iPad 2 Smart Cover Teardown Reveals 21 Magnets
Noted teardown firm iFixit reported today that it has performed a teardown of the Apple's highly-publicized Smart Cover for the iPad 2, revealing a plethora of magnets inside the device to keep it aligned on the surface of the iPad and to turn the iPad on and off.
There are a total of THIRTY ONE magnets within the iPad 2 and Smart Cover: 10 magnets in the iPad 2, and a whopping 21 magnets inside the Smart Cover. They're the reason why the cover works so well with the iPad 2.
Long, thin magnets are embedded in the sides of the iPad in order to hold the Smart Cover firmly in place on the left side and keep the cover closed on the right side.
iPad 2 sleep sensor (red) and magnets for keeping cover closed (yellow)
A single round magnet in the rightmost panel of the Smart Cover interacts with a sleep sensor embedded in the right edge of the iPad to turn the iPad on and off as the cover is opened and closed.
Steel plate (red) and 15 magnets (yellow) interact to stabilize stand
The Smart Cover is broken into four panels to allow it to fold into a triangular shape to serve as a stand. A total of 15 magnets in the rightmost panel of the cover are used to bond to a steel plate in the leftmost panel to stabilize the stand.
Apple offers polyurethane Smart Covers in five colors priced at $39 each, with leather covers also available in an additional five colors for $69 each.
Top Rated Comments
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16 months ago
Im concerned that this cover wont provide protection for the backside of my iPad.. leaving it open for scratches and scuffs.. Any thoughts on this?
16 months ago
Im concerned that this cover wont provide protection for the backside of my iPad.. leaving it open for scratches and scuffs.. Any thoughts on this?
Really? The 31 other threads about this weren't enough.
16 months ago
Since it's only magnets and we can see their location, I would love to see a 3rd party manufacturer come up with a case (not cover) using this. The case for my iPad has been extremely helpful on the 2 occasions it has fallen - thankfully from a low height. The cover would have done nothing to keep it from getting dings or scratches. A case that would also put it to sleep and wake it up would be really cool.
16 months ago
Gotta admire all the work they have put into this. Still that many magnets is crazy. now we know why they cost so much!
16 months ago
I really like my cover a lot. Its so nifty and functional. Its a little overpriced (particularly the leather one), but I love it.
16 months ago
Well, at least there is something there to justify the cost. Makes the 29$ they are charging for the bumper look even more silly.
16 months ago
Nifty cover. I love how much thought seems to have gone into this.
However, I think I'd want a full case cover over just the screen. But still cool.
However, I think I'd want a full case cover over just the screen. But still cool.
16 months ago
So does this mean that apple may be building a case for the phone just like they did for the Ipad right from beginning to end?
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