Android

Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S

By // September 21, 2011, 12:53 AM PST // billdetwiler

Image 1 of 74

  • Sony Tablet S Teardown

    The Sony Tablet S is the company's first shot in the growing tablet war. The 10.1" Android tablet has a dual-core processor, two cameras, and a unique wedge design. Follow along as I crack open the Sony Tablet S for a look at the hardware inside.

    For an indepth cracking open analysis, check out my article: "Sony Tablet S teardown: Wild wedge-shaped case hides unique hardware".

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

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Box

    According to Sony documentation, the Tablet S is available in 16GB ($499) and 32GB ($599) versions.

    The current versions only support Wi-Fi connectivity, and like many of the tablet's I've cracked open, there's a spot inside the case for a cellular card. As of this writing however, Sony hasn't announced plans to launch a 3G or 4G version (at least not in the US).

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

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: In the box

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Box Contents

    Along with the Tablet S, the box includes the power adapter, product documentation, and wrist strap. Oddly enough, Sony does not include a USB cable.

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

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Power adapter SGPAC10V1

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Proprietary power connector

    Unfortunately, the Sony Tablet S power adapter has a proprietary connector.

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

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Back

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Unique wedge case design

    The Sony Tablet S has a dual-core NVidia Tegra 2 1GHz processor, 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM, a 9.4-inch touchscreen display (1280x800), a 0.3 MP front camera and 5 MP rear camera. The K1 comes with Android 3.1 Honeycomb installed.

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

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Front

    The Sony Tablet S weighs 1.3 lbs. and measures 9.5" (W) x 6.8" (H) x 0.3" (D).

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

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Left side

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Right side

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Power button and volume buttons

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Left side speaker, ports, and headphone jack

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: microUSB port and SD card slot

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Prying off the back cover's rubber feet

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Hidden back cover screws

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the back cover screws

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Sliding off the back cover

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the back cover

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: First look inside

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the lower, back cover screws

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Disconnecting the side-panel button PCB cable

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the lower back cover

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Internal hardware covered by frame

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the internal frame screws

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the power connector screws

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the internal frame

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Internal frame

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the rear-facing camera

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: 5MP rear-facing camera

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Power and volume buttons PCB

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Internal hardware

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the front-camera and IR LED PCB

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Microphone and IR LED

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: 0.3 MP front-facing camera and ambient light sensor

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the battery screws

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the battery

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: 3.7 V / 5,000 mAh / 18.5 Wh Li-ion battery pack (SGPBP02)

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Disconnecting the motherboard cables

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the motherboard screws

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the headphone jack clip

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the motherboard

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Front panel assembly with LCD

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Right speaker

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Left speaker

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: V0A0 WLAN BT [H/F] antenna

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: V0A0 WWAN AUX [H/F] antenna

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: LG Display LP094WX1 LCD (1280 x 800)

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: SiW SW5044 G1045400 1126

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Cypress Semiconductor CY8CTMA3 touch screen controller (x3)

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: LG Display control PCB markings

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Cypress Semiconductor CY8CTMA395 touchscreen controller

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: LG Display SW0632 0ISWL-0047A 1127 N621860H

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Removing the headphone jack

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: 3.5mm headphone jack

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Motherboard - Top

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Motherboard - Bottom

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: 1GB Eplida B8132B2PB-6D-F LPDDR2 DRAM

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Texas Instruments LVDS83B power controller

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Texas Instruments TPS65862 power-management IC

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Intersil ICL7660 voltage converter

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: D6583 1235A

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Samsung KLMAG4FEJA-A001 16GB Flash Memory

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Universal Electronics, Inc. (UEI) remote control chip (U122 3F80KBX1A-QZ8B UEIC 2010 K6V4F2)

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Texas Instruments AGD8 2121 D1HCI

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Texas Instruments PT8121 integrate switching regulator

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Wolfson WM8903 Ultra low power audio CODEC

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Audience earSmart A1026 Voice Processor

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Murata Manufacturing LBEE69QSYC Bluetooth＋Wi-Fi Combo Module

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Ublox UBX-G6010-ST standard grade GPS chip

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: 213J5C NNP 1212

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: NCAI 3/0 GCUW

  • Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Motherboard markings

    The Sony Tablet S motherboard has the markings:

    Sony
    MB-030
    EP GW
    1-884-784-12

  • Sony Tablet S Completely Disassembled

    Overall, the Sony Tablet S was one of the easier Android tablets to crack open. It uses standard Phillips screws and the back cover slides right off.

    For an indepth cracking open analysis, check out my article: "Sony Tablet S teardown: Wild wedge-shaped case hides unique hardware".

Related Topics:

Android Mobility Google Open Source Software Developer Hardware

Sony Tablet S Teardown

The Sony Tablet S is the company's first shot in the growing tablet war. The 10.1" Android tablet has a dual-core processor, two cameras, and a unique wedge design. Follow along as I crack open the Sony Tablet S for a look at the hardware inside.

For an indepth cracking open analysis, check out my article: "Sony Tablet S teardown: Wild wedge-shaped case hides unique hardware".

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

About Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research 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 supp...

Free Newsletters, In your Inbox