Cracking Open the Google Nexus 4
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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.
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ntFor a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Nexus 4 teardown: Easy-open case hides LTE hardware surprise.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler
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.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler
Cracking Open Nexus 4: Box contents
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.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler
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 Nexus 4: Back
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 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 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: 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: 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: 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
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 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: 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: 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: 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 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: Under this shield is the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module
Cracking Open Nexus 4: Completely disassembled
