and the plastic OLED screen.
Galaxy Fold teardown gives us a look at its complicated design
This teardown is no precision iFixit job, but if you just want to see what parts and pixie dust are holding Samsung's Galaxy Fold together, some images from an apparently now-deleted Weibo post can help. Not surprisingly for a first-gen new device, the design is seems incredibly complex and highlights some of the points of failure that may have lead to quickly-broken review units. According to GSM Arena, the original poster said the flexible 7.3-inch display was "soft like rubber" when removed, although they "shattered" the Fold's small external display while taking it apart. The hinge mechanism seems quite complicated with watch-like gears, and looking inside shows where ribbon cables flow across the joint that's supposed to hold up to hundreds of thousands of bends. Other interesting elements include its inside and outside cameras, as well as two separate battery packs.
Samsung Galaxy S10 teardown shows what's behind the hole-punch display
Samsung's Galaxy S10 may be all display on the surface, but what's underneath that enigmatic exterior? Quite a lot, apparently. iFixit has torn down the entire S10 family, and it's evident that Samsung has stuffed each phone to the gills. Most notably, cooling is everywhere. The back cover, display and wireless charging pads are blanketed in graphite, while the touted copper heat pipe is much larger -- it's closer to that in the Galaxy Note 9 than the cooling you saw in the S9. The iFixit team believes this might be necessary to keep the reverse wireless charging from cooking the phone.
Mac mini teardown uncovers all of the tiny desktop's updates
The long-overdue Mac mini update looks similar on the outside, but how much has it changed on the inside? Quite a bit -- though you'll be glad to hear some things have stayed the same. iFixit has torn down the diminutive desktop, and it's evident that Apple made only very strategic changes to the system's internals. It's still relatively easy to get inside the system by popping off the bottom and sliding out the entire motherboard. And when Apple said the memory was upgradable (unlike the 2014 model), it wasn't kidding. There's a shield to prevent interference, but it's easy to remove and install your own RAM sticks.
iFixit takes a peek inside the new MacBook Air
You know the drill -- new hardware arrives and iFixit pulls it apart. Apple's revised MacBook Air just hit the shop table, so you can look inside while figuring out which of the company's portable computing solutions fits your lifestyle (if any of them do). A peek inside confirmed Apple's butterfly keyboard setup with silicone gasket that reduces noise and -- just coincidentally -- contaminants from breaking things, as well as a battery cell that can be replaced without swapping the laptop's entire top casing with the keyboard and trackpad.
Pixel 3 XL teardown reveals Google's switch to a Samsung display
When people noticed that the Pixel 3 XL's display was much better than its predecessor's, a common question emerged: did Google ditch LG for someone else? Yes, according to iFixit. The DIY repair house has torn down both the 3 XL and its smaller counterpart, and it's now clear that Google is using a Samsung-made AMOLED screen on at least the larger phone (we've asked iFixit about the regular Pixel 3). Google wasn't taking any chances on screen quality, in other words.
Apple Watch Series 4 teardown exposes all the big changes
Apple Watch Series 4 brings a lot of changes, but how much has it changed on the inside? Quite a bit, actually -- iFixit has torn down the new smartwatch, and it's clear that this was Apple's opportunity to rethink some of the hidden details. For one, it offers a good look at Series 4's ECG monitoring, including the components in the Digital Crown that complete the circuit. You'll also see a much thinner (if longer) Taptic Engine, a much larger speaker and a smaller battery -- the 44mm Watch pack has 20 percent less capacity than that from the 42mm Series 3. Apple may be counting on the newer processor and other refinements to make up the difference.
Magic Leap teardown reveals the complexities of mixed reality
After years of waiting, Magic Leap released its mixed reality headset earlier this month. The Magic Leap One Creator Edition isn't quite a consumer-facing device -- instead, it comes bundled with several 'preview experiences' meant to inspire folks who want to make their own apps for the device's mixed reality OS. Now that the community's had a bit of time with the headset, Ifixit has torn one apart, giving us an inside look at the device that's been a big mystery.
Surface Go teardown reveals a tiny battery
Now that the Surface Go has reached store shelves, there's a lingering question: how did Microsoft stuff a full-fledged PC (if a modest one) into such a small body? You have your answer. iFixit has torn down the 10-inch tablet, and it's evident that Microsoft bent over backward to make the design work. For one, it has a surprisingly small battery. The 26.1Wh pack (split across two cells) is not only much smaller than the 45Wh battery in the Surface Pro, it's smaller than the 32.9Wh unit inside the 2018 iPad. That might explain its real-world battery life, which dipped to six hours in our tests.
iFixit finds a 'cover-up' inside new MacBook Pro keyboards
While we've been all over the outside of Apple's newest MacBook Pro lineup, iFixit has, as usual, decided to look underneath the hood and find out what's changed from previous models. While it has not published a full teardown report yet, the repair outfit said that the keyboard may have a bigger change than Apple let on. Users have reported problems with the "butterfly switch" keyboards in new Apple laptops for a while saying they're too sensitive to crumbs and dust and can't have individual keys repaired. Still, the company said this iteration only has changes that make them quieter to use.
Huawei P20 Pro teardown sheds light on its three cameras
Take a look at the P20 Pro and there's a good chance you'll wonder how Huawei managed to stuff three rear cameras into a phone roughly the same size as its two-cam rivals. Thankfully, it's no longer much of a mystery. The DIY repair crew at iFixit has torn down the P20 Pro to explain how Huawei pulled off the design. The primary, monochrome and telephoto cameras are all stuffed into a compact module that's closely connected to a similarly space-efficient mainboard -- in fact, it looks like there was plenty of room for the 4,000mAh battery and speakers (though there's no headphone jack, alas).
Samsung Galaxy S9 teardown helps explain its camera tricks
Samsung's Galaxy S9 and S9+ revolve around their camera features, but some of the hardware functionality behind them has been a little mysterious. The picture is a little clearer, however, as iFixit has torn down the S9+ and provided a better look at the phone's camera tech. To start, the signature variable aperture camera is possible thanks to a simple design -- where typical dedicated cameras have five-blade apertures, Samsung is using just two ring-like blades. That limits its functionality, of course (you can only choose from two apertures), but helps the camera stay relatively small.
Don't even try to repair Apple's HomePod
You may not like the thought of paying Apple a pretty penny to fix the HomePod, but you might have to -- it definitely isn't meant for DIY repairs. An iFixit teardown has revealed a clever design that makes good use of a tiny space, but is also nigh-on inaccessible. It appears that you can pull the fabric mesh off with a drawstring, but almost everything else requires tearing things apart. Many parts are glued on (including the top and bottom), and there's one seam so thoroughly sealed that iFixit needed a hacksaw and ultrasonic cutter to get in. If there's a non-destructive way to get in, it's not obvious.
