Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Box

ntAs of this writing, the Acer Iconia Tab A500 is available in 16GB ($449.99) and 32GB ($499.99) versions.

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ntThe current versions only support Wi-Fi connectivity, but there is speculation that Acer will release a 3G version on AT&T (the A501) in mid-2011.

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ntAs with the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, there’s already a spot on the A500’s motherboard for a 3G card.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: In the box

ntThe Acer Iconia Tab A500 has a dual-core NVidia Tegra 2 1GHz processor, 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM, a 10.1-inch touchscreen display (1280×800), a 2 MP front camera and 5 MP rear camera. The Iconia Tab comes with Android 3 Honeycomb installed.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Box contents

ntAlong with the Acer Iconia Tab device, the box contains a USB cable, power adapter, and product documentation.

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Front

ntThe Acer Iconia Tab A500 weighs 1.69 lbs. and measures 10.24″ (W) x 7.0″ (H) x 0.52″ (D). It weighs slightly less than the Motorola XOOM, but more than the Acer Eee Pad Transformer, Apple iPad 2, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Bottom edge

ntAlong the bottom edge of the Acer Iconia Tab A500 is the device’s docking port.

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Top edge

ntThe Acer Iconia Tab’s volume button, screen rotation lock switch, and microSD card slot are located along the top edge.

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Right side

ntAlong the Acer Iconia Tab’s right side are the DC-in jack, Micro USB, USB port, and reset button.

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Left side

ntThe Micro HDMI power, headphone jack, and power button are located along the Acer Iconia Tab’s left side.

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Back

ntOn the back of the Acer Iconia Tab, you’ll find the the 5MP camera and LED flash.

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: microSD card slot and future SIM card slot

ntThe small cover along the Acer Iconia Tab’s top edge hides the microSD card slot and second slot that’s cover with a thin piece of gray plastic. This second slot will likely be used for the upcoming 3G version’s SIM card.

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Prying loose the back cover

ntThe Acer Iconia Tab has no external case screws. Luckily, the back cover is very easy to remove. Using a thin metal blade, I started near the docking port and popped loose the cover’s plastic catches.

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Popping off the back cover

ntOnce the Acer Iconia Tab’s cover was loose, I switched to a plastic spudger to avoid damaging the case. Working my way around the case, I popped loose all the plastic tabs in a few minutes.

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Removing the back cover

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Inside

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Empty space for 3G card

ntWhen the Acer Iconia Tab A500 was released, only Wi-Fi versions were available. Acer has indicated that it will launch a 3G or 4G version of the Iconia Tab (A501) in mid 2011. There’s already a spot for the 3G or 4G card inside the A500.

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Damaged speaker

ntUpon removing the Acer Iconia Tab’s back cover, I noticed the left speaker was damaged. I did not cause the damage when removing the back cover, so it must have come from the factory this way. I’m not sure how, or if the damage will affect the speaker’s sound quality.

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Removing the battery screws

ntThe Acer Iconia Tab’s 3260 mAh, 24Wh Li-Polymer battery (BAT100) is held in place with standard Phillips screws.

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Removing the battery

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: 3260 mAh 24Wh Li-Polymer battery (BAT100)

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Disconnecting the docking port PCB ribbon cable

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Removing the dock port PCB

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Docking port PCB

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Disconnecting the motherboard cables

ntBefore removing the Acer Iconia Tab’s motherboard, I detached all the cables connecting it to other parts of the tablet.

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Removing the motherboard screws

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Removing the motherboard

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Motherboard with EMI shields - Top

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Motherboard with EMI shields - Bottom

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Motherboard and battery removed

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Removing the right speaker screws

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Removing the left speaker screw

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Speakers

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Removing the USB port PCB

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: USB port PCB

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Removing the microphones

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: GoerTek microphones

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Removing the motherboard and battery mounting plate screws

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Disconnecting the touchscreen controller ribbon cable

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Removing the motherboard and battery mounting plate

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Removing the touchscreen controller PCB

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Atmel touchscreen controller PCB

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Atmel mXT1386 touchscreen controller

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Atmel mXT154 touchcreen controllers

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Front panel and display assembly

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: AU Optronics B101EW05 10.1-inch LED-backlit WXGA display (1280x800)

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: GPS antenna

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Compal WLAN antenna (DC33000UK20)

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Removing the 5MP rear camera

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: 5MP rear camera

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Removing the motherboard EMI shields

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Motherboard - Top

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Motherboard - Bottom

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: 1.0 GHz dual-core NVidia Tegra 2 application processor (12B2B305 1108A3)

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: 1GB Elpida B8132B2PB-6D-F LPDDR2 SDRAM

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Texas Instruments LVDS83B power controller

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Wolfson WM8903 Ultra low power audio CODEC

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Invensense MPU-3050 Triple Axis Gyroscope with Embedded Digital Motion Processor

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Texas Instruments LC02A 12K G4 DZ40

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Broadcom BCM4751 Integrated Monolithic GPS Receiver

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Intersil ISL6251 Low Cost Multi-Chemistry Battery Charger Controller

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Texas Instruments 51125 Dual-Synchronous, Step-Down Controller (power management chip)

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: AzureWave AW-NH611 802.11 b/g/n WLAN, Bluetooth, FM Combo Module IC

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: 16GB SanDisk SDIN4C2-16G NAND Flash

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: ENE Technology KB930QF A1 (clock generator?)

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Texas Instruments TPS65862 power-management IC

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Winbond 25X10BVN1C 1M-bit Serial Flash Memory

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Motherboard markings

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

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Complete teardown

ntThe Acer Iconia Tab was straightforward to open and disassemble. Provided you can get replacements parts, the average tech or tinkerer should have little trouble servicing this tablet.

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