Mobility

Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0

By · April 26, 2012, 6:34 AM PST · billdetwiler

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  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7:

    Released in the U.S. on April 22, 2012, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 offers buyers a full Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) experience for under $250. Given the tablet's price, hardware specifications, and size, Samsung appears to have the Amazon Kindle Fire clearly in its sights. How does the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 stack up against the Kindle Fire and Samsung's other 7-inch tablet, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus? Find out as I crack this tablet open for a look at the hardware inside.

    For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 teardown reveals efficient hardware layout and replaceable battery.

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

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Teardown

    The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 retails for $249 (US). In comparison, the Amazon Kindle Fire retails for $199 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus runs either $349 or $449 (depending on how much storage you get).

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

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Box contents

    Along with the tablet itself, the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0's box contains a AC power adapter, USB cable, and product documentation.

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

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Hardware specs and dimensions

    The Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 has a 1GHz dual-core Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, a 7" Plane to Line Switching (PLS) LCD (1,024 x 600 resolution), 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth, a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a VGA front-facing camera. It measures measures 7.6" (H) x 4.8" (W) x 0.41" (D) and weighs 12.1 ounces.

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

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Back

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Headphone jack, microphone, rear camera, power button, volume keys, and IR blaster

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Speakers and USB connector

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: microSIM card slot

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: 7-inch Plane to Line Switching (PLS) display

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Loosening the back cover

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Popping loose all the back cover tabs

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Removing the back cover

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Back cover

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Internal hardware

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Removing the battery screws

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Removing the battery

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: 3.7V, 4,000 mAh Li-Ion battery (SP4960C3B)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Removing the speaker screws

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Removing the right-side speaker

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Removing the left-side speaker

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Speakers

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Disconnecting the left-side PCB connectors

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Disconnecting the upper PCB connectors

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Removing the main PCB screws

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Removing the main PCB

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Body, front panel, display and attached components

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Removing the upper bracket/antenna screws

    There are two yellow brackets mounted along the upper edge of the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0's internal frame. The both cover the ribbon cables for some of the internal components, and the right-side bracket also appears to serve as an antenna.

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Removing the right-side bracket/antenna

    The 

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Removing the left-side bracket

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Internal brackets

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Removing the front-facing VGA camera

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Front-facing VGA camera

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Internal frame, front panel, and display

    At this point, I decided to stop removing components from the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0's frame. The remaining button contacts, ribbon cables, are securely fastened to the frame, and I didn't want to damage any of them.

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: IR blaster

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Power button, volume keys, and IR blaster

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Rear-facing 3MP camera

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Front sensor and 3.5mm headphone jack

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7:

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Unknown i7514HS H201H0Y

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Removing the main PCB EMI/RFI shield screws

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Removing the main PCB's EMI/RFI shield

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Main PCB - Front

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Main PCB - Back

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Samsung K3PE7E700M-XGC1 2x 4Gb LP DDR2 DRAM (1GB)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Processor and DRAM chips

    The Galaxy Tab 2 7.0's 1GHz dual-core 4430 OMAP processor is mounted under the Samsung K3PE7E700M-XGC1 2x 4Gb LP DDR2 DRAM (1GB) chip.

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: 8GB Samsung KLM8G2FE3B-B001 eMMC memory

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Unknown 34LM85AM 1205

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Melfas 8QL373 1208 (perhaps a touch sensor controller)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Texas Instruments TWL 6032 Fully Integrated Power Management With Power Path and Battery Charger (23A9ETI TWL6032 A1BB)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Maxim 8893C power-management IC (+MAX 8893C EWV 9 203 TGC)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Wolfson WM1811 Stereo CODEC (WM1811AE 22AGKGW)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Broadcom BCM4330 802.11a/b/g/n MAC/Baseband/Radio with Integrated Bluetooth 4.0+HS & FM Transceiver (BCM4330SB2KUBG)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Main MCB markings

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7: Completely disassembled

    For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 teardown reveals efficient hardware layout and replaceable battery.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7:

Released in the U.S. on April 22, 2012, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 offers buyers a full Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) experience for under $250. Given the tablet's price, hardware specifications, and size, Samsung appears to have the Amazon Kindle Fire clearly in its sights. How does the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 stack up against the Kindle Fire and Samsung's other 7-inch tablet, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus? Find out as I crack this tablet open for a look at the hardware inside.

For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 teardown reveals efficient hardware layout and replaceable battery.

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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