iPod Touch 3rd Generation Teardown

– The new iPod Touch 3rd Generation is here and it’s looking good!

– You have three options to choose from, but the 32 GB and 64 GB versions come with a faster processor and support for OpenGL ES 2.0, so you’ll be able to enjoy smoother experiences all around.

– If you’re sticking with the 8 GB version, not much has changed. We’re pretty sure the only thing that’s different now is the price tag—it’s dropped to $199.

– Phil Schiller once said, ‘$199 is the magic price point in the iPod world.’ But hey, people still seem to be happily paying a bit more. After all, Apple has already sold 20 million iPod Touches, each for more than $199!

– So you’ve got the 32 GB version of the iPod touch. It looks the same as before, except for a shiny new model number on the back—A1318 (the second-gen touch was A1288, for the record).

– The iPod touch didn’t get as much attention as its little sibling, the new nano. Still, no camera, folks.

– For now, if you’re really craving both a touch screen and a camera, an iPhone is your only go-to. But hey, maybe that changes down the road!

– We’re almost there! While we’re getting everything ready, let’s dive into a bit of number fun.

– At $399 in the US, the 64 GB touch costs $6.23 per gigabyte. Compare that to the 160 GB iPod Classic at just $1.56 per gigabyte. Quite a difference, right?

– Four years ago, the original nano came in at $62.25 per gigabyte, while the 60 GB iPod Video of that time was priced at $6.65 per gigabyte.

– What’s interesting here is that flash storage has now reached a point similar to where hard drives were four years ago. Back in 2005, you could get a 60 GB iPod Video for $399, and today, for the same price, you can grab a 64 GB iPod Touch.

– Apple claims the new touch is up to 50% faster, so we’re curious to see how it compares to the iPhone 3GS. Time to test out that speed!

– Getting this iPod open? Well, let’s just say it wasn’t a walk in the park. iPods are getting trickier to open with each new model, and this one is no exception.

– The front glass and digitizer are a little different from the older touches. This is by far one of the most popular parts we repair on the iPod touch. We have replacements for the 1st and 2nd generation models, and we’re working on adding parts for this one as soon as we can.

– We’re in! Everything’s looking good so far. Let’s dive into the internals and tackle those chips when we can.

– Check out those silver metal retaining clips around the LCD. There are four on the right side and three on the left. Take note of their position as we move forward.

– Bonus: every iPod touch comes with its own mirror!

– A Phillips #00 screwdriver zips through the screws holding the LCD assembly in place.

– This LCD is a close cousin to the one in the 2nd gen touch, but the connector here is just a bit wider.

– Time to free the logic board! Go slow and stay cool—no rush.

– We’re skipping some of the nitty-gritty steps here, so don’t use this as your only guide to taking apart your device.

– Boom, it’s out! Now, take a look at that speaker chilling right on top of the logic board, ready to be removed.

– The battery packs a punch at 2.92 Whr, which is roughly 789 mAh.

– Once you lift out the speaker, you’ll spot the main brains of the Touch.

– Looks like Samsung’s taking center stage here.

– Check out the markings on the main ARM processor:

– Wondering if this is a new, speedier chip? The previous iPod touch (2nd gen) had ‘339S0048ARM’, while the iPhone 3GS was stamped ‘339S0073ARM.’

– Here, you’ve got: 339S0075 ARM

– Also on board: K4X2G303PE-SGC8

– YNE069AC 0928

– APL2298

– Here we have the Samsung branded NAND flash. It’s packed with two 128 gigabit packages, which adds up to 256 gigabits. Now, if you divide that by eight, you’ll end up with 32 gigabytes of MLC NAND flash.

– Flip the board over to the other side.

– Now, look closely just to the left of the ‘APPLE’ label – you’ll spot the area where the battery contacts meet the logic board.

– Here’s a side-by-side of the 8 GB 2nd gen touch logic board (on the left) and the 32 GB 3rd gen touch logic board (on the right).

– They may look almost identical, but the 3rd gen gets creative with space: its NAND flash is split between two chips, squeezing every millimeter out of the board.

– The Broadcom BCM4329FKUBG wireless chip is a pretty versatile piece of hardware. According to Broadcom, the BCM4329 supports 802.11n Wi-Fi, which is a step up from older standards. In fact, this is notable because even the iPhone 3GS, which has a BCM4325 chip, only supports 802.11 a/b/g. While we’re not sure if software updates will enable 802.11n on your device, the hardware support is definitely there. Plus, this chip packs in Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and an FM receiver and transmitter. If Apple built in the antennas and software support is added, you could potentially stream music to your car stereo without any extra gear. So, it’s a pretty capable piece of hardware with a lot of potential. If you need help with this repair, you can always schedule a repair.

– Apple left a little breathing room at the top of the device for a camera. There’s a small 6mm × 6mm × 3mm space tucked between the Broadcom chip and the wireless antenna. It’s not deep enough for an iPhone-style autofocus camera, but it’s just the right amount of space for the camera Apple used in the 5th generation iPod nano.

– Flip to the other side of the board and take a look around.

– Still craving more hardware action? Check out our breakdown of the 5th generation iPod nano.

– By the way, if your iPod touch needs a little TLC—whether it’s a tired battery or a cracked screen—Salvation Repair has you covered.