Apple’s iPad Air has a Retina Display that is more efficient than previous generations, accomplishing the same level of brightness with half as many LED lights. This info comes form a new teardown analysis from research firm IHS.
Details and estimates on the components Apple uses in the iPad Air have been shared by research firm IHS to AllThingsD, which published the information on Tuesday. IHS estimates that the total cost for Apple’s low-end, 16-gigabyte, Wi-Fi-only iPad Air is $274, which is $42 cheaper than the company’s third-generation iPad is estimated to have cost the company to build.
Some components of the iPad Air do cost more than they did in previous models. The 9.7-inch Retina display, while currently relying on only 36 LED lights for illumination, compared to 84 in the two previous generations. IHS told AllThingsD its estimates show the display and touchscreen assembly in the iPad Air now costs Apple about $133, $90 of which is for the display alone. That estimate is said to be a good deal higher than previously, indicating that Apple has managed to obtain significant savings on other components in order to reduce its overall costs.
Other points of interest from the IHS teardown: The iPad Air uses just one pane of glass, previous models used two. IHS estimated the A7 chips used in the iPad Air costs Apple $18, which would be $5 less than the A5 cost 18 months ago.
