Mobility

Cracking Open the Acer Iconia Tab A510

By // May 30, 2012, 5:35 AM PST // billdetwiler

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  • Iconia Tab A510 teardown

    I cracked open the Acer Iconia Tab A500 last August. And I gave it high marks for having an easy-to-open case, replaceable battery, and a decent internal hardware layout.

    But, I disliked Acer's overuse of what appeared to be Kapton tape and the fact that the LCD and front panel were difficult, if not impossible, to separate.

    Eight months later, Acer is back with an updated model--the Iconia Tab A510. What's inside this new Iconia Tab? Follow along as I find out.

    For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Iconia Tab A510 teardown reveals positives and negatives for DIY repair.

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

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Pricing and availability

    We purchased our 32GB Iconia Tab test unit for $449 plus tax.

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

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Box contents

    Along with the actual tablet, the Iconia Tab A510's box includes a power adapter, Micro-USB-to-USB cable, and a Micro-USB-to-female-USB dongle.

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

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Dimensions and hardware specifications

    Our US version of the Iconia Tab A510 had a quad-core 1.3GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a 10.1" LCD (1280 x 800 resolution), 802.11 b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 1-megapixel front-facing camera.

    It measures measures 6.9" (H) x 10.2" (W) x 0.4" (D) and weighs 1.5 pounds.

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

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Back

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Lock switch, volume buttons, power button, headphone jack

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Micro-HDMI port

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: microSD card slot (space for SIM card slot on A511)

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: 10.1" LCD (1280 x 800 resolution)

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Removing the edge trim

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Removing one of the right-side case screws

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Removing the second right-side case screw

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Removing the left-side case screws

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Separating the front panel/display assembly from the case

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Lifting the front panel/display assembly away from the case

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Micro-USB circuit board and connector

    Before completely separating the front panel/display assembly from the case, you must disconnect or remove the circuit board that holds the Micro-USB port and reset button contact and is connected to the rear-facing microphone.

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Removing the Micro-USB circuit board screws

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Removing the Micro-USB circuit board

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Micro-USB circuit board

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Case

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Rear-facing microphone

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Internal hardware

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Removing the Micro-USB port circuit board ribbon cable

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Disconnecting the battery and other motherboard connectors

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: All motherboard connectors detached

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Removing the right-side circuit board screws

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Popping loose the cameras

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Removing the cameras

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: 1-megapixel front camera

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: 5-megapixel rear camera

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Removing the left speaker screws

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Left speaker removed

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Removing the right speaker screws

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Speaker assembly

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Speaker close-up

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Removing the visible battery screws

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Removing a hidden battery screw

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Removing the battery

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: 9,800 mAh, 36.25 Wh Li-ion battery (Model: BAT-1011)

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Removing the motherboard screws

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Removing the motherboard

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Front panel/display assembly

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Atmel mXT1386 touchscreen controller (MXT1386E-U 1140J TW D5M0H.1)

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Atmel mXT154 touchscreen controllers (MT154E CCU 1G3217B)

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: INPAQ GPS chip antenna

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: LCD part number

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Antenna

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Thermoplastic staking connections hold the LCD to the front panel

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Motherboard and attached left-side circuit board - Front

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Motherboard and attached left-side circuit board - Back

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Left-side circuit board

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Motherboard - Top

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Motherboard - Bottom

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: 1.3GHz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor (1137A3 KT N4W951.000)

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: 1 GB Elpida DDR2 SDRAM (B8132B2MA-1D-F 11470R24700)

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: IDT 1RLP105A NQG ZB51147A I59256FM KOR

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Texas Instruments TPS6592 PMIC (TPS659II02AA2 1BA7ZCW GI)

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Wolfson WM8903 Ultra low power CODEC for portable audio applications (WM8903L 18AGBUC)

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Invensense MPU-3050 Triple Axis Gyroscope with Embedded Digital Motion Processor (MPU-3050 Q48835-J1 E1 1128 K)

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Kionix KXTF9 Tri-Axis accelerometer (KXTF9 21269 0312)

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: AUD 305B 00207 1145B

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Fairchild FDMC 7200S (PBTAB FDMC 7200S)

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: More ICs

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Motherboard markings: 2012-01-C5 QAJA0 LA-8511P

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: 32 GB Samsung KLMBG8FEJA-A001 moviNAND eMMc

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: ATH150 02CM Y 168269

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Texas Instruments TPS62361B 3A Processor Supply (TI1BA96LI TPB62361)

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Texas Instruments TPS61030 Efficient Synchronous Boost Converter With 4A Switch (TPS61030 TI 1CI A85R)

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: AzureWave AW-NH660 wireless module (AW-NH660 1205 CHINA AA0B01256809)

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Broadcom BCM4751 Integrated Monolithic GPS Receiver (BCM47511IFBG UE1145 P10 170536 01-W)

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Motherboard marking LA-851

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: microSD card slot and empty space for SIM card slot on 3G A511 models

  • Cracking Open Iconia Tab A510: Completely disassembled

Iconia Tab A510 teardown

I cracked open the Acer Iconia Tab A500 last August. And I gave it high marks for having an easy-to-open case, replaceable battery, and a decent internal hardware layout.

But, I disliked Acer's overuse of what appeared to be Kapton tape and the fact that the LCD and front panel were difficult, if not impossible, to separate.

Eight months later, Acer is back with an updated model--the Iconia Tab A510. What's inside this new Iconia Tab? Follow along as I find out.

For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Iconia Tab A510 teardown reveals positives and negatives for DIY repair.

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 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...