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iPad Mini 5 Teardown: A12 Bionic Processor With 3GB of RAM, Bluetooth 5, True Tone Sensors, and Same Battery Capacity

Tuesday April 2, 2019 3:41 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
iFixit today shared a teardown of the new iPad mini, confirming specs and providing some additional details about the component parts of Apple's smallest fifth-generation tablet, which is compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil.


iFixit notes that the only exterior clue that distinguishes the new iPad mini from the earlier model is its model number, A2133, and the removal of regulatory markings on the back, which can now be found in software.

Inside, the new mini has an 8-megapixel rear camera and inherits the 7-megapixel ƒ/2.2 front-facing camera setup that first appeared in the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, offering a big step up from the 1.2-megapixel sensor in the ‌iPad‌ mini 4.

Other changes in evidence include a faster A12 Bionic processor, 3GB of RAM (up from 2GB), True Tone sensors, a migrated set of microphones now centered near the front-facing camera, and a different battery type in the iPad mini 5, although its 19.32 Wh rating matches that offered by the previous ‌iPad‌ mini.

Like the iPad Air (iFixit teardown due tomorrow), the ‌iPad‌ mini features two speakers for stereo sound, dual microphones, Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi 802.11ac, Gigabit class LTE on cellular models, and eSIM technology.

While many components are modular and can be replaced independently, iFixit notes that gobs of adhesive hold many parts and cables in place, including the Home button, complicating all repairs. Replacing the battery is also said to be possible, but still unnecessarily difficult. As a result, ‌iPad‌ mini earns an iFixit repairability score of 2/10.

Related Roundup: iPad mini 5
Tag: iFixit
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Neutral)
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Relentless Power
7 months ago
The Mini 5 was a decent refresh. Not just with the fact they added Apple Pencil support, but I was pleasantly surprised they used the A12 bionic in the mini, and True tone is also a nice addition.
Rating: 23 Votes
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Arran
7 months ago

Sorry to hear about all that adhesive that they used.

Glue doesn’t bother me anymore. It serves its purpose well and doesn’t affect everyday use.

I’ve never needed to disassemble any of my iPads. I don’t know anyone in real life who has.
Rating: 11 Votes
Avatar
cerberusss
7 months ago

Why are you so opposed to Face ID?


My problem is that I'm so ugly, that Face ID won't work. So I'm personally holding out for FingerID. It's like FaceID, but you gotta give your iPad the finger and it'll unlock.
Rating: 10 Votes
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Rafterman
7 months ago

Why couldn’t they make this Apple Pencil 2 capable?


No way to charge it, as the Mini does not have a flat side to magnetically attach the pencil on.
Rating: 8 Votes
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obiwan
7 months ago
I'm pretty pleased with this iPad mini refresh. Apple had sense not (or was too lazy) to start screwing around with the design by removing headphone jacks and adding expensive and unnecessary FaceID features etc. They kept what works and gave it an upgrade where it needed it most (the internals). I now have a fairly reasonable upgrade path for my iPhone 6S when it dies. I don't want or need Face ID and I do need the headphone jack. Apple have screwed over users like me with the direction they've been taking with the iPhone and price increases. I'll use an iPad mini instead.
Rating: 8 Votes
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keysofanxiety
7 months ago

I'm pretty pleased with this iPad mini refresh. Apple had sense not (or was too lazy) to start screwing around with the design by removing headphone jacks and adding expensive and unnecessary FaceID features etc. They kept what works and gave it an upgrade where it needed it most (the internals). I now have a fairly reasonable upgrade path for my iPhone 6S when it dies. I don't want or need Face ID and I do need the headphone jack. Apple have screwed over users like me with the direction they've been taking with the iPhone and price increases. I'll use an iPad mini instead.


Why are you so opposed to Face ID? You could literally drop from the ceiling into a sea of droids and say "Hello there!" while looking at your phone and it'll unlock.

Or you could remove your hood while saying "Hello there" and it'll unlock. In fact, saying "Hello there" isn't even necessary!
Rating: 8 Votes
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makitango
7 months ago
Had it in use for several days now and did, amongst other things, play the Tropico ported game which is a fleshed-out port and it did not even warm up the device, and after maybe 2 hours I still had more than 85 % battery power.
I am more than happy with what it offers. It will be a nice travel companion as well.
Rating: 7 Votes
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yngrshr
7 months ago
I bought the Mini 5 the other day to just try it out (I figured I could return it if it didn't do anything for me since I already have a 2018 12.9" Pro) to use as a magazine/news paper reader.

It's a phenomenal device. I'm shocked how good it is, frankly.
Rating: 7 Votes
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[AUT] Thomas
7 months ago
Ordered mine immedetially after launch. Got it yesterday. Would have appreciated USB-C and 4-speaker setup, but I'm happy Apple opted for less change. The mini doesn't need a makeover. Really appreciate the dimensions and weight as well as TouchID.

Not sure why you are against FaceID so much. Is it because of price?

I'm against FaceID, because it doesn't work for me on a tablet. It often lies flat on the table and I don't want to lift it up every time or arrange my face over it. Let alone using it landscape and covering the camera. FaceID is nice -as supplement to TouchID, but not as a replacement. It's NOT better. It's different. Both have their use cases. Something that Apple yet needs to comprehend.

I think the Mini 5 is a fabulous refresh! The screen might be better off edge-to-edge, but for the most part, they got everything else right. Way to go, Apple!

I still have my iPad Pro 11" (selling now) that looks real nice, but imho it's a real pain to handle. Tablets NEED bezels to be able to get a firm grip on the device. I can securely handle the mini with one hand thanks to enough space to rest the thumb.
Sorry if I'm old school here, but a tablet is a tool for me -and form follows function is more important than having fancy slim bezels and rounded corners.

Doss anyone know if the Lightning port is USB3 or 2? Everymac rates the Mini 5 as USB3. Txs.

AFAIK the lightning port is USB3.0 -but the cables are NOT. Has been like that for a while. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/11/apple-sneaks-a-usb-3-0-compatible-lightning-port-into-the-ipad-pro/
Logic? Ask Tim.

So, what Apple devices have forcetouch?
It seems to have skipped the iPad line. I'm assuming only the XS and 8 series phones?

The larger the screen the more difficult to implement ForceTouch. It also seems to be quite expensive.
Rating: 6 Votes
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G5isAlive
7 months ago
wow, a two. that's better than a zero. they must be warming up to Apple.
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The Mini 5 was a decent refresh. Not just with the fact they added Apple Pencil support, but I was pleasantly surprised they used the A12 bionic in the mini, and True tone is also a nice addition.


Yep, and people will still complain about what it is not... I guess for those that like it we are lucky it hit our requirements. otherwise to satisfy most they would need at least three different versions of the mini, a return to low power and cheap, this one, and a 'Pro' with promotion, faceID and gen 2 pencil support.
Rating: 5 Votes

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