More actions
This article is a stub. You can help Repair Wiki grow by expanding it
| IPad Wifi IC Compatibility and Replacement Guide | |
|---|---|
| Device | |
| Affects part(s) | |
| Needs equipment | |
| Difficulty | |
| Type | |
Problem description
Many technicians encounter “No Wi-Fi”, grayed-out Wi-Fi toggle, or Wi-Fi IC overheat/no detection on iPads.
However, confusion often arises when sourcing replacement Wi-Fi ICs, because Wi-Fi-only and Cellular iPad logic boards use different Wi-Fi ICs — and they are not cross-compatible.
Installing the wrong variant will cause the Wi-Fi module to fail initialization, resulting in no Wi-Fi detection, no MAC address.
Symptoms
- Wi-Fi toggle grayed out in settings.
- Wi-Fi MAC address missing in “About” section.
- Board heating around Wi-Fi IC area.
- Replacing with an IC from another variant (e.g., from Wi-Fi model to Cellular model) results in no detection.
Solution
Identify the correct Wi-Fi IC part number for the specific iPad model and variant (Wi-Fi or Cellular).
Always use the exact same IC model from a donor board of the same type.
Wi-Fi and Cellular iPads differ in the Wi-Fi/BT combo chip, RF routing, and antenna matching network, even when the logic board layout looks identical.
NOTE: When replacing the WiFi IC, ensure the new IC has the exact same part number as the original. Mismatched WiFi IC numbers are not cross-compatible and will result in no WiFi functionality.
| iPad Model | Board Type | Wi-Fi IC Chip ID | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPad 6 (WiFi) | A1893 | 339S00446 | |
| iPad 6 (WiFi + Cellular) | A1954 | 339S00445 | |
| iPad 7 (WiFi) | A2197 | 339S00448 | |
| iPad 7 (WiFi + Cellular) | A2200, A2198 | 339S00445 | |
| iPad 8 (WiFi) | A2270 | 339S00448 | |
| iPad 8 (WiFi + Cellular) | A2428, A2429 (Global), A2430 (China) | 339S00445 | |
| iPad 9 (WiFi) | A2603, A2604 | 339S00448 | |
| iPad 9 (WiFI + Cellular) | 339S00445 | ||
| iPad Pro 10.5 (WiFi) | |||
| iPad Pro 10.5 (WiFi + Cellular) | |||
| iPad Pro 11" 1st Gen (WiFi) | |||
| iPad Pro 11" 1st Gen (WiFi + Cellular) |
Diagnostic Steps
- Confirm Variant
- Check back housing model (A****).
- Cross-reference with Wi-Fi or Cellular variant.
- Check Wi-Fi IC Reference
- Use ZXW or BoardView to locate the Wi-Fi module part number.
- Identify whether it’s 339S0058 (Wi-Fi) or 339S0059 (Cellular) etc.
- Resistance / Power Test
- Measure power rails next to Wi-Fi IC.
- If shorted, isolate Wi-Fi IC.
Repair Steps
- Disconnect battery and shield around Wi-Fi module.
- Preheat board.
- Use hot air to lift Wi-Fi IC carefully.
- Clean pads, check for lifted traces.
- Replace with correct Wi-Fi IC.
- Reassemble and test Wi-Fi detection.