BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Box

ntAs of this writing, the BlackBerry Playbook comes in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models. It retails for $499, $599, and $699 (US) respectively. RIM’s tablet runs BlackBerry Tablet OS and has a 1 GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 3MP forward-facing and 5MP rear-facing cameras (both can record 1080p HD video), and supports Wi-Fi 802.1 a/b/g/n. The PlayBook’s 7-inch LCD display has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Opening the box

ntUnlike the Apple iPad 2 or the Motorola XOOM, RIM includes a neoprene sleeve with the BlackBerry PlayBook.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Box contents

ntAlong with the BlackBerry PlayBook, you’ll find a neoprene sleeve, charger, data cable, screen-cleaning cloth, and product documentation.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Front

ntThe BlackBerry PlayBook weighs 0.9 lbs. and measures 7.6″ wide x 5.1″ tall x 0.4″ deep.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Back

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Bottom

ntAlong the BlackBerry PlayBook’s bottom edge are the Micro HDMI port, MicroUSB port, and power connector with magnetic connection.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Top

ntAlong the BlackBerry PlayBook’s top edge are the headphone jack, two tiny holes for the left and right microphones, the volume up and down buttons, a play/pause button, and the power button.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Side

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the back cover

ntUsing a thin metal blade a plastic spudger, I was able to pry loose the BlackBerry PlayBook’s back, plastic cover.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: First look inside

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Back cover removed

ntWith the back cover removed, we get our first look inside the BlackBerry PlayBook. The first thing I noticed was the split battery pack and center-mounted motherboard.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Back cover

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Without the back cover

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Internal hardware

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the battery connector screws

ntThe battery pack’s connector is secured to the BlackBerry Playbook’s motherboard with two Phillips #000 screws.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Disconnecting the battery pack

ntWith the screws removed, I was able to pop loose the battery pack’s connector.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Peeling back the antenna wire battery tape

ntSeveral antenna wires are attached to the battery pack with black tape. I decided to peel away enough of the tape to free the wire from the battery.

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ntI would later discover that I could have left the wires taped to the battery pack–as the battery assembly (including the wires) can be removed as a single unit.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Disconnecting the first antenna wire.

ntNext, I disconnected the antenna wires from the BlackBerry PlayBook’s motherboard.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the right speaker

ntUnfortunately, the battery pack is attached to an underlying metal plate with extremely strong adhesive. I descied to avoid prying loose the battery pack, and remove the BlackBerry PlayBook’s other internal components.

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ntFirst was the right speaker, which is held in place with two Phillips screws.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Right speaker removed

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Right speaker

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the left speaker

ntAfter removing the right speaker, I moved over to the BlackBerry PlayBook’s left speaker. It is also held in place with two Phillips #000 screws.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the antenna contact tape

ntOne end of the BlackBerry Playbook’s left speaker assembly has an antenna contact attached to it with black tape. Before removing the speaker assembly, I peeled back the tape and freed the contact.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Lifting the left speaker away from the case

ntWith the two Phillips screws and the tape removed, I lifted the speaker assembly away from the BlackBerry PlayBook.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Left speaker removed

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Left speaker

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Right and left speakers

ntEach of the BlackBerry Playbook’s speaker assemblies contains two speakers. Give the device a total of four internal speakers. The right speaker assembly (top) is slightly shorter than the left assembly (bottom).

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Speakers removed

ntWith the speakers removed, I turned my attention to the BlackBerry PlayBook’s motherboard, which is held in place with several Phillips screws.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the motherboard screws

ntThe first step in removing the BlackBerry PlayBook’s motherbard is removing the Phillips screws that hold it in place.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing more motherboard screws

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Disconnecting the motherboard cables

ntAfter removing all the screws on the BlackBerry PlayBook’s motherboard, I disconnected all the attached cables and wires.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Peeling back the tape on the blue antenna wire

ntAfter removing all the motherboard’s screws and disconnecting all the wires and cables, I peeled a second piece of black tape away from the right half of the battery back. As with the piece of black tape on the left half, it held one of the BlackBerry Playbook’s four antenna wires in place.

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ntAs with the first antenna wire, I later discovered that I didn’t need to peel away this piece of tape to remove the motherboard.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the motherboard

ntI could finally lift the BlackBerry PlayBook’s motherboard away from the display and battery assemblies.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Motherboard removed

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the battery assembly screws

ntAfter removing the motherboard, I removed the several small Phillips screws that hold the battery assembly in place.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the antenna PCB screws

ntThree of the BlackBerry PlayBook’s antenna wires are attached to small PCBs located at the device’s corners. As the antenna wires appeared to be attached to the battery assembly with adhesive, I decided to remove them along with the assembly. Each of the small antenna PCBs is held in place with a Phillips screw.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the touchscreen controller/cable tape

ntAt the top left corner of the BlackBerry PlayBook (looking at it from the front) is the touchscreen controller and cable. It is held in place with a piece of silver tape. I peeled the tape away from the ribbon cable and controller.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Detaching the touchscreen ribbon cable

ntAfter peeling back the silver tape, I genetly detatched the touchscreen controller ribbon cable from the BlackBerry PlayBook’s battery pack.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown:

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the last battery assembly screw

ntOne last Phillips #000 screw was hidden under the touchscreen controller.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the camera and control button assembly

ntEven though all its screws were removed and cable disconnected, I needed to remove the camera and control buton assembly before I could lift the battery assembly away from the BlackBerry PlayBook.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Camera and control button assembly removed

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Camera and control button assembly - Front

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Camera and control button assembly - Back

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the battery assembly

ntWith all the screws removed and cable detached, I lifted the BlackBerry PlayBook’s battery assembly away from the display assembly.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Display assembly and battery assembly

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Battery assembly - Front

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Battery pack

ntThe BlackBerry PlayBook has 3.7V 5400mAh/19.98Wh Li-ion battery pack.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Battery assembly - Bottom

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Display assembly

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Display ribbon cable and chips

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Headphone jack and right-side microphone

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Left-side microphone ribbon cable

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Cypress CY8CTMA3 touch screen controller

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Display assembly markings

ntAccording to these markings on the display assembly, this component of the BlackBerry PlayBook was manufactured in March 2011.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Motherboard with EMI shields - Top

ntWith the EMI shields in place, we can’t see the major chips on the BlackBerry PlayBook’s motherboard.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Motherboard with cushion - Bottom

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Motherboard - Top

ntWith the EMI shields removed, we finally get a look at the chips that run the BlackBerry PlayBook.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Motherboard - Bottom

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Texas Instruments PS63020

ntAccording to Chipworks, this chip is a “Texas Instruments PS63020 High Efficiency Single Inductor Buck-Boost Converter with 4A Switch”.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Invensense MPU-3050 three-axis gyroscope

ntAccording to Chipworks, this chip is an Invensense MPU-3050 three-axis gyroscope.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Bosch Sensortec BMA150 Digital 3-axis accelerometer

ntAccording to Chipworks, this chip is a “Bosch Sensortec BMA150 Digital 3-axis accelerometer”.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Unknown chip with markings L883 2048

ntUnknown chip with markings L883 2048

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Texas Instruments SN74AVCH4T245 4-Bit Dual-Supply Bus Transceiver

ntAccording to Chipworks, this chip is a “Texas Instruments SN74AVCH4T245 4-Bit Dual-Supply Bus Transceiver”.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Motherboard markings

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Texas Instruments LMV339

ntAccording to Chipworks, this chip is a “Texas Instruments LMV339 Quad General Purpose Low-Voltage Comparator”.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Intersil ISL9519 System voltage regulator and battery charger controller

ntAccording to Chipworks, this chip is an “Intersil ISL9519 Highly integrated Narrow VDC system voltage regulator and battery charger controller”.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Fairchild Semiconductor FDMC 7200

nt Fairchild Semiconductor FDMC 7200

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Unknown chips with markings 7401 BA0Z16

ntUnknown chips with markings 7401 BA0Z16

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Fairchild Semiconductor FDMC 510P

ntFairchild Semiconductor FDMC 510P

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Unknown chip with markings CSD25401 1020P 06008

ntUnknown chip with markings CSD25401 1020P 06008

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Unknown chip with markings 358764G 183889 1045HAL JAPAN

ntUnknown chip with markings 358764G 183889 1045HAL JAPAN

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Wolfson WM8994E CODEC

ntAccording to Chipworks, this chip is a Wolfson WM8994E CODEC.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: SanDisk SDIN5C2-16G 16 Gb NAND Flash

ntAccording to Chipworks, this is a SanDisk SDIN5C2-16G 16 Gb NAND Flash chip.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Elpida B8064B2PB-8D-F 8 Gb DRAM and Texas Instruments OMAP4430 Application Processor

ntAccording to Chipworks, this chip contains both the “Elpida B8064B2PB-8D-F 8 Gb DRAM” and “Texas Instruments OMAP4430 Application Processor”.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Texas Instruments TWL6030

ntAccording to Chipworks, this is a Texas Instruments TWL6030 power management chip.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: STMicroelectronics STV0986 5 MP mobile imaging processor

ntAccording to Chipworks, this chip is an “STMicroelectronics STV0986 5 MP mobile imaging processor”.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Texas Instruments WL1283 and TriQuint Semiconductor TQP6M9002

ntAccording to Chipworks, these two chips are the:

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nt”Texas Instruments WL1283 WLAN/Bluetooth/FM”

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nt”TriQuint Semiconductor TQP6M9002 802.11a/b/g/n + BT front-end module”

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Completely disassembled

ntOnce opened, the BlackBerry PlayBook wasn’t terribly difficult to disassemble. Unfortunately, swapping out the battery pack requires removing the motherboard and several other internal components.

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ntOverall, the PlayBook feels sturdy and appears to be well constructed. But, it wasn’t meant to be easily serviced.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler