iFixit completed the much-awaited teardown of the iPad 2, with focus on major differences in the GSM and CDMA versions. Just after some hours of the public launch of iPad 2, iFixit tore it down. We also have covered the detailed comparison between iPad and iPad 2. So hopefully this comparison will also help you to differentiate the two models of iPad 2.
Interestingly, the WiFi only version of iPad was also included in the teardown lab work, in addition to the GSM and CDMA versions. Apparently, all the models looks same but if you remove the cover, then you will see a very clear difference in all three versions. Check out the image below.
iPad 2 antenna configurations: GSM (top), CDMA (middle), and Wi-Fi (bottom)
There are basically two main differences.
1. The main difference between CDMA and GSM version is the Micro-SIM card. GSM model has it attached with the antenna whereas CDMA model don’t have it. This difference is because the CDMA model don’t need to save the users’s data in the SIM. In CDMA version, the data of user is hosted on board.
2. Another difference is the CDMA model has an extra antenna like iPhone 4.
iPad 2 logic boards: Wi-Fi (top), GSM (middle), and CDMA (bottom)
Finally, the logic boards of all three models got a change as well. The most surprising here is the Qualcomm MDM6600 baseband chip on the CDMA iPad 2 board which resembles to that inside iPhone 4’s CDMA version. On the other hand, the GSM model carries Infineon chips to host the GSM connectivity. The picture above clearly shows the difference in logic boards of the three models of iPad 2.
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