Mobility

Cracking Open the HTC EVO 4G LTE

By // June 14, 2012, 5:51 AM PST // billdetwiler

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  • HTC EVO 4G LTE teardown

    Sprint won't have a working LTE network until mid-2012. Even then, it will only be in a select cities. But, that hasn't stopped them from releasing an LTE phone. And now that the HTC EVO 4G LTE has finally cleared US customs, we can crack it open and compare the latest EVO to its cousin the HTC One X.

    For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, vo 4G LTE teardown reveals differences, similarities with HTC One X.

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

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Pricing and availability

    As of publication, the EVO 4G LTE has an MSRP of $199 U.S. (with a two-year Sprint contract). We purchased our test unit for $699.99 plus tax.

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

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Box contents

    Along with the phone itself, inside the EVO 4G LTE's box are a power adapter, USB cable, and product documentation.

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Hardware specifications and dimensions

    Our EVO 4G LTE test unit had a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of onboard storage (expandable via the microSD slot), a 4.7" Super LCD 2 (1280 x 720 resolution), a 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera.

    It measures 5.31" (H) x 2.72" (W) x 0.35" (D) and weighs 4.73 ounces.

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

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Back

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Micro-B USB connector, 3.5mm headphone jack, microphone, and power button

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Volume buttons and camera button

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Kickstand

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Popping loose the upper cover

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Removing the upper cover

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: microSD card slot revealed

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Removing the motherboard cover screws

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Removing the motherboard cover

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Removing the lower cover and kickstand screws

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Removing volume buttons

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Removing the speaker cover

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Removing the lower cover screws

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Removing the lower cover

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Lower cover removed

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Lower cover

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE:

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Internal hardware

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Removing the speaker assembly

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Speaker assembly - front

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Speaker assembly - back

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Removing the battery

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: 3.7V, 2,000 mAh Li-Ion battery (BJ75100)

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Detaching the motherboard connectors

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Removing the motherboard screws

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Removing the motherboard

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Front panel and display assembly

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Small PCB

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Touchscreen controller, power button contact, microphone, and headphone jack

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Synaptics S3202A touch controller (S3202A 2081AD AC36690)

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Motherboard with cameras and EMI/RFI shields

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: 8MP rear-facing camera

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: 1MP front-facing camera

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Vibration motor

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Motherboard - Top

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Motherboard - Bottom

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Samsung K3PE7E700D-XG2 8Gb LP DDR2 Mobile DRAM (1GB)

    The EVO 4G LTE's 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor (MSM8960) is mounted under the Samsung RAM chip in what's called a package-on-package configuration.

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: RTR8600 multi-band/mode RF transceiver for LTE bands (RTR8600 AFN726.0 H320500A)

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Qualcomm RTR8605 multi-band/mode RF transceiver

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Invensense MPU-3050 MPU-3050 Triple Axis Gyroscope with Embedded Digital Motion Processor

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Qualcomm WCD9310 NBA79300 A206002 08

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Avago ACPM-5002-TR1 Multimode PA - UMTS Band2, LTE Band25 and CDMA PCS 3x3mm Power Amplifier Module with Coupler (A5002 K1144 QA6JVC)

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Qualcomm PM8921 power management IC (PM8921 AD2R270 F3209004)

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: 16GB Samsung KLMAG2GE4A storage chip

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Silicon Image SiI9244 MHL transmitter for HD audio and video (924480 PFY711A 10L2205)

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Avago ACPM-5005-TR1 Multimode power amplifier (A5005 K1208 QA70CN)

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Avago LFI152 295348

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: NXP 65N04 36 1 NSD2121

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Avago ACPM-5005-TR1 and Avago ACPM-5002-TR1

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Qualcomm WCN3660 dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and FM radio combo chip (WCN3660 PGA702G7 A208002)

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: H1207471 8901120000 0011852406 NEX

  • Cracking Open EVO 4G LTE: Completely disassembled

HTC EVO 4G LTE teardown

Sprint won't have a working LTE network until mid-2012. Even then, it will only be in a select cities. But, that hasn't stopped them from releasing an LTE phone. And now that the HTC EVO 4G LTE has finally cleared US customs, we can crack it open and compare the latest EVO to its cousin the HTC One X.

For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, vo 4G LTE teardown reveals differences, similarities with HTC One X.

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...