\n\tThe Sony Tablet S is the company’s first shot in the growing tablet war. The 10.1″ Android tablet has a dual-core processor, two cameras, and a unique wedge design. Follow along as I crack open the Sony Tablet S for a look at the hardware inside.
\n\tAccording to Sony documentation, the Tablet S is available in 16GB ($499) and 32GB ($599) versions.
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\n\tThe current versions only support Wi-Fi connectivity, and like many of the tablet’s I’ve cracked open, there’s a spot inside the case for a cellular card. As of this writing however, Sony hasn’t announced plans to launch a 3G or 4G version (at least not in the US).
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: In the box
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Box Contents
\n\tAlong with the Tablet S, the box includes the power adapter, product documentation, and wrist strap. Oddly enough, Sony does not include a USB cable.
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Power adapter SGPAC10V1
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Proprietary power connector
\n\tUnfortunately, the Sony Tablet S power adapter has a proprietary connector.
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Back
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Unique wedge case design
\n\tThe Sony Tablet S has a dual-core NVidia Tegra 2 1GHz processor, 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM, a 9.4-inch touchscreen display (1280×800), a 0.3 MP front camera and 5 MP rear camera. The K1 comes with Android 3.1 Honeycomb installed.
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Front
\n\tThe Sony Tablet S weighs 1.3 lbs. and measures 9.5″ (W) x 6.8″ (H) x 0.3″ (D).
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Left side
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Right side
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Power button and volume buttons
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Left side speaker, ports, and headphone jack
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: microUSB port and SD card slot
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Prying off the back cover's rubber feet
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Hidden back cover screws
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the back cover screws
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Sliding off the back cover
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the back cover
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: First look inside
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the lower, back cover screws
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Disconnecting the side-panel button PCB cable
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the lower back cover
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Internal hardware covered by frame
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the internal frame screws
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the power connector screws
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the internal frame
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Internal frame
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the rear-facing camera
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: 5MP rear-facing camera
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Power and volume buttons PCB
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Internal hardware
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the front-camera and IR LED PCB
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Microphone and IR LED
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: 0.3 MP front-facing camera and ambient light sensor
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the battery screws
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the battery
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: 3.7 V / 5,000 mAh / 18.5 Wh Li-ion battery pack (SGPBP02)
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Disconnecting the motherboard cables
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the motherboard screws
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the headphone jack clip
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the motherboard
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Front panel assembly with LCD
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Right speaker
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Left speaker
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: V0A0 WLAN BT [H/F] antenna
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: V0A0 WWAN AUX [H/F] antenna
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: LG Display LP094WX1 LCD (1280 x 800)
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: SiW SW5044 G1045400 1126
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Cypress Semiconductor CY8CTMA3 touch screen controller (x3)
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: LG Display control PCB markings
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Cypress Semiconductor CY8CTMA395 touchscreen controller
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: LG Display SW0632 0ISWL-0047A 1127 N621860H
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the headphone jack
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: 3.5mm headphone jack
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Motherboard - Top
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Motherboard - Bottom
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: 1GB Eplida B8132B2PB-6D-F LPDDR2 DRAM
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Texas Instruments LVDS83B power controller
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Texas Instruments TPS65862 power-management IC
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Intersil ICL7660 voltage converter
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: D6583 1235A
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Samsung KLMAG4FEJA-A001 16GB Flash Memory
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Universal Electronics, Inc. (UEI) remote control chip (U122 3F80KBX1A-QZ8B UEIC 2010 K6V4F2)
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Texas Instruments AGD8 2121 D1HCI
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Texas Instruments PT8121 integrate switching regulator
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Wolfson WM8903 Ultra low power audio CODEC
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Audience earSmart A1026 Voice Processor
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Murata Manufacturing LBEE69QSYC Bluetooth＋Wi-Fi Combo Module
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Ublox UBX-G6010-ST standard grade GPS chip
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: 213J5C NNP 1212
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: NCAI 3/0 GCUW
Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Motherboard markings
\n\tThe Sony Tablet S motherboard has the markings:
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\n\tSony
\n\tMB-030
\n\tEP GW
\n\t1-884-784-12
Sony Tablet S Completely Disassembled
\n\tOverall, the Sony Tablet S was one of the easier Android tablets to crack open. It uses standard Phillips screws and the back cover slides right off.
Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Previously, Bill was an IT manager in the social research and energy industries. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Louisville, where he has also lectured on computer crime and crime prevention.
