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Mobility

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

By Bill Detwiler February 10, 2013, 11:38 PM PST on Twitter billdetwiler

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Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Google Nexus 4 Teardown

Google Nexus 4 Teardown

ntGoogle’s Nexus 4 offers a pure Android experience on an unlocked device, at a great no-contract price. And as this gallery shows, it’s also fairly easy to disassemble.

n

ntFor a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Nexus 4 teardown: Easy-open case hides LTE hardware surprise.
nt
ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Hardware specifications

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Hardware specifications

ntThe Nexus 4 has a 4.7-inch IPS display (1280 x 768 resolution at 320 ppi), 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, 2GB of RAM, an 8 megapixel main camera, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and comes in 8GB and 16GB versions. What the Nexus 4 doesn’t have is LTE support–at least not officially.
nt
ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Box contents

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Box contents

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Dimensions and weight

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Dimensions and weight

ntThe Nexus 4 is 0.27 in (W) x 0.35 in (D) x 5.27 in (H) and weighs 4.9 ounces.
nt
ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: 4.7-inch IPS display (1280 x 768 resolution at 320 ppi)

Cracking Open Nexus 4: 4.7-inch IPS display (1280 x 768 resolution at 320 ppi)

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Back

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Back

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Micro-USB port, microphone, and external case screws

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Micro-USB port, microphone, and external case screws

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: 3.5mm headphone jack, volume buttons, SIM card slot

Cracking Open Nexus 4: 3.5mm headphone jack, volume buttons, SIM card slot

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Top edge

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Top edge

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Bottom edge

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Bottom edge

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: 8 megapixel main camera and flash

Cracking Open Nexus 4: 8 megapixel main camera and flash

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the SIM card holder

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the SIM card holder

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: SIM card holder and included removal tool

Cracking Open Nexus 4: SIM card holder and included removal tool

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the Torx T5 external case screws

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the Torx T5 external case screws

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Popping off the back cover

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Popping off the back cover

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the back cover

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the back cover

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Back cover removed

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Back cover removed

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: NFC antenna and wireless charging induction coil inside back cover

Cracking Open Nexus 4: NFC antenna and wireless charging induction coil inside back cover

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Internal hardware

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Internal hardware

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Disconnecting the battery from the motherboard

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Disconnecting the battery from the motherboard

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the battery

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the battery

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Battery removed

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Battery removed

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: 3.8V, 2100mAh 8.0Wh Li-ion battery

Cracking Open Nexus 4: 3.8V, 2100mAh 8.0Wh Li-ion battery

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the speaker enclosure screws

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the speaker enclosure screws

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the speaker enclosure

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the speaker enclosure

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Speaker enclosure - Front

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Speaker enclosure - Front

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Speaker enclosure - Back

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Speaker enclosure - Back

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the motherboard cover screws

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the motherboard cover screws

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the motherboard cover

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the motherboard cover

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Motherboard cover

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Motherboard cover

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Vibration motor

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Vibration motor

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Earpiece speaker

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Earpiece speaker

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Detaching the motherboard connectors

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Detaching the motherboard connectors

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Detaching more motherboard connectors

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Detaching more motherboard connectors

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the motherboard

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the motherboard

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Body with motherboard removed

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Body with motherboard removed

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Motherboard with metal shields

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Motherboard with metal shields

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Detaching the cameras

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Detaching the cameras

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: 8 megapixel main camera

Cracking Open Nexus 4: 8 megapixel main camera

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera

Cracking Open Nexus 4: 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the Micro-USB daughterboard

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the Micro-USB daughterboard

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Micro-USB daughterboard - Top

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Micro-USB daughterboard - Top

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Micro-USB daughterboard - Bottom

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Micro-USB daughterboard - Bottom

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the headphone jack and front sensor assembly

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the headphone jack and front sensor assembly

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: 3.5mm headphone jack

Cracking Open Nexus 4: 3.5mm headphone jack

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Ambient-light and proximity sensors

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Ambient-light and proximity sensors

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the motherboard metal shields

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the motherboard metal shields

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Motherboard - Top

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Motherboard - Top

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Motherboard - Bottom

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Motherboard - Bottom

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Samsung 16Gb (2GB) K3PE0E000A-XGC2 LPDDR2 mobile DRAM

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Samsung 16Gb (2GB) K3PE0E000A-XGC2 LPDDR2 mobile DRAM

ntThe 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU is positioned under the Samsung 2GB LPDDR2 mobile DRAM chip in a package-on-package configuration.

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Qualcomm MDM9215M modem

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Qualcomm MDM9215M modem

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Qualcomm PM8018 power management IC

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Qualcomm PM8018 power management IC

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Qualcomm PM8921 power management IC

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Qualcomm PM8921 power management IC

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Qualcomm PM8821 power management IC

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Qualcomm PM8821 power management IC

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Qualcomm WCD9310 audio codec

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Qualcomm WCD9310 audio codec

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Broadcom BCM20793S NFC controller

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Broadcom BCM20793S NFC controller

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Texas Instruments BQ51051B battery charge controller

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Texas Instruments BQ51051B battery charge controller

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Avago A5505, A5704, and A5702

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Avago A5505, A5704, and A5702

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: RFMD RF1156 Broadband Low Power SP5T Switch

Cracking Open Nexus 4: RFMD RF1156 Broadband Low Power SP5T Switch

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Analogix SlimPort ANX7808 transmitter

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Analogix SlimPort ANX7808 transmitter

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Invensense MPU-6050 Six-Axis (Gyro + Accelerometer) MEMS MotionTracking Devices

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Invensense MPU-6050 Six-Axis (Gyro + Accelerometer) MEMS MotionTracking Devices

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Avago ACPM-7251 Quad-Band GSM/EDGE and Dual-Band UMTS Power Amplifier

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Avago ACPM-7251 Quad-Band GSM/EDGE and Dual-Band UMTS Power Amplifier

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: SWY GFD49

Cracking Open Nexus 4: SWY GFD49

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: S080CD 192311 ST33 2 T 45

Cracking Open Nexus 4: S080CD 192311 ST33 2 T 45

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Under this soldered on metal shield is the 8GB storage chip

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Under this soldered on metal shield is the 8GB storage chip

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Under this shield is the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Under this shield is the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Completely disassembled

Cracking Open Nexus 4: Completely disassembled

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By Bill Detwiler
Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show.
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