iPhone 4S Teardown: New Qualcomm MDM6610 Baseband Chip, 512 MB RAM Confirmed - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

iPhone 4S Teardown: New Qualcomm MDM6610 Baseband Chip, 512 MB RAM Confirmed

iphone 4s teardown
iFixit has already begun a high-quality teardown of the iPhone 4S, and while a considerable number of the internal parts have already been seen in leaked parts prior to the device's launch, a more thorough look at the individual components should provide some interesting details on the device.

The teardown is still just getting underway, with iFixit's technicians having opened up the device, examined the battery and pulled out the logic board, but we'll update this post with additional information as the teardown progresses.

Items of interest:

- The baseband chip is a previously-undisclosed Qualcomm MDM6610, an apparent variation of the MDM6600 used in the CDMA iPhone 4 and other devices. It is unclear at this time what differentiates the MDM6610 from the MDM6600.

- As noted by AnandTech, the part number found on the A5 chip in iFixit's teardown confirms earlier claims that the iPhone 4S carries 512 MB of RAM.

- iFixit confirms that the iPhone 4S uses the linear oscillating vibrator motor as found in the CDMA iPhone 4 rather than the rotational motor found in the GSM iPhone 4. As seen in earlier parts images, the entire internal layout of the iPhone 4S is much more like the CDMA iPhone 4 than the GSM iPhone 4, although Apple obviously had to tweak the chip layout somewhat to squeeze the micro-SIM slot onto the logic board. One exception is the display assembly mounting tabs, which follow the GSM iPhone 4's layout rather than the CDMA version's.

- Chipworks is following along with iFixit's teardown and providing a closer look at the chips discovered inside the iPhone 4S. Many of the chips had already been found in other devices, and Chipworks publishing die photos and other details on them as the information is gathered.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:39 am PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system that is essentially a mix of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the operating system will feature a grid of icons, widgets, and apps, along with customizable clock faces. The new software platform is intended for Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. With built-in facial recognition,...
imac video apple feature

Apple Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever This Year

Wednesday July 29, 2026 12:03 pm PDT by
Apple this year acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019. Q.ai...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

iPhone 18 Pro: Twelve Changes Coming to Apple's Next Flagship

Thursday July 30, 2026 3:43 am PDT by
We're less than two months out from the launch of Apple's premium next-generation smartphone lineup, and while we're not expecting a dramatic change in terms of functionality, there are still several enhancements rumored to be coming to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year,...

Top Rated Comments

193 months ago
My God. It's full of clouds.
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
*LTD* Avatar
193 months ago
I'm surprised Siri allowed them to undress her like that.

Whore.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
193 months ago
Where is Siri? I don't see her.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
193 months ago
Live coverage, really? lol Is this really necessary?

There's a three-hour pre-show on Fox.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chupa Chupa Avatar
193 months ago
Apple stagnates development, Google ramps up. We'll see what happens.

Feels like the hardware team took a vacation while the iOS devs made Siri. Lame strategy.
That is absurd and unfounded.

1) The reality is iOS was a few more years advanced when Android was announced so Google had a lot of catch up to do. So maybe it appears Google is out engineering Apple b/c they push out updates faster, but it's only an illusion. iOS is still superior to Android even if Android had a few better features. Google also isn't that involved in actual hardware development. It's up to the hardware makers to tweak Android for many of the specs it employs in a given model.

2) Android hardware is very uneven because of its openness. Some phones can't even be upgraded at all to the latest and greatest -- even as Android proponents carp that Siri isn't included in iOS 5 for phones other than the 4S. Other phones are not compatible with many apps in the Android App store.

3) Hardware is only half of a phone. Their are plenty of beautiful Android phones, especially some of the early models, that frankly were not practical because the guts were so half-baked.

4) "Lame strategy" as you call it doesn't yield 1m pre-orders and who knows how many snaked lines at tomorrow's launch. If Android were significantly more attractive (in usability and design) -- even just one model, then it seems at least a good chunk of 4S buyers would have gone that route. I doubt all the 4S buyers are just upgrading from previous iPhones b/c the way subsidized phone upgrades are staggered.

5) Google via the Motorola purchase may catch and surpass Apple at some point in the near future but it's crass to say Apple is taking a nap or that it's resting on its laurels. Sales to a wide array of consumers just do not bear that sentiment out.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
*LTD* Avatar
193 months ago

Apple stagnates development, Google ramps up. We'll see what happens.
Apple perfects the User Experience, others just throw more specs into boxes.

What will happen is predictable: blockbuster sales and top marks in consumer satisfaction. The usual. Why? See above.

Apple does a helluva lot more with less. Again, we go right back to User Experience rules. Rule #1: never license your OS to everyone and their dog. The only truly optimized experience comes from vertical integration, the kind that Apple practices.

That is why a comparatively under-specced iPhone performs vastly better than the competition.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors