Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)
Image 1 of 38
Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab (Sprint)
Cracking Open the Samsung Galaxy Tab (Sprint)
The Sprint version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab went on sale in the US on November 14. It’s priced at $399 (US) with a 2-year contract and one of two data plans–$29 a month (2GB cap) or $59 a month (5GB cap).
Follow along as I crack open the Galaxy Tab for a look at the hardware inside.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Included with the Galaxy Tab
Included with the Galaxy Tab
Included with Sprint’s version of the Galaxy Tab is the power adapter, USB data/charging cable, and a 16 GB microSD card.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Power adapter and cable
Power adapter and cable
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Back
Back
On the back of the Galaxy Tab are the rear-facing 3.2 MP camera and flash.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Tri-wind case screws
Tri-wind case screws
Two tri-wing screws are hidden behind small plastic circles, which are held on with adhesive tape. You’ll need to remove both screws before separating the Tab’s plastic shell from the display assembly.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Display assembly and case
Display assembly and case
There’s not much to see inside the Galaxy Tab’s plastic case. All the internal hardware is mounted to the display assembly and frame.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
First look at the Galaxy Tab's hardware
First look at the Galaxy Tab's hardware
Flipping the display assembly over, we get our first look at the hardware the makes the Galaxy Tab run. As on the iPad, the Tab’s battery takes up much of the device’s internal space.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Battery screw and connector
Battery screw and connector
The battery is held in place with a single Phillips screw.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Battery removed
Battery removed
Removing the rear-facing camera
Removing the rear-facing camera
Next, we’ll turn our attention to the 3.2 MP rear-facing camera. To remove it, I popped loose its connector and gently lifted it away from the display assembly and frame.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Rear-facing camera removed
Rear-facing camera removed
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
3.2 MP rear-facing camera
3.2 MP rear-facing camera
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Main PCB connectors
Main PCB connectors
Before lifting the main PCB away from the display assembly and frame, we’ll need to disconnect five separate connectors.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Headphone/microphone jack connector
Headphone/microphone jack connector
We’ll disconnect the headphone/microphone jack first.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Volume control and touchscreen connectors
Volume control and touchscreen connectors
Next, we’ll remove the volume control connector (left) and touchscreen connector (right).
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Front control button LED cables
Front control button LED cables
Now detach the connector for the LED for the front control buttons.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Display screen connector
Display screen connector
Lastly, detach the connector for the display screen.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Main PCB removed
Main PCB removed
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Headphone jack and mic assembly
Headphone jack and mic assembly
The headphone/microphone jack assembly is held in place with a single Phillips screws and two pieces of tape. The translucent blue/green tape was extremely sticky, and I feared removing it would damage the thin ribbon cable underneath. As I want this Galaxy Tab to go back together in perfect working order, I’m going to leave the jack in place.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Main PCB - Front
Main PCB - Front
On the left side of the main PCB is the front-facing camera assembly. A large EMi shield covers most of the chips in the center. And along the right side, we find the two internal speakers, the power/accessory jack, and what appears to be the system battery.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Main PCB battery
Main PCB battery
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
EMI shield screws
EMI shield screws
Unlike any other mobile device I’ve dissected, the Galaxy Tab’s EMI shield is attached to the main PCB with five Phillips screws.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Main PCB - Front chips
Main PCB - Front chips
There’s quite a few chips located under the EMI shield. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
AVAGO ACFM-7107 PCS/Cellular Band Quadplexer
AVAGO ACFM-7107 PCS/Cellular Band Quadplexer
AVAGO ACFM-7107 PCS/Cellular Band Quadplexer
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
2712 OXNGLB
2712 OXNGLB
2712 OXNGLB
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Qualcomm QSC6085 chip
Qualcomm QSC6085 chip
The Sprint version of the Galaxy Tab has a Qualcomm QSC6085 chip, which provides support for EV-DO Rev. A, EV-DO Rel. 0, and CDMA2000.
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Samsung KFM1G16Q2D OneNAND flash memory
Samsung KFM1G16Q2D OneNAND flash memory
Samsung KFM1G16Q2D OneNAND flash memory
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Wolfson Microelectronics WM8994E (Audio Codec)
Wolfson Microelectronics WM8994E (Audio Codec)
Wolfson Microelectronics WM8994E (Audio Codec)
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Samsung ARM Cortex 8 1.0 GHz CPU
Samsung ARM Cortex 8 1.0 GHz CPU
Samsung ARM Cortex 8 1.0 GHz CPU (KB100D0YM A453)
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
SD4G 9234BT P3A1422 10K2033
SD4G 9234BT P3A1422 10K2033
SD4G 9234BT P3A1422 10K2033
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Samsung CMC6230R N2N321 S1032
Samsung CMC6230R N2N321 S1032
Samsung CMC6230R N2N321 S1032
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Atmel MXT224 touchscreen controller and MAX8998 EWQ 1037 9FAB
Atmel MXT224 touchscreen controller and MAX8998 EWQ 1037 9FAB
Atmel MXT224 touchscreen controller (right) and Atmel MXT224 touchscreen controller and MAX8998 EWQ 1037 9FAB (left)
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Texas Instruments 06D5X2T LVDS838
Texas Instruments 06D5X2T LVDS838
Texas Instruments 06D5X2T LVDS838
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
SanDisk SDIN5D2-2G NAND Flash
SanDisk SDIN5D2-2G NAND Flash
SanDisk SDIN5D2-2G NAND Flash
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
1R0 Resistor
1R0 Resistor
1R0 Resistor
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Main PCB - Back chips
Main PCB - Back chips
Collection of chips on the back of the main PCB
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
AGD1 2039 RCF AF
AGD1 2039 RCF AF
AGD1 2039 RCF AF
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
Broadcom BCM4329 (Bluetooth/FM/WLAN)
Broadcom BCM4329 (Bluetooth/FM/WLAN)
Broadcom BCM4329 (Bluetooth/FM/WLAN)
Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler
