The Samsung Galaxy Mega shares the same overall external design and internal hardware layout as the Galaxy S4, but the monster Mega isn’t just an oversized S4. In fact, the Mega’s hardware is actually a step behind the company’s flagship S4. But then again, so is it’s price.
In this Cracking Open gallery, I walk you through the process of disassembling the Galaxy Mega. For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Samsung Galaxy Mega teardown: Oversized phone with average hardware.
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Pricing and hardware specs
At time of publication, AT&T was selling the Mega for $149 (with a 2-year contract). It has a 1.7 GHz dual-core processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, an 8-megapixel rear camera, 1.9-megapixel front camera, and 6.3-inch display with 1280 x 720 resolution.
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Box contents
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Dimensions and weight
At 3.46 inches wide, 6.59 inches tall, and weighing just over 7 ounces, the Galaxy Mega is a monster phone.
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Back
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: microUSB port and volume buttons
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Headphone jack and power button
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: 6.3-inch HD TFT display (1280 x 720)
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Removing the battery cover
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Removing the battery
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: 3.8V, 3,200 mAh Li-ion battery
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Battery and battery cover removed
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Removing the circuit board cover screws
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Popping loose the external speaker assembly
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Removing the external speaker assembly
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: External speaker assembly - Front
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: External speaker assembly - Back
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Bottom circuit boad
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Popping loose the circuit board cover
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Removing the circuit board cover
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Circuit board cover removed
Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Circuit board cover - Back
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Circuit board cover - Front
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Internal hardware
Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Detaching the lower circuit board connectors
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Removing the lower circuit board
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Lower circuit board - Back
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Lower circuit board - Front
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Detaching the motherboard connectors
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Detaching the front facing camera and sensor array connectors
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Removing the motherboard screw
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Removing the motherboard
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Motherboard removed
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Removing one of the circuit board connector wires
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Vibration motor, front-facing camera, sensors, and headphone jack
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Removing the headphone jack
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Removing the front-facing camera and sensor array bracket
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Front-facing camera and sensor array removed
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: 3.5mm headphone jack
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Earpiece speaker and sensor array - Front
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Earpiece speaker and sensor array - Back
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Vibration motor and button contacts
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Front panel, display, and internal frame assembly
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Motherboard with metal sheilds
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Detaching the rear-facing camera
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: 8.0-megapixel rear-facing camera
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Removing the metal shields
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Motherboard - Front
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Motherboard - Back
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: 16GB Toshiba THGBM5G7A23BAIR e-MMC module
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: 1.5GB Samsung K4P2E304EB-PCC2 LPDDR2 mobile DRAM and 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8930
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Qualcomm PM8917 power management IC
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Maxim Integrated MAX77803
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Silicon Image Sil9244 MHL Transmitter with HDMI Input
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Qualcomm WCD9304 audio codec
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: MEMS microphone
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Lattice Semiconductor LP1K36
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: 607A Y3JB
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: InvenSense MPU-6051M six-axis gyroscope and accelerometer
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Samsung CMC6240M
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Broadcom BCM20793 NFC IC
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Skyworks SKY77619 multiband power amplifier module for quad-band GSM/EDGE and Penta-Bands and SKY77737 power amplifier module for LTE bands 12/17
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: Qualcomm WTR1605L LTE transceiver
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: SWE GNF09
Cracking Open Samsung Galaxy Mega: RF Micro Devices RF7307 single-band 4G LTE power amplifiers
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. Previously, Bill was an IT manager in the social research and energy industries. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Louisville, where he has also lectured on computer crime and crime prevention.
