Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Box

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

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ntThe 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).
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: In the box

Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Box Contents

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

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

Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Power adapter SGPAC10V1

Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Proprietary power connector

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

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

Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Back

Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Unique wedge case design

ntThe Sony Tablet S has a dual-core NVidia Tegra 2 1GHz processor, 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM, a 9.4-inch touchscreen display (1280×800), a 0.3 MP front camera and 5 MP rear camera. The K1 comes with Android 3.1 Honeycomb installed.
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Sony Tablet S: Front

ntThe Sony Tablet S weighs 1.3 lbs. and measures 9.5″ (W) x 6.8″ (H) x 0.3″ (D).
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ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption 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

ntThe Sony Tablet S motherboard has the markings:

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ntSony
ntMB-030
ntEP GW
nt1-884-784-12

Sony Tablet S Completely Disassembled

ntOverall, 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.

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