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Mobility

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

By Bill Detwiler November 15, 2010, 5:59 AM PST Bill Detwiler on Twitter billdetwiler

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Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

Power adapter and cable

Power adapter and cable

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

DSC_0053-1200x800.jpg
DSC_0053-1200x800.jpg
Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

Battery removed

Battery removed

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

Rear-facing camera removed

Rear-facing camera removed

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

3.2 MP rear-facing camera

3.2 MP rear-facing camera

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

Display screen connector

Display screen connector

Lastly, detach the connector for the display screen.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

Main PCB removed

Main PCB removed

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

Main PCB battery

Main PCB battery

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

2712 OXNGLB

2712 OXNGLB

2712 OXNGLB

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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 Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

Samsung KFM1G16Q2D OneNAND flash memory

Samsung KFM1G16Q2D OneNAND flash memory

Samsung KFM1G16Q2D OneNAND flash memory

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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 Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

SD4G 9234BT P3A1422 10K2033

SD4G 9234BT P3A1422 10K2033

SD4G 9234BT P3A1422 10K2033

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

Samsung CMC6230R N2N321 S1032

Samsung CMC6230R N2N321 S1032

Samsung CMC6230R N2N321 S1032

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

Texas Instruments 06D5X2T LVDS838

Texas Instruments 06D5X2T LVDS838

Texas Instruments 06D5X2T LVDS838

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

SanDisk SDIN5D2-2G NAND Flash

SanDisk SDIN5D2-2G NAND Flash

SanDisk SDIN5D2-2G NAND Flash

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

1R0 Resistor

1R0 Resistor

1R0 Resistor

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

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

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

AGD1 2039 RCF AF

AGD1 2039 RCF AF

AGD1 2039 RCF AF

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown (Sprint)

Broadcom BCM4329 (Bluetooth/FM/WLAN)

Broadcom BCM4329 (Bluetooth/FM/WLAN)

Broadcom BCM4329 (Bluetooth/FM/WLAN)

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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By Bill Detwiler
Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show.
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