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Mobility

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

By Bill Detwiler May 5, 2013, 11:35 PM PDT on Twitter billdetwiler

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samsung_galaxy_s4_teardown_070.png
samsung_galaxy_s4_teardown_070.png
Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung Galaxy S4 teardown

Samsung Galaxy S4 teardown

ntWith its 1080p screen, 13-megapixel camera, and quad-core processor, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is packed with impressive hardware. And as I’ll show you in this Cracking Open gallery, it has a redesigned interior and is easier to disassemble than its predecessors.

n

ntFor a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Samsung Galaxy S4 teardown reveals redesigned interior, easier-to-fix phone.

n

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Pricing

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Pricing

ntAs of publication, pricing for the U.S. version of the Galaxy S4 starts at $199 (with a two-year contract).

n

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Box contents

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Box contents

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Hardware specifications, dimensions, and weight

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Hardware specifications, dimensions, and weight

ntOur AT&T test unit had a 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of onboard storage (expandable via the microSD slot), a 5″ HD Super AMOLED display (1920 x 1080p resolution), a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 2.0-megapixel front-facing camera. It measures 5.38″ (H) x 2.74″ (W) x 0.31″ (D) and weighs 4.59 ounces.

n

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Back

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Back

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Bottom

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Bottom

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Left side

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Left side

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Right side

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Right side

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Top

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Top

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the battery cover

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the battery cover

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Battery, SIM and microSD card slots

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Battery, SIM and microSD card slots

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the battery

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the battery

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Samsung 3.8V, 2600mAh Li-ion battery (B600BU)

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Samsung 3.8V, 2600mAh Li-ion battery (B600BU)

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Battery removed

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Battery removed

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the circuit board cover screws

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the circuit board cover screws

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Popping loose the circuit board cover

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Popping loose the circuit board cover

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the circuit board cover

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the circuit board cover

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Circuit board cover

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Circuit board cover

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Circuit board cover with external speaker assembly

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Circuit board cover with external speaker assembly

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the external speaker assembly

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the external speaker assembly

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: External speaker assembly - Front

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: External speaker assembly - Front

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: External speaker assembly - Back

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: External speaker assembly - Back

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Internal hardware

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Internal hardware

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Detaching the motherboard connectors

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Detaching the motherboard connectors

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the motherboard screw

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the motherboard screw

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the motherboard

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the motherboard

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Motherboard removed

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Motherboard removed

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Front panel assembly with components - Top

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Front panel assembly with components - Top

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Daughter board attached to front panel assembly

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Daughter board attached to front panel assembly

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Motherboard with rear-facing camera and SIM/microSD card readers

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Motherboard with rear-facing camera and SIM/microSD card readers

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Disconnecting the rear-facing camera

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Disconnecting the rear-facing camera

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Rear-facing camera removed

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Rear-facing camera removed

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: 13-megapixel rear-facing camera - Front

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: 13-megapixel rear-facing camera - Front

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: 13-megapixel rear-facing camera - Back

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: 13-megapixel rear-facing camera - Back

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the SIM/microSD car readers

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the SIM/microSD car readers

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: SIM/microSD car readers

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: SIM/microSD car readers

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Detaching the daughter board connectors

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Detaching the daughter board connectors

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the micr USB connector bracket

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing the micr USB connector bracket

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing daughter board

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Removing daughter board

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Daughter board

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Daughter board

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: micro USB connector

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: micro USB connector

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Daughter board microphone

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Daughter board microphone

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Front panel assembly with daughter board removed

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Front panel assembly with daughter board removed

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Synaptics S5000B touch controller

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Synaptics S5000B touch controller

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Front panel assembly - Vibration motor, front-facing camera, earpiece speaker, IR blaster, IR sensor, and front-facing sensors

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Front panel assembly - Vibration motor, front-facing camera, earpiece speaker, IR blaster, IR sensor, and front-facing sensors

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: 3.5mm headphone jack assembly

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: 3.5mm headphone jack assembly

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: 3.5mm headphone jack, LED indicator, and IR sensor

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: 3.5mm headphone jack, LED indicator, and IR sensor

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Motherboard - Top

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Motherboard - Top

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Motherboard - Bottom

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Motherboard - Bottom

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Samsung K3QF2F200E-XGCB 2GB LPDDR3 RAM

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Samsung K3QF2F200E-XGCB 2GB LPDDR3 RAM

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Qualcomm MDM9215M 4G GSM/UMTS/LTE modem

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Qualcomm MDM9215M 4G GSM/UMTS/LTE modem

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Unidentified TAIWAN MBG965H 1311 BKU ARM E1

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Unidentified TAIWAN MBG965H 1311 BKU ARM E1

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Qualcomm PM8917 power management IC

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Qualcomm PM8917 power management IC

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Toshiba THGBM5G7A4JBA4W 16GB eMMC (storage chip)

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Toshiba THGBM5G7A4JBA4W 16GB eMMC (storage chip)

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: 3757G2 D214C5

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: 3757G2 D214C5

ntAccording to iFixit and Chipworks, this chip is a Broadcom BCM4335 Single-Chip 5G WiFi 802.11ac MAC/Baseband/Radio, which also houses a Skyworks SKY85303-11 2.4 GHz, 256 QAM WLAN/Bluetooth Front-End Module.

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Atmel UC128L5-U

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Atmel UC128L5-U

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Skyworks 77619 multiband multimode power amplifier module for quad-band GSM/EDGE

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Skyworks 77619 multiband multimode power amplifier module for quad-band GSM/EDGE

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: RF Micro Devices RF7307 linear power amplifier for LTE/UMTS/CDMA

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: RF Micro Devices RF7307 linear power amplifier for LTE/UMTS/CDMA

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Unidentified SWC GNF09

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Unidentified SWC GNF09

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Skyworks 77737 Power Amplifier Module for LTE Bands 12/17 (698-716 MHz)

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Skyworks 77737 Power Amplifier Module for LTE Bands 12/17 (698-716 MHz)

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Unidentified R5C0B W3406

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Unidentified R5C0B W3406

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Qualcomm WTR1605L 7-band 4G LTE chip

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Qualcomm WTR1605L 7-band 4G LTE chip

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Silicon Image SiI8240 MHL 2.0 transmitter with HDMI input

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Silicon Image SiI8240 MHL 2.0 transmitter with HDMI input

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Qualcomm PM8821 power management IC

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Qualcomm PM8821 power management IC

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Broadcom BCM20794 NFC controller

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Broadcom BCM20794 NFC controller

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Maxim Integrated MAX77803

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Maxim Integrated MAX77803

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy S4

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Disassembled

Cracking Open Galaxy S4: Disassembled

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By Bill Detwiler
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.
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