Mobility

Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4

By · February 11, 2013, 5:26 AM PST · billdetwiler

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  • Google Nexus 4 Teardown

    Google'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.

    For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Nexus 4 teardown: Easy-open case hides LTE hardware surprise.

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

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Hardware specifications

    The 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.

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

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Box contents

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Dimensions and weight

    The Nexus 4 is 0.27 in (W) x 0.35 in (D) x 5.27 in (H) and weighs 4.9 ounces.

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

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

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Back

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

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

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Top edge

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Bottom edge

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: 8 megapixel main camera and flash

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the SIM card holder

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

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

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Popping off the back cover

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the back cover

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Back cover removed

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

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Internal hardware

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Disconnecting the battery from the motherboard

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the battery

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Battery removed

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

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the speaker enclosure screws

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the speaker enclosure

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Speaker enclosure - Front

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Speaker enclosure - Back

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the motherboard cover screws

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the motherboard cover

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Motherboard cover

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Vibration motor

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Earpiece speaker

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Detaching the motherboard connectors

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Detaching more motherboard connectors

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the motherboard

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Body with motherboard removed

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Motherboard with metal shields

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Detaching the cameras

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: 8 megapixel main camera

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the Micro-USB daughterboard

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Micro-USB daughterboard - Top

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Micro-USB daughterboard - Bottom

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

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: 3.5mm headphone jack

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Ambient-light and proximity sensors

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Removing the motherboard metal shields

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Motherboard - Top

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Motherboard - Bottom

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

    The 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 Nexus 4: Qualcomm MDM9215M modem

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Qualcomm PM8018 power management IC

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Qualcomm PM8921 power management IC

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Qualcomm PM8821 power management IC

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Qualcomm WCD9310 audio codec

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Broadcom BCM20793S NFC controller

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Texas Instruments BQ51051B battery charge controller

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

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

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Analogix SlimPort ANX7808 transmitter

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

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

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: SWY GFD49

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: S080CD 192311 ST33 2 T 45

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

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

  • Cracking Open Nexus 4: Completely disassembled

Google Nexus 4 Teardown

Google'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.

For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Nexus 4 teardown: Easy-open case hides LTE hardware surprise.

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 ...