[iPhone 4 Teardown (2)] Screws Indicate Change in Apple's Design Policy

Jun 30, 2010 15:03 Nikkei Electronics Teardown Squad

Continued from [iPhone 4 Teardown (1)] Inside Filled With Black Parts

We began to remove the black parts one by one. First, we took out the lithium polymer rechargeable battery, which is the largest component. When we torn down the iPhone 3G and the iPad, their batteries were attached by using adhesive, etc and very difficult to remove (See related article).

However, it was easy to remove the battery of the iPhone 4. When we pulled a tab that reads "Authorized Service Provider Only," the battery was detached by a film placed below the battery. We examined the chassis and found that a double-sided adhesive tape was applied to the circumference of the battery.

The method of attaching a battery is not the only difference between the iPhone 4 and Apple Inc's other products. Some of the engineers said, "This is not like the iPhone," "It is quite different from Apple's other products" and "Probably, Apple changed design engineers."

The largest difference is a large number of screws. The parts of the iPhone 4 cannot be taken out without removing those screws. As the disassembly proceeded, the number of screws put on our desk increased.

Why did Apple decide to use many screws? A member of the squad said that it may be due to the rising prices of components. In other words, by using screws, many components can be reused when the assembly of the iPhone 4 fails in a manufacturing process or when the iPhone is repaired.

Thus far, Apple has designed its products by, for example, attaching batteries with double-sided adhesive tape and adhesive, making it very difficult to replace components. As a result, to repair its products or replace their batteries, the whole products have to be exchanged.

On the other hand, Apple made it easier to remove the battery and the other components of the iPhone 4. It is not clear whether the company wanted to reduce costs by reusing components or to emphasize the reduction in environmental load. But the new iPhone indicates that something is changing in the company.

Another difference between the iPhone 4 and Apple's other products is that more components are modularized in the iPhone 4.

"The components of the iPhone 4 are more modularized than those of Japanese manufacturers' products," one of the engineers said.

A flexible substrate is attached to each module and connected to a connector, which is also connected to another connector on the main board.

"I have never seen this many connectors," said an engineer who was looking at many connectors attached to the main board.

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