HomePod Deconstruction

Quick Facts

• Model: A1639 [1, step 3], FCC ID BCG-A1639 [4]
• Announced: June 5, 2017 [6]
• In stores: February 9, 2018, at $349 in the US [7]
• Size: 172 mm (6.8 inches) high, 142 mm (5.6 inches) wide, 2.5 kg (5.5 pounds) [5]
• Colors: White and Space Gray [5]; the model shows white
• Chip: Apple A8 [6] [1, step 11]
• Speakers: A high-excursion woofer with a custom amplifier and seven horn-loaded tweeters, each with its own custom amplifier [5]
• Microphones: A six-microphone array for far-field Siri plus an internal low-frequency calibration microphone [5]
• Wireless: 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO and Bluetooth 5.0 [5]
• Power: 100 to 240 V AC, 50 to 60 Hz, 1 A, with no rechargeable battery [4, section 8.1]
• Repairability: 1 out of 10 from iFixit [1, step 20]

How It Fits Together

iFixit's teardown went in from the bottom. It heat-gunned the foot off, cut through the mesh, and finally sawed the woofer free [1, steps 5 to 12]. A later iFixit guide works from the top instead: it lifts off the touch cover, unwinds the mesh drawstrings, and removes one layer at a time, finishing with the main ribbon cable [2, steps 1 to 24].

The explode animation follows that guide in reverse. The main housing stays put and turns translucent, the parts the guide removes last sit closest to it, and the top cover ends up highest. The mesh and the inner sleeve slide out to the sides. Only the access plate and the foot come off the bottom, as they did in the teardown [1, steps 5 and 6].

Power moves between the stacked boards on conductive screw posts, which iFixit credits with keeping the cabling simple [1, steps 14, 17 and 20].

Components

Each entry gives what the sources say, what is unknown for uncertain parts, and how the part is drawn. Select a part name to highlight it in the model.

Outer layers

• 3D acoustic mesh Documented

  Known: A seamless 3D acoustic mesh wraps the body. iFixit says Apple developed it to be acoustically transparent while keeping dust and debris out [1, step 4]. Cut open, it shows a net-like layer on the top and bottom with tiny wiry coils in between [1, step 8]. A drawstring at the top is looped around mooring posts [1, steps 8 and 9] [2, step 4]; unwound, it lets the mesh slide down [2, step 5] and come off undamaged [1, step 20]. Its glued bottom edge also holds the access plate in [1, step 6].

  In the model: Height and width match Apple's specs [5]; the shoulder curve is traced from photos. When exploded, it slides out to one side.

• Inner fabric sleeve Uncertain: placement

  Known: Under the outer mesh is a secondary, internal fabric sleeve. It is thinner and more flexible, and it is trapped under the top [1, step 7].

  Unknown: How far down it reaches and how its lower edge is held. None of the sources describes its full length.

  In the model: A hatched tube just inside the mesh; its length is a guess. When exploded, it slides out to the other side.

Top assembly

• Top touch cover Documented

  Known: The top cover is the touch surface: tap or hold plus or minus for volume, touch and hold for Siri, tap to play or pause [5]. The Siri waveform appears on it when Siri is engaged [6] [7]. The guide heats it with a hair dryer to remove it and warns that it is not flexible and can crack [2, step 1]. iFixit lists it among the parts held by very strong adhesive [1, step 20].

  In the model: A thin white disc with faint plus and minus marks.

• Touch and LED board Documented

  Known: Under the cover sits a well-shielded board [1, step 9], fixed to the top frame by four T6 screws and adhesive, with its ribbon cable under a retaining lever [2, steps 2 and 3]. Under the shields iFixit found a Texas Instruments TLC5971 LED driver, a Cypress CY8C4245LQI-483 PSoC likely tasked with touch control, an ON Semiconductor FPF1039 load switch and a Texas Instruments TPS62135 step-down converter [1, step 10]. The other side holds the LEDs and their diffuser, plus and minus symbols cut through the board with their own LED triads and light guides, and a grid of tiny divots that may be a capacitive touch grid [1, step 10]. TechInsights believes the capacitive sensing is built into the 8-layer PCB [8]. The center cluster has 19 LEDs [3, page 7].

  In the model: The shields, two gold-colored strips, the LED cluster and the light guides are placed from the FCC photos [3, pages 6 and 7]. The chips are named here, not drawn. The light sensor on this board has its own entry.

• Ambient light sensor Uncertain: placement

  Known: TechInsights found an ambient light sensor on the cap-sense side of the touch board and did not name its supplier [8]. That is presumably the side facing the top cover, which carries the LEDs and the divot grid [1, step 10]. In the FCC photos, one small unlabeled part sits on that side just outside the LED cluster, a quarter turn from the plus symbol [3, page 7].

  Unknown: Whether that small part is the sensor. No source labels it or gives the sensor's position.

  In the model: A hatched dome over that small part.

• Touch support disc Documented

  Known: Four T6 screws hold this disc to the lid [2, step 5]. It carries the drawstring moorings, and the logic board sits behind it [1, step 11]. The drawstrings are looped around T6 screw posts [2, step 4].

  In the model: The outline, center opening and two slots are traced from the guide photos [2, step 3].

• Logic board Documented

  Known: iFixit identified an Apple A8 APL1011, likely with 1 GB of RAM stacked on top, a Toshiba THGBX4G7D2LLDYC 16 GB NAND flash, a USI 339S00450 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module and an Apple/Dialog 338S00100 PMIC, with unpopulated pads on the reverse [1, step 11]. Apple names the A8 as the chip [6]. TechInsights' unit had SK Hynix H9CKNNNBKTCUSR RAM on the A8, SK Hynix H2JTDG8UD1CMR 16 GB NAND in place of the Toshiba chip, and the same Broadcom die in the USI module as in the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X [8]. The FCC report notes two module vendors with the same outline and an identical antenna structure [4, section 8.5]. The board's ribbon cable has ears on each side and pops straight up out of its connector [2, step 6].

  In the model: The outline, shields and white module are traced from the FCC photos [3, pages 4 and 5]. The chips are named here, not drawn.

• Thermal path Uncertain: presence

  Known: Photos show two gold-colored strips on the chip side of the touch board [2, step 3] [3, page 6], two slots in the support disc [2, step 3], and two dark pads on the logic board's top shield [3, page 1].

  Unknown: Whether these parts form a heat path, or what they do. None of the sources describes how the HomePod handles heat.

  In the model: The two dark pads are drawn on the logic board shield, and a hatched band marks the region.

• Top crown Documented

  Known: Nine T6 screws under rubber caps hold the top to the main housing, with adhesive at the seam. The guide heats the seam and pries the top straight up in four sections [2, steps 7 to 9]. iFixit found the screws under rubber plugs and says the top looks designed to twist off, if not for the strong adhesive [1, steps 7 and 20]. The logic board ribbon cable is adhered to it and tears easily [2, steps 10 and 11].

  In the model: "Top crown" is this page's name for the part the guide calls the top. Its slots are traced from the FCC photos [3, page 1].

Woofer section

• Woofer Documented

  Known: A 4-inch, high-excursion, upward-firing woofer [1, step 1] with a custom amplifier [5], which Apple describes as Apple-designed and upward-facing [6]. Its magnet is large because the voice coil travels 20 mm peak to peak [1, step 12]. Six T6 screws hold it, and it plugs into the amplifier board [2, steps 12 and 13].

  In the model: The flange, surround, dome, basket and motor are simplified shapes.

• Woofer gasket Documented

  Known: The guide calls this gasket simple but critical: it seals the enclosure with the woofer installed, and leaving it out degrades the sound and causes excessive air noise [2, step 14].

  In the model: A thin ring under the woofer's flange.

• Upper ring Documented

  Known: Six T6 screws hold it, each with a small rubber O-ring [2, step 15]. A silicone grommet on the ribbon cable is pushed through it before it comes out [2, steps 16 and 17].

  In the model: The grommet is drawn where the ribbon cable passes through.

• Middle ring Documented

  Known: Once the upper ring is off, the guide unscrews this ring counterclockwise [2, step 17]. At the same point the teardown hit a threaded ring between the control and woofer section and the tweeter and power supply section, and judged from adhesive on it that it was glued shut [1, step 13].

  In the model: A plain ring with suggested threads.

Power and amplification

• AC/DC power supply Documented

  Known: The power supply has two parts. This inner block handles the AC to DC conversion; its hefty hardware is flooded with epoxy, probably to keep vibration from shaking it apart, and it passes power to the ring board through conductive posts [1, step 14]. Four T6 screws hold it to the amplifier board, and its fragile connector has to be pulled straight up [2, steps 18 and 19]. It takes 100 to 240 V at 50 to 60 Hz and 1 A, and there is no rechargeable battery [4, section 8.1].

  In the model: The D-shaped outline is traced from the FCC photos [3, pages 10 and 11].

• Amplifier and power distribution ring Documented

  Known: The outer part of the power supply distributes power to all eight speakers [1, step 14]. Its capacitor side holds an STMicroelectronics STM32L051C8T7 microcontroller. The other side holds an International Rectifier PowIRaudio 98-0431 audio amplifier, a Cirrus Logic CS4350 DAC, seven Analog Devices SSM3515B amplifiers around the edge that look like the individual tweeter amplifiers, Maxim MAX9938 and Texas Instruments INA210 current sense amplifiers, and a Texas Instruments TPS54560 step-down converter [1, step 15]. Fourteen T6 screws fasten it to the seven tweeters, and a ribbon cable connects it to the logic board [2, step 20]. Gold screw posts carry power to the tweeters [1, step 17], and Apple says each tweeter has its own custom amplifier [5].

  In the model: The capacitors, the inductor, the square chip on the capacitor side and the beige pad are placed from the FCC photo [3, page 8]. The other chips are named here, not drawn.

• Beige pad on the amplifier ring Uncertain: identity

  Known: An FCC photo shows a beige pad on the capacitor side of the ring [3, page 8].

  Unknown: What it is. None of the sources names it.

  In the model: Drawn where the photo shows it, under a hatched outline.

Microphones

• Microphone strips Documented

  Known: The microphones come in two long strips of three, each strip glued firmly to the inside of the case with the mics over funnel-shaped channels [1, step 16]. Apple describes a six-microphone array for far-field Siri [5] with advanced echo cancellation [6]. TechInsights counted seven Knowles microphones in the whole speaker [8].

  In the model: Two flex strips on the inside of the housing wall, with six microphones over openings that stand in for the channels. The microphones are spaced evenly; their exact angles are not documented.

• Microphone board Documented

  Known: A small board glued to the inside of the barrel carries two Conexant CX20810 ADC chips for the microphone array [1, step 16]; TechInsights also names the CX20810 [8]. The guide disconnects three ribbon cables, heats the board from the back and pries it out [2, step 21].

  In the model: The shape, chips and connectors are traced from the FCC photos [3, pages 12 and 13].

• Microphone on the mic board Uncertain: identity

  Known: The mic board has a microphone of its own, which iFixit thinks is likely the low-frequency microphone for woofer calibration [1, step 16]. Apple lists an internal low-frequency calibration microphone [5], and TechInsights counted seven microphones in total [8].

  Unknown: Whether this microphone is the calibration microphone. No source confirms it.

  In the model: A hatched sphere around the microphone on the board.

Tweeters

• Tweeter retaining ring Documented

  Known: A threaded ring held by three clips. The guide presses the clips with two spudgers and a fingernail, unscrews the ring counterclockwise, and notes that several turns are enough [2, step 22]. The teardown pulled out this second threaded ring to reach the tweeters [1, step 17].

  In the model: The three clips are spaced evenly.

• Seven tweeters Documented

  Known: Seven horn-loaded tweeters, each with its own custom amplifier [5], form a beamforming array [6]. The tiny folded horn at the front of each one increases efficiency and controls the direction of the sound, and gold screw posts deliver its power [1, step 17]. Vents in the voice coil bobbin and four holes at the rear keep air pressure from building up behind the dome [1, step 18]. Each tweeter comes out after removing three screws [2, step 23].

  In the model: The modules and the frame that holds them are traced from the guide photos [2, step 23]; the screws are not drawn.

Housing and base

• Main housing Documented

  Known: The body inside the mesh. The microphone strips and the mic board are glued to its inner wall [1, step 16] [2, step 21], the diagnostic port is screwed to its bottom [2, step 24], and the top is screwed and glued to it [2, steps 7 to 9]. Behind the access plate, the teardown found more plastic that "doesn't go anywhere" [1, step 6].

  In the model: It stays in place during the explode and turns translucent so the parts inside stay visible.

• Ribbon cables and 14-pin port Documented

  Known: Under the foot is a 14-pin port, probably used to test or program HomePods on pogo pins during assembly [1, step 5]. In the guide, the main ribbon cable ends at a diagnostic port held to the bottom housing by two T6 screws, and is adhered to the housing wall [2, step 24]. The logic board ribbon cable is adhered to the top, slips past the woofer and runs through a silicone grommet in the upper ring [2, steps 6, 10 to 12, 16 and 17]. Another ribbon cable links the amplifier board to the logic board [2, step 20].

  In the model: Drawn as one flex cable from the port to the logic board. The sources describe each run but do not say whether they are one cable, and the amplifier board's ribbon is not drawn. The guide's diagnostic port is treated as the 14-pin port; its photos show the main ribbon ending in a 14-pin connector held by two screws [2, step 24].

• Access plate Documented

  Known: A plastic plate under the foot, held in by Torx screws and by the glued edge of the mesh, with more plastic behind it [1, steps 5 and 6].

  In the model: The screw positions and the center slot are traced from the teardown photos [1, steps 5 and 6].

• Rubber foot Documented

  Known: Regulatory markings and the model number A1639 are printed under the foot [1, step 3]. It is glued down; the teardown heat-gunned it off to reach the screws and the 14-pin port [1, step 5] and lists it among the parts held by very strong adhesive [1, step 20].

• Two tiny holes in the foot Uncertain: identity

  Known: The teardown spotted a couple of tiny holes under the foot [1, step 3].

  Unknown: What they are for. iFixit called it a weird place for microphones and asked whether they might be for barometric purposes; none of the sources answers.

  In the model: Hatched markers at the two holes.

• Power cord Documented

  Known: The power supply is built in, so there is no wall adapter, and the cord has a braided cover. It looked permanent, but it comes out if pulled hard enough [1, step 2].

  In the model: The exit point and the run of cord across the table are approximate.

Radios

• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas Uncertain: placement

  Known: The HomePod has 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO and Bluetooth 5.0 [5]. Its FCC test report describes an FPCB (flexible printed circuit board) antenna [4, section 8.4] and two transmit antennas, Ant A and Ant B, used together in MIMO modes [4, section 8.5].

  Unknown: Where the antennas are. None of the sources shows or describes their location.

  In the model: A hatched band around the inside of the housing, shown only while this part is selected.

What Is Uncertain

Seven regions in the model are placeholders. Each is hatched and outlined with dashes, and the exploded and cutaway views label them.

• Inner fabric sleeve: iFixit found it under the mesh, but no source shows how far down it reaches or how it is held.
• Ambient light sensor: TechInsights found one on the cap-sense side of the touch board, but no source gives its position.
• Thermal path: photos show pads and strips, but no source says whether they carry heat.
• Beige pad on the amplifier ring: it shows in an FCC photo, but no source names it.
• Microphone on the mic board: iFixit thinks it is the low-frequency calibration microphone; no source confirms it.
• Two tiny holes in the foot: no source says what they are for.
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas: the FCC report describes them, but no source shows where they are. This region appears only while selected.

One documented part is not placed at all. TechInsights reports a few Texas Instruments TPS62130 converters [8], but no source says which board carries them.

How This Model Was Made

The overall height and width come from Apple's specs [5]. Parts are scaled from the teardown and guide photos [1] [2] and from the FCC internal photos, which include rulers [3], so sizes can be off by a few millimetres. The stacking order follows the disassembly guide [2].

Shapes are simplified, and most chips are named in the components list rather than drawn. Angles come from the photos where a part is visible; repeated parts the photos do not place, such as the six microphones and the tweeter ring clips, are spaced evenly. Uncertain regions are hatched with dashed outlines so they never read as documented parts.

The model is built with Three.js and rendered in the browser. Without WebGL, the components list, the uncertain areas and the sources still work; only the 3D view is missing.

Sources

Every component claim on this page cites one of these. iFixit pages are cited by step, the FCC photos by page and the FCC report by section.

1. Jeff Suovanen, HomePod Teardown, iFixit, February 12, 2018. Accessed October 1, 2026.
2. Nicholas Ouimet, HomePod Disassembly, iFixit guide, October 26, 2020. Accessed October 1, 2026.
3. A1639 Internal Photos, FCC ID BCG-A1639, exhibit 3718995 (13 pages), via FCCID.io. Accessed October 1, 2026.
4. UL Verification Services, test report 11949808-E4V4 (FCC UNII with DFS, part 1), FCC ID BCG-A1639, issued November 8, 2017, exhibit 3719102, via FCCID.io. Accessed October 1, 2026.
5. Apple Support, HomePod (1st generation) - Technical Specifications. Accessed October 1, 2026.
6. Apple Newsroom, HomePod reinvents music in the home, June 5, 2017. Accessed October 1, 2026.
7. Apple Newsroom, HomePod arrives February 9, available to order this Friday, January 23, 2018. Accessed October 1, 2026.
8. Stacy Wegner, Daniel Yang and Kim Waterman, Apple HomePod Teardown and Cost Comparison, TechInsights, February 16, 2018. Accessed October 1, 2026.