Hardware

Google Nexus S Teardown

By // January 24, 2011, 12:25 PM PST // billdetwiler

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  • Cracking open the Nexus S

    In December 2010, Google partnered with Samsung to release the Nexus S--a variant of Samsung's Galaxy S line of phones.

    Check out our teardown of the Samsung Galaxy S Captivate.

    After testing the device, TechRepublic's Jason Hiner was less than enthusiastic about the new device:

    "Overall, the Google Nexus S feels like a step backward for the Nexus line of “Google phones,” and not just because of Google’s less ambitious agenda with the product. The Nexus S just doesn’t offer enough important hardware upgrades from the Nexus One to make up for the lower build quality."

    Despite Jason's lackluster review, we wanted to see the hardware inside this new Google phone. So, follow along as we crack open the Nexus S.

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

  • In the box

    The Nexus S is available at Best Buy in the US and Carphone Wharehouse in the UK. The phone is sold unlocked and will work on T-Mobile (US and UK), Vodaphone (UK), Orange (UK), O2 (UK).

    The Nexus S costs $199 US (with 2-year contract) and $529 (no contract).


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

  • Opening the box

    The Nexus S runs Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), comes with a 1.0 GHz Cortex A8 (Hummingbird), 512MB RAM, 16GB built-in storage, and a 4-inch Super AMOLED WVGA (800×480) display.

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

  • Nexus S, Nexus One, and G1

    From left to right, the Nexus S, Nexus One, and G1 smartphones.

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

  • Nexus S, Nexus One and G1 - Backs

    The Nexus One and G1 were both manufactured by HTC. The Nexus S is manufuctured by Samsung.

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

  • Front

    The Nexus S weighs 4.55 ounces (129g) and measures 4.88(h) x 2.48(w) x 0.43(d) inches. It also has an accelerometer, three-axis gyroscope, GPS, digital compass, proximity sensor, and ambient light sensor.

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

  • Back

    The Nexus S has a 5MP rear-facing camera with flash, autofocus, and video capability. It also has a front-facing VGA camera.

    The device also supports Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, and Near Field Communications (NFC).

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

  • Bottom

    Along the bottom edge of the Nexus S are the microUSB 2.0 port and 3.5mm headset jack.

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

  • Top

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

  • Left side

    Along the left side of the Nexus S is the volume up/down button.

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

  • Right side

    Along the right side of the Nexus S is the power button.

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

  • Back cover removed

    Just like the Galaxy S, the first step in disassembling the Nexus S is to pop off the back cover.

    Unlike the iPhone 4, the battery on the Nexus S is user replaceable.

    Attached to the interior of the back cover is the paper-thin NFC antenna (covered with a black sticker). As I want to reassemble this phone in working order, I'm going to refrain from pealing the antenna off the back cover.

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

  • Battery and SIM card removed

    Once the back cover is off, you can remove the battery and SIM card.

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

  • Battery

    Like the Samsung Galaxy S Captivate, the Nexus S uses a 3.7V, 5.55Wh, 1500 mAh Li-ion battery.

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

  • Removing the inner cover screws

    After removing the back cover, battery, and SIM card, you'll need to remove the six Phillips #00 screws that hold the inner cover in place.

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

  • Removing the inner cover

    Once the screws are removed, you can use a thin metal blade or plastic case opening tool to pry off the inner cover.

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

  • Thin plastic edging

    Take care when removing the inner cover, a thin plastic border surrounds the front half of the phone and snaps to the inner cover. Using too much force on the the inner cover, could break this edging.

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

  • First look inside

    With the inner cover removed, we get our first look inside the Nexus S.

    There are similarities between the construction of the Samsung Galaxy S (Captivate) and Nexus S. For example, both have a main PCB with a smaller PCB (attached to an EMI shield) stacked on top.

    But, there are also differences. The main PCB in the Nexus S runs the length of the phone and has a lower section. The main Galaxy S (Captivate)'s main PCB fills only the top portion of the device.


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

  • Removing the main PCB screws

    Our first step in removing the main PCB and attached internal components is to remove the three Phillips #00 screws that hold the main PCB to the Nexus S' internal frame.

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

  • Disconnecting the smaller PCB cable connector

    We'll also need to detach several cables and connectors from the the main PCB before lifting it away from the Nexus S' frame.

    This connector is likely for the small PCB located at the bottom of the phone.

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

  • Disconnected the display and digitizer connector

    This connector is likely for the display and digitizer.

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

  • Dislodging the vibration motor

    With both connectors detached, you'll need to pop loose the vibration motor, which is held to the front half of the phone with a small amount of adhesive. Using a small metal blade, I was able to pry it loose without damaging it or the surrounding plastic.

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

  • Dislodging the front speaker

    I also suggest you also pop loose the small front speaker, which also sits in a small compartment.

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

  • With the screws removed, connectors detached, and vibration and front speaker dislodged, you can left the main PCB away from the rest of the Nexus S.

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

  • Display assembly and internal frame

    With the main PCB removed, we can see the internal metal frame, a smaller PCB along the device's bottom edge, and several chips associated with the Nexus S' touch-sensitive display.

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

  • Atmel MXT224 touchscreen microcontroller

    The layout of these chips is very similar to the Samsung Galaxy S (Captivate).

    And like its Samsung cousin, the Nexus S uses an Atmel touchscreen microcontroller. In this case, the Atmel MXT224.

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

  • Lower PCB

    The smaller PCB at the bottom of the Nexus S

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

  • Main PCB with attached components - Top

    The cameras, speaker assembly, and stacked PCB are still attached to the main PCB. Next, we'll remove these components.

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

  • Main PCB with attached components - Bottom

    We'll start our component removal process on the back of the main PCB.

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

  • Camera assembly ribbon cable connector

    The camera assembly is connected to the main PCB with a thin ribbon cable.

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

  • Disconnectin the camera assembly ribbon cable

    Using a thin metal blade, genelty lift up on the camera connector's locking gate. With the gate open, you can remove the thin ribbon cable and lift the camera away from the main PCB.

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

  • Camera assembly removed

    The Nexus S' front- and rear-facing cameras are part of a single assembly.

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

  • 5MP rear-facing camera

    The Nexus S has a 5MP rear-facing camera.

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

  • VGA front-facing camera

    The Nexus S has a front-facing VGA camera that offers a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels.

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

  • Camera assembly removed


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

  • Detaching the stacked PCB's connector

    Next, we'll remove the metal EMI shield and attached PCB from atop the main PCB. To do this, we'll need to detach its connector from the main PCB.

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

  • Removing the EMI shield and attached PCB

    Once the smaller PCB's connector is detached, you can pry loose the EMI shield and attached PCB.

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

  • EMI shield and attached PCB removed


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

  • EMI shield and attached PCB - Top

    Located on the PCB attached to the EMI sheild are the SIM card reader and an NXP chip.

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

  • NXP chip

    NXP chip with the markings 65N00 01 06 ZSD0371.

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

  • EMI shield and attached PCB - Bottom


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

  • Removing the speaker assembly

    We can now remove the speaker assembly on the Nexus S. To do so, detach the assembly's connector from the main PCB.

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

  • Speaker assembly removed

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

  • Speaker assembly - Rear

    The Nexus S' speaker assembly contains both the front- and rear-facing speakers.

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

  • Speaker assembly - Front

    Along with the earpiece and speakerphone speakers, the speaker assembly also houses ambient light and proximity sensors (located on the small PCB).

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

  • Main PCB - Top

    With the attached components removed, we can take a closer look at the chips on the main PCB.

    As I noted earlier, the Nexus S has a PCB that spans the length of the device. The Samsung Galaxy S (Captivate) however, uses a smaller PCB located at the top of the phone.

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

  • Samsung SWB-B23 Bluetooth IC

    This Samsung SWB-B23 Bluetooth IC was on the Samsung Focus (Windows Phone 7) and on the Samsung Galaxy S (Captivate).

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

  • Unknown chip with markings 04AF 3974

    Unknown chip with markings 04AF 3974

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

  • Unknown chip with markings B1W AT

    Unknown chip with markings B1W AT
    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Skyworks SKY77529 Tx Front-End Module

    Skyworks SKY77529 Tx Front-End Module (FEM) for Quad-Band GSM / EDGE

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

  • Infineon SMARTi UE - PMB 5703 UMTS / EDGE Transceiver

    This chip is an Infineon SMARTi UE - PMB 5703 single-chip dual-mode UMTS / EDGE Transceiver IC.

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

  • Three unknown chips

    Series of three unknown chips with sequencial markings.

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

  • Main PCB - Back

    After exploring the chips on the front of the PCB, let's explore the back.

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

  • SanDisk SDIN4C2 16GB MLC NAND flash

    SanDisk SDIN4C2 16GB MLC NAND flash

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

  • Infineon X-GOLD 616 baseband and SMARTi UE RF transceiver

    Infineon X-GOLD 616 baseband and SMARTi UE RF transceiver  with markings 8824 V1.0 XG616 TA G1041 YYN2K2738A2

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

  • Wolfson Microelectronics WM8994 audio codec

    The Nexus S uses the Wolfson Microelectronics WM8994 audio codec. This is the same Wolfson audio chip used on the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

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

  • 1.0 GHz Cortex A8 (Hummingbird) processor - with sticker

    A round, white sticker covers the Nexus S' 1.0 GHz Cortex A8 (Hummingbird) processor.

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

  • 1.0 GHz Cortex A8 (Hummingbird) processor

    Like the Samsung Galaxy S (Captivate), the Nexus S uses a 1.0 GHz Cortex A8 (Hummingbird) processor. This chip's markings are nearly identical to the Galaxy S chip.

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

  • Broadcom BCM4751 Integrated Monolithic GPS Receiver

    Broadcom BCM4751 Integrated Monolithic GPS Receiver

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

  • USB port and nearby chips

    A collection of chips near the USB port.

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

  • PCB markings

    The PCB has the markings GT-19020 REV1.1.

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

  • Completely disassembled

    Like the Samsung Galaxy S (Captivate), the Nexus S was rather easy to crack open. It has standard Phillips screws, has a user-serviceble battery, and many self-contained internal components (speakers, cameras, SIM card reader). Unfortunately, the front glass panel and screen are fused together. If you crack the glass, you'll need to replace the entire front panel.

    The Nexus S has some nice features (a Super AMOLED display and NFC support), but I wonder if this Google phone arrive just a little too late to the party. Less than a month after the phone's release, manufacturers were showing off a host of Android phones running dual-core processors. The Nexus S' single-core chip will put it in the second tier of Android devices--not to mention the 2011 iPhone, which is rumored to have a dual-core processor. 

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

Cracking open the Nexus S

In December 2010, Google partnered with Samsung to release the Nexus S--a variant of Samsung's Galaxy S line of phones.

Check out our teardown of the Samsung Galaxy S Captivate.

After testing the device, TechRepublic's Jason Hiner was less than enthusiastic about the new device:

"Overall, the Google Nexus S feels like a step backward for the Nexus line of “Google phones,” and not just because of Google’s less ambitious agenda with the product. The Nexus S just doesn’t offer enough important hardware upgrades from the Nexus One to make up for the lower build quality."

Despite Jason's lackluster review, we wanted to see the hardware inside this new Google phone. So, follow along as we crack open the Nexus S.

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

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By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Editor in Chief 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...