• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Electrical Engineering News and Products

Electronics Engineering Resources, Articles, Forums, Tear Down Videos and Technical Electronics How-To's

  • Products / Components
    • Analog ICs
    • Connectors
    • Microcontrollers
    • Power Electronics
    • Sensors
    • Test and Measurement
    • Wire / Cable
  • Applications
    • Automotive
    • Industrial
    • IoT
    • Medical
    • Telecommunications
    • Wearables
    • Wireless
  • Resources
    • Covid-19
    • DesignFast
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • EE Forums
      • EDABoard.com
      • Electro-Tech-Online.com
    • FAQs
    • 2020 LEAP Awards
    • Oscilloscope Product Finder
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • Videos
    • Teardown Videos
  • Lee’s Teardowns
    • Teardown Videos
  • Learning Center
  • 5G
  • Women in Engineering

Teardown — An oldie but still useful: The iPhone 6

August 24, 2020 By Lee Teschler

Approaching the launch of the iPhone 12, we look at the internals of an old iPhone widely repurposed today as webcams, security cameras, and iPods.

As we write this, the new lineup of iPhone releases expected this fall is said to include models able to work at 5G speeds as well as a new case design and a new processor manufactured by TSMC in Taiwan. Meanwhile, the world is filled with older iPhones. It is not uncommon for these still-useful devices to be repurposed as security cameras or webcams, as iPods, and as TV remotes and gaming devices. There are also instructions online for “jailbreaking” old iPhones–installing unauthorized third-party software, and so doing, lifting many restrictions imposed by Apple that pertain to apps not obtained from the App Store. Hackers released a full jailbreak for iOS 12.4 (and a partial one for 12.4.1) in August 2019.

iphone clamshell view

Top, the two screws and their mating tabs that hold the case together. Removing them allows the two halves of the phone to come apart, bottom.

For those with a mind to repurpose an iPhone 6, here’s a teardown and an overview of the technology in your hand.

This particular iPhone 6 is called the model A1549. This is one of six different iPhone 6 model numbers. The model numbers pertain to the phones’ compatibility with specific telecommunication standards. There is a GSM and CDMA version of the A1549. In that our phone was used in the U.S., it is almost certainly a CDMA version.
Disassembly starts by removing two screws at the base of the phone. They are what are called Pentalobe screws and require a Pentalobe screwdriver. With the two screws out, the front and back of the phone come apart relatively easily.

A single flex cable connects the two halves of the phone. The cable sits in the vicinity of the front and back cameras.

back camera

With the flex cable between the front and back removed, we removed the clip for the back camera, top, and then flipped the back camera away from its mount, bottom.

iphone screen connections

A metal plate, top left, mounts behind the iPhone touch screen. It holds a flex cable that goes to the home button which doubles as the touch ID fingerprint sensor. In the closeup shot of the button assembly, bottom, a super-tiny 10-pin connector and a network of five SMD resistors — probably employed in the touch ID function — is visible.

 

pcb in iphone

The main PCB as it resides in the iPhone next to the Li-polymer battery. Also visible are the speaker and camera assemblies. Click to enlarge.

iPhone backside PCB

And here’s the back of the PCB. We weren’t sure about one chip….it seems to be an op amp. Click image to enlarge.

iPhone PCB front view

The front of the PCB minus its RF shields and SIM card shell. Click image to enlarge.

Filed Under: Featured, Microcontroller Tips, Teardowns

Primary Sidebar

EE Training Center Classrooms

“ee

“ee

“ee

“ee

Featured Resources

  • NEW! EE World Online Learning Center
  • CUI Devices – CUI Insights Blog
  • EE Classroom: Power Delivery
  • EE Classroom: Building Automation
  • EE Classroom: Aerospace & Defense
  • EE Classroom: Grid Infrastructure

Autonomous & Connected Vehicles 2019


RSS Current EDABoard.com discussions

  • Why will at low temperature Corner point Analysis( in cadence Virtuoso) fails?
  • 32kW peak power in inrush NTC
  • How to include a modification in a PIC dev board with PIC16F877A for OVP ?
  • Whate happening if connected DC Reactor to braking resistor ?!?
  • 2kW Step-down PWM converter for high voltage dc-BUS

RSS Current Electro-Tech-Online.com Discussions

  • Touch circuit sound, led. 555 timer
  • Array of pointers to 16 series port SFRs.
  • Automotive 6 Volt Generator Transistor Voltage Regulator
  • Random noise generator calibration
  • Neon sign transformers for Tesla coil

Oscilloscopes Product Finder

Follow EE World on Twitter

Tweets by @EEWorldOnline

Footer

EE World Online

EE WORLD ONLINE NETWORK

  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Analog IC Tips
  • Connector Tips
  • Engineer's Garage
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips
  • Wire & Cable Tips
  • 5G Technology World

EE WORLD ONLINE

  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Lee's teardown videos
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
  • About Us
Follow us on TwitterAdd us on FacebookFollow us on YouTube Add us on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Privacy Policy