$180 RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet teardown

Cracking open the $180 RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet

\n\tWant a tablet, but don’t want to spend $499 for an Apple iPad 2 or $799 for a Motorola XOOM? Then you might be tempted to purchase one of the low-cost Android tablets that are floating around the Web.
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\n\tIn February 2011, we reviewed and cracked open the $100 LY-706 MID Android tablet (distributed in the U.S. by FocalPrice.com) in February 2011:

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• \n\t\tGeek Gifts 2011: LY-706 Tablet Pad Netbook

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• \n\t\t$100 LY-706 MID Android tablet teardown

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\n\tWe’re back with another low-cost tablet, the $180 RAMOS MID W9
\n\t(also distributed in the U.S. by FocalPrice.com). Follow along as we take a peek at the hardware inside this sub-$200 tablet.
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Technical Specifications

\n\tAs of this writing, FocalPrice lists the RAMOS MID W9 at $179.90 (US) with free shipping. The device has a 7-inch TFT-LCD (800×480 resolution) with resistive touchscreen, HDMI output, and runs Android 2.1. Inside the W9, you’ll find a Rockchip 2818 processor (which can operate at up to 640 MHz), 8GB of NAND flash storage, and 2GB system memory. It also supports Wi-Fi and 3G.
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\n\tNote: Several of the technical specifications listed on FocalPrice’s website appear to be mislabeled. For example, the company reports that the W9’s “Max RAM Support” is 32G and the “Hard Drive Capacity” is 2G. Neither of these values make sense. When most new laptops come with 4GB of RAM, I doubt a low-cost tablet is getting 32GB of RAM. Furthermore, I would expect even a sub-$200 tablet like the W9 to have more than 2GB of storage. After looking at the chips, I believe the W9 we tested actually has 2GB of system memory (RAM) and 8GB of storage.
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Opening the box

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: In the box

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Box contents

\n\tThe RAMOS MID W9 comes with a USB cable, a set of earphones, a connecting cable (not sure what this is for), and product documentation (written in Chinese).

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Front

\n\tThere are no physical buttons along the front of the RAMOS MID W9.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Back

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Bottom edge

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Top edge

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Ports

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: microSD card slot cover

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Prying loose the metal rim

\n\tUsing a thin metal blad and plastic spudger, I detached the RAMOS MID W9’s metal rim.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Lifting off the metal rim

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Metal rim removed

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Ports with metal rim removed

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Right side with metal rim removed

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Removing the front metal edging

\n\tThin metal edging surrounds the RAMOS MID W9’s LCD. It is held in place with adhesive and covers several screws. I removed the edging with a thin metal blade.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Bezel removed

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Removing the LCD bezel screws

\n\tUsing a Phillips #000 screwdriver, I removed the screws that hold the touchscreen assembly’s plastic bezel in place.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Removing the plastic LCD bezel

\n\tWith the screws removed, I used a thin metal blade to pop loose the plastic bezel.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Plastic LCD bezel removed

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: First look at the main system board

\n\tWith the plastic bezel removed, we can lift the touchscreen display assembly up from the main PCB and case.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: First look inside

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Main system board and battery

\n\tThe RAMOS MID W9’s battery takes up a significant portion of the case inside the case.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Speakers

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Battery

\n\tThe RAMOS MID W9’s battery is soldered to the main PCB. There are limited markings on this battery, but it appears to be an AE5258118P 3750mAh battery.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Removing the main PCB screws

\n\tSeveral Phillips #000 screws hold the RAMOS MID W9’s main PCB to the white plastic case.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Main PCB removed from case

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Main PCB - Top

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Main PCB - Bottom

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: LCD and touchscreen connectors

\n\tThe RAMOS MID W9’s LCD uses a removable ribbon cable, but the touchscreen’s cable is soldered to the main PCB.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: microSD card slot

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: First Hynix H27UBG8T2ATR NAND Flash

\n\tThe RAMOS MID W9 has two Hynix H27UBG8T2ATR NAND Flash chips. I believe each of these chips provides 4GB of storage–giving the device a total storage capacity of 8GB.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: XPT2046 4-wire touchscreen I/O controller

\n\tThe RAMOS MID W9 has an XPT2046 4-wire touchscreen I/O controller.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Chip with markings JG=CL 803

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Analogix ANX7150 HDMI Transmitter

\n\tThe RAMOS MID W9 uses an Analogix ANX7150 HDMI Transmitter.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Rockchip RK1000-S

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: First Elixir N2TU1G16GG-AC

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Second Elixir N2TU1G16GG-AC

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Second Hynix H27UBG8T2ATR NAND Flash

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Rockchip RK2818 processor

\n\tFocal price provide no specific frequency data on the RAMOS MID W9’s processor. But, the Rockchip RK2818 processor is capable of working as frequencies up to 640 MHz.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Samsung SWL-2480 802.11b/g Wi-Fi

\n\tThe RAMOS MID W9 uses a Samsung  SWL-2480 802.11b/g Wi-Fi module.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: PCB markings RK2818--MID WRQ

\n\tThe RAMOS MID W9 maind PCB has markings that indcate the board was either made by, or for Rockchip, which isn’t surprising as the device uses the Rockchip RK2818 processor.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

RAMOS MID W9 Android Tablet: Disassembled

\n\tThe RAMOS MID W9 wasn’t difficult to crack open. Unfortunately, the fact that its internal components are soldered to the main PCB make is very difficult to repair.

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\n\tFor a complete review of the RAMOS MID W9, check out Mark Kaelin’s TechRepublic review.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler