iPhone 4S Teardown: New Qualcomm MDM6610 Baseband Chip, 512 MB RAM Confirmed

iphone 4s teardown
iFixit has already begun a high-quality teardown of the iPhone 4S, and while a considerable number of the internal parts have already been seen in leaked parts prior to the device's launch, a more thorough look at the individual components should provide some interesting details on the device.

The teardown is still just getting underway, with iFixit's technicians having opened up the device, examined the battery and pulled out the logic board, but we'll update this post with additional information as the teardown progresses.

Items of interest:

- The baseband chip is a previously-undisclosed Qualcomm MDM6610, an apparent variation of the MDM6600 used in the CDMA iPhone 4 and other devices. It is unclear at this time what differentiates the MDM6610 from the MDM6600.

- As noted by AnandTech, the part number found on the A5 chip in iFixit's teardown confirms earlier claims that the iPhone 4S carries 512 MB of RAM.

- iFixit confirms that the iPhone 4S uses the linear oscillating vibrator motor as found in the CDMA iPhone 4 rather than the rotational motor found in the GSM iPhone 4. As seen in earlier parts images, the entire internal layout of the iPhone 4S is much more like the CDMA iPhone 4 than the GSM iPhone 4, although Apple obviously had to tweak the chip layout somewhat to squeeze the micro-SIM slot onto the logic board. One exception is the display assembly mounting tabs, which follow the GSM iPhone 4's layout rather than the CDMA version's.

- Chipworks is following along with iFixit's teardown and providing a closer look at the chips discovered inside the iPhone 4S. Many of the chips had already been found in other devices, and Chipworks publishing die photos and other details on them as the information is gathered.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

streaming black friday 2025

Black Friday Streaming Deals Include Big Savings on Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV, and More

Monday November 24, 2025 8:03 am PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
General Apps Messages Redux

Singapore Orders Changes to iMessage by December

Tuesday November 25, 2025 6:39 am PST by
Singapore has ordered Apple to block or filter messages on iMessage that impersonate government agencies, requiring the company to implement new anti-spoofing protections by December as part of efforts to curb rising online scams, the Straits Times reports. Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that it had issued an Implementation Directive to Apple under the Online Criminal Harms...
apple store down feature

Here's Why the Apple Store is Going Down

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:01 pm PST by
Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products. Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, ...
General Black Friday Deals 25 Red

Apple Black Friday Deals Available Now on AirPods, iPads, Accessories, and More

Friday November 21, 2025 8:48 am PST by
We're only a few days away from Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
General Black Friday Deals 25 Red Green

The 30+ Best Black Friday Apple Deals on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 6:46 am PST by
Black Friday is just a few hours away, and as always this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Crease-Free iPhone Fold on Track for 2026 Launch as Development Advances

Monday November 24, 2025 10:25 am PST by
Apple is making progress on the development of the book-style foldable iPhone expected in 2026, according to a report from Chinese site UDN. The device has reportedly entered the engineering validation stage, and Apple is gearing up for mass production. Citing supply chain sources, UDN says that Apple has solved "the crease problem" that has plagued most foldable smartphones, and the...

Top Rated Comments

HarryKeogh Avatar
184 months ago
My God. It's full of clouds.
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
*LTD* Avatar
184 months ago
I'm surprised Siri allowed them to undress her like that.

Whore.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
emvath Avatar
184 months ago
Where is Siri? I don't see her.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HarryKeogh Avatar
184 months ago
Live coverage, really? lol Is this really necessary?

There's a three-hour pre-show on Fox.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chupa Chupa Avatar
184 months ago
Apple stagnates development, Google ramps up. We'll see what happens.

Feels like the hardware team took a vacation while the iOS devs made Siri. Lame strategy.
That is absurd and unfounded.

1) The reality is iOS was a few more years advanced when Android was announced so Google had a lot of catch up to do. So maybe it appears Google is out engineering Apple b/c they push out updates faster, but it's only an illusion. iOS is still superior to Android even if Android had a few better features. Google also isn't that involved in actual hardware development. It's up to the hardware makers to tweak Android for many of the specs it employs in a given model.

2) Android hardware is very uneven because of its openness. Some phones can't even be upgraded at all to the latest and greatest -- even as Android proponents carp that Siri isn't included in iOS 5 for phones other than the 4S. Other phones are not compatible with many apps in the Android App store.

3) Hardware is only half of a phone. Their are plenty of beautiful Android phones, especially some of the early models, that frankly were not practical because the guts were so half-baked.

4) "Lame strategy" as you call it doesn't yield 1m pre-orders and who knows how many snaked lines at tomorrow's launch. If Android were significantly more attractive (in usability and design) -- even just one model, then it seems at least a good chunk of 4S buyers would have gone that route. I doubt all the 4S buyers are just upgrading from previous iPhones b/c the way subsidized phone upgrades are staggered.

5) Google via the Motorola purchase may catch and surpass Apple at some point in the near future but it's crass to say Apple is taking a nap or that it's resting on its laurels. Sales to a wide array of consumers just do not bear that sentiment out.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
*LTD* Avatar
184 months ago

Apple stagnates development, Google ramps up. We'll see what happens.
Apple perfects the User Experience, others just throw more specs into boxes.

What will happen is predictable: blockbuster sales and top marks in consumer satisfaction. The usual. Why? See above.

Apple does a helluva lot more with less. Again, we go right back to User Experience rules. Rule #1: never license your OS to everyone and their dog. The only truly optimized experience comes from vertical integration, the kind that Apple practices.

That is why a comparatively under-specced iPhone performs vastly better than the competition.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)