iFixit

Removing the last four screws in the iPod Shuffle, which secure the control pad to the front of the iPod.

The button and control pads pop out together with a gentle push.

The control pad comes out of the front case without any additional trouble.

With a listed capacity of .19 Whr, this small 3.7V lithium-ion battery pumps out 15 hours of audio playback.

• To calculate the capacity in amp-hours, we know P(power) = I(amps)*V(volts), so I = P/V. That yields a capacity of about .051 amp-hours, or 51 mAh. To say the least, that's diminutive in the world of batteries.

It's remarkable how long a battery lasts when it doesn't have to power a backlight.

APPLE 338S0860 C0AN1021 TWN

339S0128 / K9GA608U0E BC80 / FDEF26QV 1025 / 8443 ARM / N2N63MQ1 1031

• Unsurprisingly, the date codes on this package indicate die manufacture dates in late June (1025) and early August 2010 (1031).
• "K9GA6" indicates Samsung 16Gb flash, unlike the Nano and touch which use Toshiba flash.

iPod Shuffle 4th Generation Repairability: 2 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair)

• Good: The control pad is attached to the logic board via a connector, allowing it to be easily separated.
• Good: The lack of a screen eliminates a large weak point of other devices, making the Shuffle more resilient to falls. Just don't flush it down the toilet.
• Bad: You essentially have to break it to open it.
• Bad: The battery is soldered to the logic board, making replacement that much more difficult.
• Bad: Apple keeps shrinking connectors. These super-small cable connectors are increasingly difficult to open without breaking them.