All articles tagged with #teardown
Roku uses a distinctive purple fabric tag on its remotes as a branding and origin indicator, a design the USPTO recognized in 2015. The tag isn’t functional but helps identify genuine remotes; it can be removed, though doing so may require disassembly and could damage the device or void the warranty. If removal seems risky, replacement remotes are available.
A teardown of 10Gbit SFP+ adapters shows they run hot (idle around 40°C) and can dissipate up to about 2.5W. The module houses a Marvell Alaska X 88X3310/40P PHY with a metal heatsink attached to the enclosure and an 8051-based MCU that flags the module as a 30 m multimode fiber type for compatibility. Newer Wiitek-branded modules use a newer chipset and run cooler. The takeaway is to ensure adequate airflow or use the appropriate fiber type to avoid heat-induced frame drops; older modules may discolor and stress thermally, suggesting single-mode fiber as a cooler, practical alternative.
iFixit’s teardown confirms the Trump Mobile T1 is essentially an HTC U24 Pro with cosmetic changes, debunking the claim it’s designed and built in the U.S.; final assembly occurs in Miami, but most components appear sourced from outside the U.S., highlighting the hurdles to fully domestic smartphone production.
iFixit’s teardown shows Trump Mobile’s T1 is effectively a rebranded HTC U24 Pro, with only cosmetic changes to differentiate it; the two share the same 6.8-inch display and mainboard, and even the same camera layout, with the T1 swapping in a different memory package and a larger 19.35Wh battery but a slower 30W charger versus the U24 Pro’s 17.23Wh battery and 60W charger. Pricing places the T1 at $499 as an “introductory” tag while the U24 Pro commonly sells around $470–$557, suggesting reduced hardware costs and a branding stance that may be more marketing than reality than patriotic claims.
A teardown of LEGO’s 2026 Smart Brick reveals a tightly sealed 2×4 brick packed with NFC, Bluetooth, LEDs, a microphone, and what appears to be a custom ASIC. The device houses an EM Microelectronics EM9305 BLE SoC and a 16 Mb SPI flash, with the main ASIC (DA000001-04) remaining enigmatic due to flip-chip packaging. Access requires destructive opening, and the built-in Li‑ion battery raises repairability/regulation questions in light of EU rules. Firmware analysis and open-source tooling are already advancing the reverse‑engineering effort.
Macworld highlights a TECH RE-NU teardown of the MacBook Neo, praising its modular construction, minimal use of adhesive, and easy removal of components like the battery and speakers, calling it “absolutely amazing” for repairability and suggesting it could influence Apple’s future designs and set new standards for accessible hardware.
Tech Re-Nu's teardown of the $599 MacBook Neo reveals a surprisingly repairable design: modular components, a glue-free battery secured by 18 screws, zero tape, standard Torx screws, and a keyboard that can be removed for repair, signaling one of Apple’s most repair-friendly laptops in years.
Hackaday walks through a die-shot teardown of the Apple AirTag 2, exposing the device’s silicon stack: a Nordic nRF52840 Bluetooth SoC, a large UWB chip assembly with a visible die for precise localization via an antenna network and time-of-flight, plus a Bosch accelerometer and an SPI memory. The article explains how the UWB system uses multiple antennas for localization and notes that the speaker, tucked deep inside, can be disabled non-destructively, though the process is non-trivial.
A Walmart-branded keychain camera marketed as 'FULL HD' and '14MP' actually produces only 640 x 480 images due to its low-quality sensor, and a teardown revealed the device's true capabilities, highlighting issues with false advertising in cheap electronics.
The new PlayStation 5 Pro CFI-7121 model offers improved power efficiency (2-3%), runs cooler, and is quieter than the original, with minor hardware changes like a lighter heatsink and different fan. The DualSense controller saw minimal updates, mainly removing the back microphone to reduce costs. Overall, these small upgrades enhance performance without significant changes or cost increases.
The Pixel Watch 4 is designed to be easily repairable, with simple access requiring only a few screwdriver bits, and no adhesive sealing the components. iFixit has provided a detailed teardown and repair manual, giving it a high repairability score of 9 out of 10, and Google has released official repair manuals for the device and other products.
iFixit’s teardown of Meta’s Ray-Ban Display glasses reveals advanced geometric waveguide technology using Schott and Lumus innovations, enabling a floating display, though the glasses are not highly repairable and have a dorky appearance.
iFixit has analyzed Meta's Ray-Ban Display glasses, revealing that the key innovation lies in the advanced glass lenses using a reflective geometric waveguide system, which enhances privacy and display quality, though the glass is expensive and makes repairs difficult. The tech inside isn't as groundbreaking as the glassmaking itself.
iFixit investigated reports of scratches on the iPhone 17 Pro's camera area, attributing the damage to sharp edges on the anodized aluminum bump that could have been mitigated with a more gradual curve, and noted that the design makes the camera plateau prone to damage without a case. They also praised the battery repairability but criticized the need to remove the screen for most repairs.
iFixit’s teardown of the iPhone 17 Pro reveals a new vapor chamber cooling system, a removable battery tray, and confirms the scratch-prone issue known as scratchgate, with the device scoring 7/10 for repairability due to design choices like the front-only access and non-dual-entry design.