Mobility

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab (A500)

By // August 17, 2011, 1:35 AM PST // billdetwiler

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  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500

    The Acer Iconia Tab A500 is one of several 10-inch Android tablets priced below the Apple iPad. It has a stylish exterior, dual-core processor, and comes in 16GB and 32GB versions. Follow along as I crack open the Iconia Tab A500 for a look at the hardware inside.

    For more analysis of the Iconia Tab's hardware, check out my post, "Acer Iconia Tab teardown: Easy-to-service, 3G-ready".

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Box

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

    The 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.

    As with the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, there's already a spot on the A500's motherboard for a 3G card.

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: In the box

    The Acer Iconia Tab A500 has a dual-core NVidia Tegra 2 1GHz processor, 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM, a 10.1-inch touchscreen display (1280x800), a 2 MP front camera and 5 MP rear camera. The Iconia Tab comes with Android 3 Honeycomb installed.

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Box contents

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

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Front

    The 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.

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Bottom edge

    Along the bottom edge of the Acer Iconia Tab A500 is the device's docking port.

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Top edge

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

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Right side

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

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Left side

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

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Back

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

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

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

    The 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.

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

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

    The 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.

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

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

    Once 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.

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

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

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Inside

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

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

    When 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.

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Damaged speaker

    Upon 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Docking port PCB

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Speakers

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

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

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

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

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Removing the microphones

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: GoerTek microphones

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: GPS antenna

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Motherboard - Top

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Motherboard - Bottom

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Motherboard markings

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

  • Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Complete teardown

    The 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.

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

Related Topics:

Mobility Security Hardware Software Apple Android Google

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A500

The Acer Iconia Tab A500 is one of several 10-inch Android tablets priced below the Apple iPad. It has a stylish exterior, dual-core processor, and comes in 16GB and 32GB versions. Follow along as I crack open the Iconia Tab A500 for a look at the hardware inside.

For more analysis of the Iconia Tab's hardware, check out my post, "Acer Iconia Tab teardown: Easy-to-service, 3G-ready".

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

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...

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