Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Box

ntAs of this writing, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is available for $499.99 (US). The current versions only support Wi-Fi connectivity, but a 3G version through AT&T (in the US) is rumored to be launching later this year.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Unboxing

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Accessories

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Front

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Back

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: 30-pin connector port

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Rear Camera, flash, and headset jack

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Speaker opening

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: External screw covers

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Tri-wing back cover screws

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Removing the back cover screws

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Popping loose the back cover from the display assembly

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Lifting the display assembly away from the back cover

ntThe Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1’s back cover is held to the front panel display assembly with two tri-wing screws and strong adhesive tape. You’ll need to gently pry the back cover away from the adhesive tape.

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

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Back cover removed

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Back cover

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Internal hardware

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Disconnecting the display and touchscreen ribbon cables

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Disconnecting the battery

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Removing the battery screws

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Removing the battery

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: 6,860mAh Li-polymer battery

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Disconnecting the cameras and LED flash/ambient light sensor

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: LED flash/ambient light sensor - Front

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: LED flash/ambient light sensor - Back

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: 3.0MP Rear camera

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: 2.0MP Front camera

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Removing the headset jack cover

ntA metal shield covers the 3.5mm headset jack. Judgeing from the cover’s shape and the gap to the side of the headphone jack, I suspect this space will be used for the upcoming 3G version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Disconnecting the 3.5mm headset jack

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: 3.5mm headset jack

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Disconnecting the right speaker cable

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Disconnecting the left speaker cable

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Disconnecting the Wi-Fi antenna wire

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Removing the main PCB

ntThere are no screws holding the main PCB to the front panel/display assembly. Once all the cables are disconnected, you can lift the main PCB away from the Galaxy Tab 10.1.

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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1:

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Main PCB - Top

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Main PCB - Bottom

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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Removing the EMI shield screws from the main PCB

ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
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Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Main PCB and chips

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: 1.0 GHz dual-core NVidia Tegra 2 application processor (12B3B452 1113A3)

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: 1GB Samsung K4P8G304EC-FGC1 LPDDR2

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: 16GB SanDisk SDIN4C2-160 MLC NAND flash chip

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Atmel mXT1386 touchscreen controller (MXT1386-U EEI QS524)

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Invensense MPU-3050 three-axis gyroscope

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Wolfson WM8994E CODEC

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Atmel mXT154 touch controllers x3 (MXT154 CU-520)

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1:

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Silicone Image Sil9234BT HDMI interface

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Samsung CMC6230R LCD driver

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Texas Instruments LVDS83B power controller

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Broadcom BCM4330 802.11a/b/g/n MAC/Baseband/Radio with Integrated Bluetooth 4.0+HS and FM Transceiver (BCM4330XKFFBG)

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Completely disassembled

ntSamsung made the most of the limited space inside the Galaxy Tab 10.1’s 0.34-inch-thick case. The internal components are packed together and there’s only one large PCB.

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ntLooking at the chips on the main PCB, Samsung used many components found in other tablets, such as the Motorola XOOM, BlackBerry PlayBook, and HP TouchPad.

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ntMy only complaints about the tablet’s construction are the use of tri-wing external screws, the adhesive tape used on the back cover, and the flimsy feel of the back cover itself.

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ntI appriciate Samsung’s efforts to reduce the Galaxy Tab 10.1’s weight, but I would have preferred an aluminum cover or one made from a thicker plastic.