iPad Air 11-inch (M3) Camera

Before You Begin

Warning

Read Battery Safety and follow workspace and battery handling guidelines before you begin.

Remove the following part before you begin:

iPad Air 11-inch (M3) Camera

Tools

  • 1.5 mm slotted screwdriver

  • 11-inch repair tray

  • ESD-safe tweezers

  • Ethanol wipes or isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipes

  • JCIS bit for crosshead screws

  • Nitrile or lint-free gloves

  • Nylon probe (black stick)

  • Torque driver (black, 0.35 kgf cm)

Refer to a full list of tools required for all repairs.

Removal

Note: If you’ve already completed the removal steps, skip to reassembly.

  1. Use a torque driver and the JCIS bit to remove the crosshead screw from the camera connector cowling. Set aside the screw. Then remove the cowling and save it for reassembly.

    • Wi-Fi + Cellular models only: Use a torque driver and the JCIS bit to remove the crosshead screw from the top button flex cable. Set aside the screw.

  2. Lift the end of the camera flex cable off the connector.

    • Wi-Fi + Cellular models only: Lift the end of the top button flex cable off the connector on the logic board. Then gently peel the flex cable off the enclosure.

    • Wi-Fi + Cellular models only: Peel the grounding tape off the camera.

  3. Use the 1.5 mm slotted screwdriver to pry the camera out of the enclosure.

Reassembly

Caution

Put on the gloves to prevent contamination of the camera lenses.

  1. Remove adhesives from the camera opening of the enclosure. Then use an ethanol wipe or IPA wipe to clean any remaining residue.

    • Important: Don't touch the lens while cleaning the residue.

      • Wi-Fi + Cellular models only: Peel the copper tape off the enclosure. Then use an ethanol wipe or IPA wipe to clean any remaining residue.

  2. Apply new camera adhesive in the camera opening of the enclosure.

  3. Inspect the replacement camera. If the protective cover on the camera lens or the camera assembly is damaged, replace the camera. Use ESD-safe tweezers to remove the protective cover from the camera.

    • Caution: Don’t touch the camera lens after you remove the protective cover.

  4. Position the camera in the enclosure. Then gently press the camera for 10 seconds to adhere it to the enclosure.

  5. Press the end of the camera flex cable to the connector.

    • Wi-Fi + Cellular models only: Install new copper tape on the enclosure.

    • Wi-Fi + Cellular models only: Install new grounding tape over the camera.

    • Wi-Fi + Cellular models only: Press the end of the top button flex cable to the connector.

  6. Position the camera connector cowling over the end of the camera flex cable.

  7. Use the black torque driver and JCIS bit to install one new crosshead screw (452-08786) into the camera connector cowling.

    • Wi-Fi + Cellular models only: Use the black torque driver and JCIS bit to install one new crosshead screw (452-09968) into the top button flex cable.

Reinstall the following part to complete reassembly:

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