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New Images of iPad Air 2 Parts Show Touch ID Home Button Cable, Logic Board With A8X Chip, and More

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Apple.club.tw (Google Translate) has shared new images that appear to show a variety of components from the iPad Air 2, which include pictures of the logic board, home button flex cable, front panel, and volume control flex cable.

ipadair2ac1-800x600.jpg

The home button flex cable appears to contain a space for a Touch ID home button, complete with the stainless steel ring. Previous reports claimed that Apple's forthcoming iPads would receive Touch ID functionality, and these newest pictures likely confirm that the feature will at least be on the iPad Air 2.

ipadair2ac2-800x600.jpg

Meanwhile, the logic board image also shows what may be Apple's A8 processor along with RAM chips and other components. Currently, it is unknown as to whether the A8 chip on the iPad Air 2 will be clocked at a higher speed than the A8 chips found on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The logic board also appears to contain a noticeably different layout when compared to the board from last year's iPad Air. For instance, the SIM slot appears to be directly on iPad Air 2's logic board, while the component was located in a separate compartment for the iPad Air.

ipadair2ac4-800x600.jpg

The front panel of the iPad Air 2 contains a more prolonged connector on its side and contains cutouts for the Touch ID home button and FaceTime HD camera. While the panel doesn't appear to be notably different when compared to the front panel for the iPad Air, some reports have claimed that the iPad Air will have an integrated display to make way for a thinner profile. Lastly, the volume control flex cable shows the up and down volume buttons and what may be a microphone. With this layout, it is possible that Apple may be getting rid of the mute/screen rotation switch to further reduce the tablet's overall thickness.

ipadair2ac5.jpg

Apple is expected to unveil the iPad Air 2 alongside the next-generation Retina iPad mini at a media event in Cupertino, California next Thursday, October 16. Other reports have also claimed that the company will announce updated Mac Minis and updated iMacs with at least the 27-inch model carrying a high-resolution Retina display.

Update 5:26 AM: As shown by forum user primordian, enhancing the contrast on the main chip reveals it to be labeled as an A8X. Apple has traditionally used "X" versions of its main chips with enhanced graphics for its iPads, but the company abandoned that strategy with the first-generation iPad Air, opting to use a regular A7 chip with the only difference being that it was clocked slightly faster than the version found in the iPhone 5s and Retina iPad mini.

ipad_air_2_a8x.jpg


Article Link: New Images of iPad Air 2 Parts Show Touch ID Home Button Cable, Logic Board With A8X Chip, and More
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/10/11/new-images-ipad-air-2-parts/
Michaelgtrusa said:
One can never hold a secret can one?
Click to expand...

Well.. they have to go into mass production a few months before they announce and they have tens of thousands(if not, hundreds of thousands) people manufacturing and assembling them overseas - somewhere where they cannot really control leaks.

The only way now to hold a secret is if they announce a product before it goes into mass production like the Apple Watch/Mac Pro - they produce a few hundred inhouse/in the US for demo and testing then announce it then they go into mass production
 
In the time honoured mac rumours tradition, I'm going to state something obvious and of little import... This iPad is going to be the best one YET!

YEAH BABY! Gold, touch id, Apple Pay, A8, 2gb RAM, Full MIND HORN!!!!!!!!

I'm pre ordering on day one. Could this quite possibly be the best day of my life? I need to contemplate this thought for a while.
 
Hoping the screen design is improved. The distance between the LCD & the front of the iPad Air makes it look really cheap.
 
A8X to support Retina HD?

interestingly, it looks like from the spacing on the processor that there are 3 characters after the apple symbol ... and if you manipulate the image of the processor a little it looks like it is A8X.

maybe they needed to boost the GPU for a 401ppi screen?
 

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Why are people complaining about leaks? I want to know info about Apple products before they are released. Don't you too? Plus this website wouldn't exist without leaks.

Anyway, how are they supposed to manufacture 50 million iPhones or iPads or whatever without some low paid assembly line worker or overseer leaking parts to the press or enthusiasts? There will always be leaks and I'm glad of it.
 
why would they sacrifice the mute switch over thinness? there comes the point when function should be more important than a few 0.0x mm. especially with most people putting it into a bulky case anyway

next thing you know they will require their own headphones to be used because the device is too thin to handle the standard headphone jack, so stupid
 
primordian said:
interestingly, it looks like from the spacing on the processor that there are 3 characters after the apple symbol ... and if you manipulate the image of the processor a little it looks like it is A8X.

maybe they needed to boost the GPU for a 401ppi screen?
Click to expand...

I think you're right. Usually 'X' chips are metallic in color and 'A' chips are black.
 
goobot said:
That home button has a gold ring around it so i guess there will be gold iPads this year.
Click to expand...

Apple Planning to Offer iPad Air 2 with Gold Option

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mdridwan47 said:
I think you're right. Usually 'X' chips are metallic in color and 'A' chips are black.
Click to expand...

That changed with the iPad Air/A7
They clock it at higher speed than the iPhone 5s which has the same processor.

The retina iPad Mini which is not clocked at higher speed is black in colour

A7 on the iPad Air logic board clocked at higher speed:
xUGrAvI.jpg

------
A7 on the retina iPad Mini not clocked at higher speed:
w8EpMeW.jpg
 
EldonChew said:
Well.. they have to go into mass production a few months before they announce and they have tens of thousands(if not, hundreds of thousands) people manufacturing and assembling them overseas - somewhere where they cannot really control leaks.

The only way now to hold a secret is if they announce a product before it goes into mass production like the Apple Watch/Mac Pro - they produce a few hundred inhouse/in the US for demo and testing then announce it then they go into mass production
Click to expand...

Or they can do what is right and move the jobs back where they belong, but that would take some time.
 
bushido said:
why would they sacrifice the mute switch over thinness? there comes the point when function should be more important than a few 0.0x mm. especially with most people putting it into a bulky case anyway

next thing you know they will require their own headphones to be used because the device is too thin to handle the standard headphone jack, so stupid
Click to expand...

I think it says they may be doing it, and maybe for that reason. I think that's just the person writing the article guessing. I don't think the mute switch has much to do with thickness.

I never understood the mute switch on the iPad models anyway, it's hardly as relevant as on a phone. If they are doing it it may be just for further simplification and refinement of the design.
 
I think that the real reason why there is no leak about the Mac mini is because they are assembling it in the US like the Mac Pro, in order to have full control on production line.
 
lk400 said:
I never understood the mute switch on the iPad models anyway, it's hardly as relevant as on a phone. If they are doing it it may be just for further simplification and refinement of the design.
Click to expand...

I use mute switch for screen lock. And no, no software solution can replace that. Mute switch apple, or gtfo.


P.S.
Am I the only one that is really annoyed by apple lately? I mean, I own a lot of their products, and use only their products. But if they continue on this path, I will most certainly switch. Just can't replace my macs, love OSX far more than Linux :(
 
I am not at all happy if they are getting rid of the rotation lock, I use that all the time and doing it in software would be a PITA.
 
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