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This teardown is not a repair guide. To repair your iPod Nano 3rd Generation, use our service manual.

  1. iPod Nano 3rd Generation Teardown, iPod Nano 3rd Generation Teardown: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • There it is, in the same style box as the last Nano, but quite a bit shorter and wider.

  2. iPod Nano 3rd Generation Teardown: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Here's what you'll find in the box:

    • A manual (even smaller than the iPod).

    • The usual, much-maligned headphones.

    • A USB to iPod cable.

    • A dock insert.

    • A brand new iPod.

  3. iPod Nano 3rd Generation Teardown: step 3, image 1 of 1
    • The growing iPod Nano family.

    • Although the new Nano is shorter and wider than its older siblings, it has approximately the same area (36 square centimeters).

  4. iPod Nano 3rd Generation Teardown: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Apple appears to be going in circles. Anodized aluminum, shiny, anodized, shiny...

    • But of course, it's what's inside that counts.

  5. iPod Nano 3rd Generation Teardown: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • And here's our first look inside this newest Nano.

    • The case has eight locking tabs:

    • Three on the left, evenly spaced.

    • Three on top.

    • Two on the right, near the bottom, to make room for the display circuitry at the upper right.

  6. iPod Nano 3rd Generation Teardown: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • We've removed six Phillips screws fixing the logic board to the casing.

    • We can now lift the logic board up, but it's still tethered by the visible click wheel cable and the hidden display cable.

  7. iPod Nano 3rd Generation Teardown: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • We've disconnected the click wheel cable and flipped the board over to disconnect the display cable.

  8. iPod Nano 3rd Generation Teardown: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Now we use a spudger to pry up the display, which is held along the case's edge by an adhesive strip.

    • The first generation Nano's display was attached in exactly the same way. If you're not careful when prying it up, you may crack it.

  9. iPod Nano 3rd Generation Teardown: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • We're noticing a strong trend as we take apart this iPod: adhesive.

    • The click wheel is held in place by nothing but a very strong adhesive, which is going to make replacing it difficult. You'll have to get it to stay in place as well as Apple has (i.e. very well).

  10. iPod Nano 3rd Generation Teardown: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • Here the battery is out of its metal housing, which is attached to the logic board by, that's right, adhesive.

    • The battery is attached to the logic board by three through-hole solder points, as in the second generation Nano (sorry, no easy replacements).

  11. iPod Nano 3rd Generation Teardown: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • And here's everything together again, but apart.

  12. iPod Nano 3rd Generation Teardown: step 12, image 1 of 1
    • A close-up of the logic board's top, which sports an eight gigabyte Samsung flash memory chip and headphone jack.

    • The headphone jack is soldered to the logic board, as in the first generation Nano, but not in the second.

  13. iPod Nano 3rd Generation Teardown: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • A close-up of the logic board's bottom.

  14. iPod Nano 3rd Generation Teardown: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • And it still works! Now, having satisfied our curiosity, we can put some music on it.

5 Comments

I have done the same thing to my ipod nano 3g as shown on these pics u posted.I've changed my ipod housing and now it looks as new as ever..thanks! i luv ya!

grimjaww - Reply

Which two out of three terminals are positive and negative.

Ravi - Reply

The red and black and positive and negative, the white is signal.

Joe Mason -

It’s a USB To 30 pin not iPod

Jayden Montes - Reply

It is the same thing.

Armand Kuykendall -

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