After Hours

Amazon Kindle Graphite (3G+Wi-Fi) 2010 Teardown

By // August 30, 2010, 12:27 PM PST // billdetwiler

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  • Opening the box

    In Summer 2010, Amazon released an updated Kindle reading device. Amazon dropped the Kindle's price to $139 (3G only) and $189 (3G+Wi-Fi). The new device has an improved display, more storage, and offers faster page turns. The redesigned Kindle is also thinner and lighter.

    Follow along as Bill Detwiler cracks open the Kindle Graphite (2010).

    Checkout Bill's teardown gallery of the original Amazon Kindle and see how far the electronic reader has come.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Documents and power cord

    Under the Kindle Graphite (2010), you'll find the product documentation and power cable.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Power cable

    The power cable on the Kindle Graphite (2010) is identical to the one used on the Kindle DX (Graphite).

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Front

    According to Amazon, the redesigned Kindle (2010) is 21 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter than the previous Kindle, yet still features a 6-inch display.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Back

    Except for the speaker ports, there's not much to see on the back of the Kindle Graphite (2010).

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Top

    At the top of the device's back panel are two speaker ports.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Bottom

    Along the bottom (from left to right) are the power switch, USB/power port, microphone, headphone jack, and volume up/down button.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Left side

    Along the left side are the two connector ports for a case and the edges of the Previous Page and Next Page buttons.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Right Side

    Along the right side are the edges of the Previous Page and Next Page buttons.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Keypad and page-turning buttons

    Compared to previous Kindles, the keypad on the Kindle Graphite (2010) is more compact and has a redesigned 5-way controller.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Kindle Graphite (2010) and Kindle DX Graphite (2010) - Front

    Earlier in 2010, Amazon also released a redesigned Kindle DX--the Kindle's larger sibling. The Kindle DX (right) retails for $379.

    Check out Bill's teardown of the Kindle DX (Graphite) 2010.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Kindle Graphite (2010) and Kindle DX Graphite (2010) - Back

    The back of the Kindle DX (2010) has a metal plate and plastic RF window on the top.

    The Kindle Graphite (2010)'s case is all plastic, which actually made disassembling the device much easier.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Removing the back panel

    Using a very thin metal blade or plastic spudger, you can pry the back panel away from the from of the case.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Popping the back panel free

    Once you've loosened one side of the panel, the other side should come free with a little wiggling.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Back panel removed

    With the back panel removed, we get our first look inside the Kindle Graphite (2010).

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Back panel - External

    Unlike the Kindle DX Graphite (2010), the Kindle Graphite (2010)'s back panel is all plastic.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Back panel - External

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Inside the Kindle Graphite (2010)

    Our first step in dissecting the Kindle Graphite (2010) will be removing the battery.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Removing the battery

    The battery is held in place with two Phillips screws. I used a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove all the screws inside the Kindle Graphite (2010). With the screws removed, you can lift the battery away from the main logic board.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Battery - Front

    The Kindle Graphite (2010) has a 3.7V, 1750mAh (6.5Wh) Li-ion battery. The type number is 170-1032-00, and the model number is GP-S10-346392-0100.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Battery - Back

    The contacts are found on the back of the battery along with more markings.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Dome-shaped washers

    Between the battery and the main logic board, are two dome-shaped, metal washers. Be careful not to lose these when removing the battery.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Battery removed

    The battery was easy to remove and is definitely user-replaceable--even for those with limited technical skill.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Disconnecting the wireless card

    The 3G wireless card is attached to the case with two Phillips #00 screws. To removed the card, you'll need to remove the screws and disconnect the antenna cable.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Removing the wireless card

    With the screws removed and the antenna cable disconnected, you can left the card away from the main logic board.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • AnyData DTP-600W wireless card - Front

    The Kindle Graphite (2010) uses an AnyDATA DTP-600W HSPA mini PCI-E module for wireless 3G connectivity. This is the same card used by the Kindle DX Graphite (2010).

    According to AnyDATA documentation the DTP-600W "operates globally on tri-band UMTS 850/1900/2100 wireless networks as well as quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 networks."

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • AnyData DTP-600W wireless card - Back

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Wireless card removed

    With the wireless card and battery removed, we can see more of the gray panel that lies between most of the internal components and the E-Ink display.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Removing the case catch bezel

    A small black, plastic bezel is mounted behind one of the Kindle Graphite (2010)'s case catch. It is held in place with four Phillips #00 screws.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Case catch bezel - Front

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Case catch bezel - Back

    This underside of the catch bezel has metal contacts that tell the Kindle a case is connected.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Removing the main logic board screws

    Before we can remove the main logic board from the support structure underneath and the front half of the case, we must remove one more "silver" screw and several dark-colored screws.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Another dome-shaped washer

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Removing the dark-colored logic board screws

    There are eight dark-colored screws that hold the Kindle Graphite (2010)'s main logic board to the support structure underneath and the front half of the case.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Disconnect all the logic board connectors

    Before removing the logic board, we'll also need to disconnect all the cables.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Keypad ribbon cable

    The ribbon cable for the Kindle Graphite (2010)'s keypad is connected to the main logic board with a gated connector. Gently lift up the gate and pull the cable free.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • E-Ink display connector

    Next to be disconnected is the Kindle Graphite (2010)'s E-Ink display connector. This connector should pop loose with a little force.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Internal speaker cable

    Next, disconnect the internal speaker cable.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Previous Page and Next Page Buttons

    There are two very small ribbon cables (one on each side) for the two pairs of Previous Page and Next Page buttons. You'll need to lift the connector gates and pull the cables loose on both.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Power switch spring

    When lifting the main logic board away from the front half of the case, you'll need to lift it out from under this bent metal sprint on the power switch.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Removing the main logic board

    Tilting the Kindle Graphite (2010)'s main logic board up from the top makes it easier to remove.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Front case with logic board removed

    With the Kindle Graphite (2010)'s logic board removed, we can see the gray support structure underneath, which serves as the backing for the E-Ink display and contains the internal components for the keypad.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Main logic board - Top with metal shields

    At this point, we can see a chip or two on the main logic board, but we'll need to remove the metal shields to see more.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Main logic board - Back

    There's not much to talk about on the back of the Kindle Graphite (2010)'s main logic board.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Main logic board with metal shields removed

    Using a thin metal blade or plastic spudger, you should be able to pop the shields off the Kindle Graphite (2010)'s main logic board.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Processor and DRAM

    This picture shows the following chips:

    Freescale ARM 11-based i.MX353 multimedia applications processor -- Part number: MCIMX353DJQ5C (partially obscured)

    Samsung K4X2G323PB-8GC3 DRAM

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Storage and E-Ink chips

    This pictures shows the following chips:

    Samsung 4GB moviNand storage chip -- KLM4G1DEHM-B101

    EPSON KCRE7000 F10203TYV E-Ink display controller

    Atheros AR6102 ROCm WLAN chip (AR6102G-BM20)

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Stereo chip

    The Kindle Graphite (2010) uses the Wolfson Microelectronics WM8960G stereo codec.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Front case with main logic board removed

    With the main logic board removed, we can see the support structure underneath. It is held to the front case panel with several Phillips screws.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Lifting the internal support structure away from the case

    Once the screws are removed, you can gently lift the internal structure away from the front panel.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • E-ink display and front case panel

    Behind the internal support structure is the E-Ink display and the back of the Kindle Graphite (2010)'s keypad.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Internal support structure - Back

    At the top of the internal support structure is the speaker assembly, which is attached to the structure with adhesive.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Internal support structure - Front

    On the front of the internal support are the actual contacts for the keypad buttons.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

  • Completely disassembled

    Here's the Kindle Graphite (2010), or Kindle 3 if you prefer, completely disassembled. Compared to the first two Kindle versions and the Kindle DX, this device was much easier to crack open. In fact, it has many user-serviceable part--such as the battery. Just remember that taking this e-reader apart will likely void your warranty.

    Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Opening the box

In Summer 2010, Amazon released an updated Kindle reading device. Amazon dropped the Kindle's price to $139 (3G only) and $189 (3G+Wi-Fi). The new device has an improved display, more storage, and offers faster page turns. The redesigned Kindle is also thinner and lighter.

Follow along as Bill Detwiler cracks open the Kindle Graphite (2010).

Checkout Bill's teardown gallery of the original Amazon Kindle and see how far the electronic reader has come.

Photo credit: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

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About Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop supp...