iPod Nano 7th Generation Teardown

Teardown

Teardown

Teardowns provide a look inside a device and should not be used as disassembly instructions.

Prepare to be green with envy as we tear down the new 7th Generation iPod Nano.

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Add Note Edit Step 1 — iPod Nano 7th Generation Teardown  ¶ 

  • What's lean, new, and green? The iPod Nano 7th Generation. The Nano is available in several colors, but we decided green was the way to go.

  • Completely redesigned, the 7th Generation Nano takes after its iPod Touch and iPhone brethren.

  • Tech Specs:

    • 16 GB storage capacity

    • 2.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch display

    • Built-in accelerometer

    • Bluetooth 4.0

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Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • We're beginning to think that Apple doesn't trust us with unboxing their precious gadgets — so we tried it their way.

    • Their unboxing procedure was neither comfortable nor ergonomic.

  • We are happy, however, that there is minimal packaging between us and our new green friend.

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Add Note Edit Step 3  ¶ 

  • Amidst the greenery we find the Nano's new model number: A1446.

  • With the slow phasing out of the iPod Shuffle and iPod Classic, it seems that Apple is gravitating towards a line of products based solely on how large of a device you want around your home button.

    • If you look closely, you'll see that the icon on the Nano's home button is round, rather than square, to match its circular icons.

  • Cowabunga, dude! What do you do with twice the screen size of the old Nano? You load minimalist illustrations of Ninja Turtles, duh.

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Add Note Edit Step 4  ¶ 

  • Just how much bigger is it than the previous Nano? Oodles.

    • The 6th Generation Nano came in at 1.48 x 1.68 x 0.35 inches, and weighed 0.74 ounces.

    • The new 7th Generation is just over twice as tall, while also a little thinner and more narrow at 3.01 x 1.56 x 0.21 inches.

    • At 1.1 ounces, the newest Nano only gained an extra third of an ounce.

  • Reverting to the tall design utilized in previous generations makes the iPod easier to grip, and thereby easier to use. The designers threw the 6th Generation's clip out the window, so the new Nano is that much thinner.

  • Switching to the Lightning connector might have saved a little space in the iPhone 5, but its impact on the iPod Nano is pretty profound.

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • Guided by the sword plastic opening tool of our father, we were led to the knot tab that opened the pit of despair.

  • Hiding beneath the tab we find the Bluetooth antenna, which sneakily covers two Phillips screws that unlock the magic lurking within the Nano.

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Add Note Edit Step 6  ¶ 

  • With the screws removed, we grab a plastic opening tool—our favorite way to crack open a new iPod.

  • After a bit of wiggling, we manage to pry the display assembly up from the rear case, only to be met with several cables blocking its complete removal.

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Add Note Edit Step 7  ¶ 

  • Two quick flicks disconnect the LCD and digitizer cables, leaving only the battery cable as a final umbilical cord between the two halves of the device.

    • The battery is both adhered to the back of the display assembly and soldered to the logic board.

  • Unfortunately, the connivance and cost savings of adhesive come at the cost of repairability.

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Add Note Edit Step 8  ¶ 

  • Pop goes the digitizer!

    • With just light adhesive around the edge, it's nice to have a part that finally comes off easily.

  • We've got a full house in our hand with the bezel, logic board and battery assembly, and the rear case.

  • We hope that the minds at Apple aren't as twisted as their cables. Cables with this much form probably come out of engineering efforts to make this iPod as thin as possible.

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