Mobility

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus

By · December 15, 2011, 12:25 PM PST · billdetwiler

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  • Samsung Galaxy Nexus Teardown

    In December 2011, Samsung launched its much-anticipated Galaxy Nexus smartphone. It's the latest device to run on Verizon's 4G LTE network, and the first to run the Ice Cream Sandwich version of Google's Android OS.

    Our friends at iFixit got their hands on an unlocked, UK version of the Galaxy Nexus and cracked it open last month. But as my teardown shows, Verizon's version may look the same on the outside, but much of the hardware inside is different. Follow along as I go inside the first US version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

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

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: In the box

    As of this writing, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is available (in the US) from Verizon for $299.99 (US) with a two-year contract. I bought our Galaxy Nexus test device (sans contract) from a local Best Buy location for $799.99 (plus tax).

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

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Box contents

    Inside the Galaxy Nexus' box, you'll find the device itself (includes removable back panel and battery), USB cable, power adapter, headphones, and product documentation.

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

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: 3.7V, 6.85Wh Li-ion battery with NFC antenna

    The Galaxy Nexus' 3.7V, 6.85Wh Li-ion battery also contains an NFC antenna.

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

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Front

    The Galaxy Nexus has a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 32GB of storage, 8MP rear-facing camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera, and 4.65" Super AMOLED display (1280 x 720 pixels). It measures 5.33" (H) x 2.67" (W) x 0.37" (D), and weighs 5.1 ounces.

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

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Back

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: 3.5mm headphone jack and USB connector

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Volume button

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Power button and unknown contacts

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Motorola Droid Razr, Galaxy Nexus, and HTC Thunderbolt

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Droid Razr, Galaxy Nexus, and HTC Thunderbolt - Stack

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Removing the battery cover

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Battery compartment

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Removing the back cover's Phillips #00 screws

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Popping loose the back cover

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Removing the back cover

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Back cover

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Internal hardware

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Removing the headphone jack, vibration motor, and antenna assembly screw

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Removing the headphone jack, vibration motor, and antenna assembly

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Headphone jack, vibration motor, and antenna assembly

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Vibration motor

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Disconnecting all the motherboard connectors

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Removing the motherboard

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Internal frame and front panel assembly

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Melfas 8PK520 1135 touchscreen controller

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Mic, USB connector, and antenna contacts

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Volume button contacts

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Power/Lock button contact

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Motherboard and attached components

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Motherboard, cameras, and earpiece

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: 5MP Rear-facing camera

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Winbond 25Q80BWIG 8Mb serial flash memory module

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: 1.3MP Front-facing camera and sensors

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Ear piece

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Removing the SIM card and storage circuit board

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: SIM card reader and SanDisk 32GB flash storage chip

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: 32GB SanDisk SDIN5C2-32G NAND Flash memory module

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Motherboard - Back

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Motherboard - Front

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: 1.2GHZ Samsung processor and LTE chip (CMC221 NAA969.00A-1 B1139 ARM)

    Update 12/22/2011: When this gallery was first published, I indcated that the chip shown in this image contained the Galaxy Nexus' 1.2GHz processor. And given the information I had at the time (the processor's clock speed and chip markings), I idetified the processor as Samsung's 1.2GHz Exynos 4210 processor. Since the gallery was published, Kevin Krause over at phandroid.com has suggested that the Galaxy Nexus does not use the Exynos 4210 but the Texas Instruments OMAP 4460 processor. This is possible, but given that I can't find any chip on the Galaxy Nexus' motherboard that indicates it contains a TI OMAP processor, I can't know for sure. I've updated the image's title to that it may not contain an Exynos processor, and I've put in a call to Samsung for confirmation. I'll update this gallery when I get confirmation about the chip.

    Update 12/27/2011: Samsung responded with the following "The Galaxy Nexus processor is the dual core 1.2GHz Texas Instruments OMAP4460." -- Bill Detwiler

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: VIA Telecom CBP7.1 EVDO Platform

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Samsung K3PE7E700M 512MB DDR2 SDRAM

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Samsung K4X51323PK 512Mb mobile DRAM

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Samsung K5L2866ATE NOR based MCP

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: IDT 70P255 8K x 16 1.8V Asychronous Dual-Port RAM

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Silicon Motion FCI FC7851

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: A5013 K1121 DK022

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Texas Instruments TPA8903CE Power Managment

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Fairchild Semiconductor FDMC 510P -20V P-Channel PowerTrench MOSFET

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Broadco BCM4330 - 802.11a/b/g/n MAC/Baseband/Radio with Integrated Bluetooth 4.0+HS and FM Transceiver

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Texas Instruments TWL6030 power management IC

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Texas Instruments TWL6040A2 audio codec

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Silicon Image 9244 MHL transmitter for HD video and audio

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: 16AJ 3923

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: NXP 65N00 smartcard IC

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Maxim MAX8996 Dual PWM Step-Down Converter

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Avago ACFM-7109 PCS/Cellular Band FBAR Quadplexer

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: 6323R 0333AE PH 1132

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Silicon Motion - FCI FC7780 Dual-band CDMA EVDO Transceiver

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Invensense MPU-3050M three-axis gyroscope

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Maxim 8893C power-management IC

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Manufacture date 10/11/2011

  • Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Complete teardown

Samsung Galaxy Nexus Teardown

In December 2011, Samsung launched its much-anticipated Galaxy Nexus smartphone. It's the latest device to run on Verizon's 4G LTE network, and the first to run the Ice Cream Sandwich version of Google's Android OS.

Our friends at iFixit got their hands on an unlocked, UK version of the Galaxy Nexus and cracked it open last month. But as my teardown shows, Verizon's version may look the same on the outside, but much of the hardware inside is different. Follow along as I go inside the first US version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

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 ...

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