Mobility

BlackBerry PlayBook teardown

By · April 19, 2011, 12:26 PM PST · billdetwiler

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  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown

    With its BlackBerry PlayBook, Research in Motion joins the growing tablet market and sets its sights on the Apple iPad 2 and Motorola XOOM. TechRepublic's Jason Hiner was one hand at the PlayBook launch event and snagged one for us to test and crack open. Follow along as we take a peak at the hardware inside RIM's tablet.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Box

    As 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.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Opening the box

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Box contents

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Front

    The BlackBerry PlayBook weighs 0.9 lbs. and measures 7.6" wide x 5.1" tall x 0.4" deep.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Back

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Bottom

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Top

    Along 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.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Side

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the back cover

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: First look inside

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Back cover removed

    With 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.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Back cover

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Without the back cover

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Internal hardware

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the battery connector screws

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Disconnecting the battery pack

    With the screws removed, I was able to pop loose the battery pack's connector.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Peeling back the antenna wire battery tape

    Several 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.

    I 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.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Disconnecting the first antenna wire.

    Next, I disconnected the antenna wires from the BlackBerry PlayBook's motherboard.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the right speaker

    Unfortunately, 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.

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Right speaker removed

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Right speaker

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the left speaker

    After 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.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the antenna contact tape

    One 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.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Left speaker removed

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Left speaker

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Right and left speakers

    Each 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).

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Speakers removed

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the motherboard screws

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing more motherboard screws

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Disconnecting the motherboard cables

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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

    After 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.

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the motherboard

    I could finally lift the BlackBerry PlayBook's motherboard away from the display and battery assemblies.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Motherboard removed

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the battery assembly screws

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the antenna PCB screws

    Three 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.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the touchscreen controller/cable tape

    At 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.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Detaching the touchscreen ribbon cable

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown:

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the last battery assembly screw

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the camera and control button assembly

    Even 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.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Camera and control button assembly removed

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Camera and control button assembly - Front

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Camera and control button assembly - Back

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Removing the battery assembly

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Display assembly and battery assembly

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Battery assembly - Front

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Battery pack

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Battery assembly - Bottom

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Display assembly

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Display ribbon cable and chips

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Headphone jack and right-side microphone

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Left-side microphone ribbon cable

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Cypress CY8CTMA3 touch screen controller

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Display assembly markings

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Motherboard with EMI shields - Top

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Motherboard with cushion - Bottom

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Motherboard - Top

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Motherboard - Bottom

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Texas Instruments PS63020

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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

    According to Chipworks, this chip is a "Bosch Sensortec BMA150 Digital 3-axis accelerometer".

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Unknown chip with markings L883 2048

    Unknown chip with markings L883 2048

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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

    According to Chipworks, this chip is a "Texas Instruments SN74AVCH4T245 4-Bit Dual-Supply Bus Transceiver".

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Motherboard markings

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Texas Instruments LMV339

    According to Chipworks, this chip is a "Texas Instruments LMV339 Quad General Purpose Low-Voltage Comparator".

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Fairchild Semiconductor FDMC 7200

     Fairchild Semiconductor FDMC 7200

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Unknown chips with markings 7401 BA0Z16

    Unknown chips with markings 7401 BA0Z16

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Fairchild Semiconductor FDMC 510P

    Fairchild Semiconductor FDMC 510P

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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

    Unknown chip with markings CSD25401 1020P 06008

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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

    Unknown chip with markings 358764G 183889 1045HAL JAPAN

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Wolfson WM8994E CODEC

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Texas Instruments TWL6030

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: STMicroelectronics STV0986 5 MP mobile imaging processor

    According to Chipworks, this chip is an "STMicroelectronics STV0986 5 MP mobile imaging processor".

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Texas Instruments WL1283 and TriQuint Semiconductor TQP6M9002

    According to Chipworks, these two chips are the:

    "Texas Instruments WL1283 WLAN/Bluetooth/FM"

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown: Completely disassembled

    Once 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.

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown

With its BlackBerry PlayBook, Research in Motion joins the growing tablet market and sets its sights on the Apple iPad 2 and Motorola XOOM. TechRepublic's Jason Hiner was one hand at the PlayBook launch event and snagged one for us to test and crack open. Follow along as we take a peak at the hardware inside RIM's tablet.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Related Topics:
Mobility Security Hardware Software Apple Android Google

By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Editor in Chief of TechRepublic 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 support specialist in the ...

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