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Video Overview

Step 1 iPhone 5c Teardown

• With an array of colors to choose from (White, Blue, Pink, Green, and Yellow), we decided upon blue.

• What makes the iPhone 5c different from the iPhone 5s? We're bent on finding out. For starters, the rear case is composed of plastic—looks like our work here is done…

• Technical Specs include:

• Apple A6 system on a chip (SoC)

• 4-inch Retina display with 326 ppi

• 8 megapixel iSight camera

• 4G LTE connectivity

• 16 or 32 GB Storage

Step 2

• So what does the "c" really stand for? We've already identified a major difference in "color," but we aren't ready to close the book on this mystery, just yet!

• As promised, every port, button, and slider has had its metal swapped out for plastic.

• "Cheaper," per chance?

• Not only are these parts made of plastic, they also look a lot more…"childish."

• The volume buttons are considerably larger, and the 10-hole microphone grille and 16-hole speaker grille have been replaced with 1- and 4-hole grilles, respectively.

Step 3

• These super tiny Pentalobe screws are slightly different than the ones we found in the iPhone 5 and 5s.

• Here's how the Pentalobe screws compare in size to an Australian coin of undetermined value.

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Step 4

• The front panel assembly is dispatched using a small suction cup. Despite the plastic backing, the display assembly of the 5c fits just as snug as the 5s and 5.

• We are beginning to wonder if the "c" stands for "copycat".

• Though it may look like we are performing painful dental procedures on a Smurf, we assure you that removing the 5c screws is as quick and painless as Novocain.

Step 5

• Removing the battery requires the assistance of our iOpener, a departure from the easy battery replacements of yester-year.

• After a few minutes of heat and some diligent spudgering, we leave our iPhone 5c black and blue in a pile of pieces.

• Fear not, despite the new adhesive strips (also seen in the 5s), battery replacement is very much the same process as it was in the 5.

Step 6

• Checkpoint reached—battery released!

• Though the 5c is essentially a repackaged iPhone 5 (in colored plastic, in case that hadn't been made apparent, yet), the battery has been beefed up a bit, clocking in at 3.8 V—5.73 Wh—1510 mAh, compared to the 3.8 V—5.45 Wh—1440 mAh battery of the iPhone 5.

• Hopefully, this will address some issues with battery life brought about by the iOS 7 update.

• Larger battery…Hmmm, could the "c" stand for battery "capacity?" It's a theory; it's probably wrong.

Step 7

• As we go to remove the antenna connectors with our trusty spudger, we notice something we haven't seen in any recent iPhone: adhered connectors.

• In case our years of teardown tirades were too subtle, we'll reiterate: we strongly dislike glue.

• On a scale from 1 to taking selfies with an iPad, strongly adhered devices rank right up there with proprietary screws and people who don't appreciate cheesy puns.

• Annoying adhesive aside, we get to removing the logic board from our little blue iFriend.

Step 8

• Front side of the logic board:

• Apple A6 APL0598 application processor

• Qualcomm MDM9615M LTE Modem

• Qualcomm WTR1605L LTE/HSPA+/CDMA2K/TDSCDMA/EDGE/GPS transceiver.

• While it's not as flashy as its newer counterpart, we have to admit a certain fondness for the A6.

• The iPhone 5c contains Elpida B8164B3PM-1D-F 8 Gb (1 GB) DDR2 RAM under the A6 system-on-a-chip.

Step 9

The back of the logic board:

• Toshiba THGBX2G7B2JLA01 128 Gb (16 GB) NAND flash

• Apple 338S1164

• Apple 338S1116 Cirrus Audio Codec

• Qualcomm PM8018 RF power management IC

• Broadcom BCM5976 touchscreen controller

• Murata 339S0209 (based on the Broadcom BCM4334) Wi-Fi module.

Step 10

Backside of the logic board continued:

• Skyworks 77810-12

• Skyworks 773550-10

• Avago A790720

• TriQuint TQM6M6224

• Avago A7900

Step 11

• Since we have both of the new iPhones on the table, we'll take a little comparison tour:

• Interestingly enough, the 5s (on the right) sports a slightly lighter display assembly, despite the addition of a fingerprint sensor and luxurious sapphire home button.

• The 5c's 1510 mAh battery is just a hair slimmer than the 1560 mAh battery of the 5s.

• We've been wondering if there's any chance of cross-compatibility of display assemblies between the 5c and 5s.

• We are sorry to crush any hopes and dreams, but in the mean time, our Googling has revealed the answer to a question that has been haunting us for weeks.

• Alas, the FaceTime/speaker connectors are different sizes, killing hope of that plan.

Step 12

• Flip you for it! Tails or rear-facing camera?

• Comparing the cameras on the iPhone 5c (left) and 5s (right), we see little difference between the two. The one difference between the 8 MP rear-facing cameras is the aperture. The 5c boasts an aperture of f/2.4 compared to the f/2.2 of the 5s.

• Additionally, the vibrator motor assembly in the 5c is actually slightly larger than that of the 5s, despite its similar component design.

Step 13

• You've seen the internals, but a new question remains…Will it bend?

• We may not have super strength, but we put this case to the muscle test, anyway. The results: this lacquered plastic is as strong and blue as Captain Planet.

• It's good to know that, though the rear panel is made with plastic to presumably cut costs, Apple did not compromise build quality in the process.

• Next we rip out the 5c's still-beating heart ports.

• Much like internal organs, these ports are connected, so there is no easy way to get at just one of them.

• Continuing this analogy, our ideal person, much like our ideal device, would be modular like this (work safe, we promise).

Step 14

• All we're left with is a serious case of the blues.

• Standing next to its sibling, iPhone 5s, the colorful 5c case looks very similar in structure.

• The most noticeable difference is (unsurprisingly) the material.

• The less visibly noticeable difference is weight: A greater mass of plastic is required to match the strength and durability of a lesser mass of aluminum. The 5c rear case is way heavier: 43.8 g vs 25.9 g for the 5s.

• Nestled within the polycarbonate backing, is a steel frame that serves as an antenna and structural support.

• As we approach the end of our teardown, we think we have solved the mystery of iPhone naming convention: and here it is.

Step 15

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• Just like in the iPhone 5, the display assembly is the first component out of the phone, simplifying screen replacements.

• The battery is still fairly easy to access, even though it's not technically "user replaceable."

• Adhesive on the antenna connectors hinder disassembly.

• The battery has lost the 5's convenient pull tab, and gained more resilient adhesive—it now requires heat and prying to remove.

• The iPhone 5c still uses Pentalobe screws on the exterior, making the 5c difficult to open.

• The front glass, digitizer, and LCD are all one component, thereby increasing cost of repair.

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