O'Grady's PowerPage

Category: Take Apart

  • Rumor: Apple’s twelfth-generation iPad, complete with an A19 processor, is “ready to go”

    Rumor: Apple’s twelfth-generation iPad, complete with an A19 processor, is “ready to go”

    Apple may have a twelfth-generation iPad, complete with an A19 chip with Apple Intelligence, ready to be released this year.

    Per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the updated iPad is “ready to go” and “still coming this year.”

    No other major changes have been rumored so far for the iPad 12, and it’s expected that tablet will feature the same overall design as the current model.

    Apple Intelligence is already available on all other current-generation iPad models, including the iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.

    Apple released the iPad 11 with an A16 chip in March 2025, with U.S. pricing starting at $349.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Bloomberg

  • iFixit publishes iPhone 17e teardown, cites interchangeable components, possible MagSafe upgrade path for iPhone 16e owners

    iFixit publishes iPhone 17e teardown, cites interchangeable components, possible MagSafe upgrade path for iPhone 16e owners

    The cool cats at iFixit have done it again, this time publishing a teardown of Apple’s newly released iPhone 17e, which launched last Wednesday. The new model is almost identical to the iPhone 16e in design, but it does include a MagSafe back panel that supports ‌MagSafe‌ and faster Qi charging than the iPhone 16e.

    Interestingly enough, the staff at iFixit noted that the MagSafe panel for the iPhone 17e is the same size as the panel for the 16e, and that the two feature interchangeable components. This would allow users to take a back panel from an ‌iPhone 17e‌ and put it on an iPhone 16e, adding ‌MagSafe‌ to an iPhone 16e, and would allow for a relatively easy iPhone 16e upgrade. The downside is that the iPhone 16e doesn’t feature built-in software that recognizes ‌MagSafe‌ accessories to provide animations, and it’s not yet clear if it charges at the full 15W.

    Other interesting changes include the fact that Apple provided day one panels for the iPhone 17e, and the battery can be swapped off without having to remove the display, even though a considerable amount of adhesive still needs to be removed. The ‌iPhone 17e‌ continues to use adhesive for the battery that can be removed with an electrical pulse, which makes battery replacements simpler.

    Other notable changes between the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 17e include the fact that the iPhone 17e uses an A19 System on Chip, which replaces the A18. Apple also swapped out the C1 modem for the new, faster C1X modem, and there’s more starting internal storage at 256 GB. A number of components are also interchangable between the two models, including the logic board, which can be installed into an iPhone 17e chassis with almost no issues registering parts. The TrueDepth camera for Face ID didn’t work when swapped from iPhone to iPhone.

    Although iFixit generally liked the enhanced repairability of the iPhone 17e model, it noted that the USB-C port was too buried behind components, which will make DIY repairs daunting for people. Apple fixed the USB-C accessibility issue in its main flagship models, but has not made the port easier to get to in the “e” models. The company awarded the iPhone 17e a provisional repairability score of 7 out of 10.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and iFixit

  • Apple announces AirPods Max 2 headphones with H2 chip, other new features

    Apple announces AirPods Max 2 headphones with H2 chip, other new features

    If you’re a fan of headphones, you’re going to like this.

    Apple on Monday unveled its AirPods Max 2 headphones, which boas the following new features along with the inclusion of the company’s H2 chip:

    • Adaptive Audio adjusts the levels of ANC and Transparency in response to the environment automatically to optimize the audio experience.
    • Conversation Awareness helps lower content volume and reduce background noise when a user starts speaking to someone nearby.
    • Live Translation, powered by Apple Intelligence, helps users communicate across languages in person.
    • Voice Isolation uses advanced computational audio powered by H2 to prioritize the voice during calls, while blocking out ambient noise.
    • AirPods Max 2 also support Personalized Volume, which adjusts the volume based on a combination of your surroundings and your volume preferences.

    With the H2 chip, Apple says the AirPods Max 2 deliver up to 1.5× more effective active noise cancellation than the previous generation, and it promised that the Transparency mode that lets in some ambient noise sounds even more natural.

    The new headphones continue to feature a USB-C port for charging and lossless audio, and Apple has advertised 20 hours of battery life on a single charge with active noise cancellation enabled, which is unchanged compared to the previous generation.

    Similar to the previous AirPods Max headphones, the AirPods Max 2 support 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio with the included USB-C cable, for the highest-quality wired playback. For wireless connectivity, AirPods Max 2 support Bluetooth 5.3, whereas the previous AirPods Max support Bluetooth 5.0. Once again, the available options for the unit remain Midnight, Starlight, Orange, Purple, and Blue.

    The AirPods Max 2 will become available to order on the Apple website and in the Apple Store app as of Wednesday, March 25, in the U.S. and 30 other countries, and will launch to other regions on an unspecified day in early April. The units will retail for the same $549 price point as the previous generation, which Apple has stopped selling.

    Finally, the AirPods Max 2 come with a Smart Case, which has the same design as it always has. The headphones enter an ultra-low-power state when placed in this carrying case, which is fairly important, as the headphones still lack a power button.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Apple

  • Additional iPhone Fold tech details leak, possible RAM configuration, storage, and pricing tiers noted

    Additional iPhone Fold tech details leak, possible RAM configuration, storage, and pricing tiers noted

    The rumors are flying about Apple’s foldable iPhone, and some interesting tidbits came out yesterday.

    Per a new report at The Bell, the iPhone Fold will have the same 12GB of RAM as Apple’s Pro models, including iPhone 17 Pro. Samsung is reportedly the supplier of Apple’s 12GB LPDDR5X RAM order. Once again, leaker Instant Digital has stepped forward, claiming the iPhone Fold will be available in the following storage tiers:

    • 256GB
    • 512GB
    • 1TB

    Unlike the iPhone 17 Pro Max, no 2TB option seems to be offered.

    Instant Digital also outlined its expected pricing for each model, citing prices of 15,999, 17,999, and 19,999 yuan, which would align with the following likely US prices:

    • $1,999 for 256GB
    • $2,199 for 512GB
    • $2,399 for 1TB

    These price points represent a significant leap over the most expensive iPhone models sold today, and the iPhone Fold could retail between $2,000 and $2,400, depending on the configuration.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac, The Bell, and Macworld

  • First MacBook Neo teardown video posted, indicates modular layout, next to no adhesive, and easy repair

    First MacBook Neo teardown video posted, indicates modular layout, next to no adhesive, and easy repair

    The MacBook Neo has arrived and the very first teardown videos of the new notebook have gone live.

    Per MacRumors, a teardown of the unit by Australian YouTube repair channel TECH RE-NU reveals what may be the most modular and repair-friendly Mac laptop in recent times.

    The YouTuber disassembles the Neo in six minutes using standard Torx T3, T5, and T8 drivers, the video showing a clean cable routing design. In order to open the aluminum casing, eight bottom screws are loosened, similar to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Once inside, a tiny motherboard is removed, the board itself surrounded by a stripped-down internal layout with minimal parts and no hinge covers.

    The battery itself is secured by no less than 18 screws and lifts straight out with no stretch-release adhesive tabs or sticky glue to remove. The teardown itself featured zero tape throughout the entire disassembly, which is a first for a modern Mac.

    Inside the case, the two USB-C ports, speakers, and headphone jack are all modular components, so individual components can be swapped out without having to replace larger assemblies. The speakers are connected by four screws each with no adhesive, and the only adhesive found in the machine was a small amount on the trackpad, where a cable connects it to the mainboard.

    While Tech Re-Nu doesn’t completely disassemble the MacBook Neo, it’s indicated that it’s possible to remove the keyboard for repair without having to replace the entire top case, which should come as a welcome relief to veteran Mac techs.

    Please let us know what you think of the MacBook Neo in the comments and stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and TECH RE-NU