When Apple announced the new low-cost 9.7-inch iPad, both looks and spec seemed to suggest that it was essentially an original iPad Air with minor updates, and that’s exactly what iFixit found beneath the hood when it did its usual teardown.
The company did find a few changes – but also cast some doubt on Apple’s claim that this model offers a brighter display …
So remember how we said this was similar to the first Air? We were serious—take a look inside the Air 1 and iPad 5 respectively. Not much has changed.
Externally, iFixit noted that three differences: the lack of a mechanical lock switch, smaller microphone holes and a single row of speaker holes.
Inside, the biggest difference was of course the addition of the Touch ID sensor and associated hardware.
And that screen brightness claim?
We’ve reached out to Apple for comment on this.
