LOOK INSIDE (PART 6): Google Nexus 7 Tablet

[mmadhankumar]

Its quite some time that I posted a LOOK INSIDE thread. So, here I am back with yet another inside look of a cool gadget. In this part we will see the inside of the recently launched Google Nexus 7.

For those who missed the earlier parts of this Look Inside series Click Here

INSIDE LOOK OF GOOGLE NEXUS 7​

Step 1 - Nexus 7
The Nexus 7 is the latest challenger in the ever-expanding 7-inch tablet arena. Let's see what the folks at Google and Asus packed into this little package.

• 8 or 16 GB storage
• 1 GB RAM
• Quad-core Tegra 3 processor
• 7" 1280x800 (216 ppi) back-lit IPS display
• 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera
• Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean"

Step 2
The only ports on the exterior of the Nexus 7 lie on its lower edge. Sorry port junkies, micro USB and 3.5 mm audio are the only gateways you'll find here.

Step 3

Step 4

Plastic opening tools make cracking the Nexus shell like cutting through butter, thanks to its retaining clips around the perimeter of the device.

One millimeter - That's the difference in thickness between the 9.4 mm glued iPad and the 10.4 mm retaining-clipped Nexus.

Step 5

And so it opens. Though the back cover's dark and light layers remind us of something a Stormtrooper would have in his arsenal, we're more interested in the cryptic markings we found:

• RED: GPS ANT V2.0 2012/04/20
• ORANGE: NFC ANT V2.0 2012/05/09
• YELLOW: WIFI ANT V3.0 2012/05/25

Step 6

• The front case assembly has exactly what we always expect inside a tablet: a big battery.
• The Nexus 7 has a 4326 mAh, 16 Wh battery that can last 9:49 hours. The Kindle Fire, by comparison, has a 4400 mAh, 16.28 Wh battery -- but only lasts 7:42 hours.

Step 7

The spudger makes quick work of the copper film found beneath the battery. This could be a heat sink since it seems to be made of a copper alloy, possibly copper-tungsten, or copper-molybdenum. However, it is more likely that it's just an EMI shield.

Step 8

Next, we used our driver to remove the Phillips screws holding the speaker assembly in place.

Step 9

• Pop! Off comes a connector, and the speaker assembly is free.
• The Nexus 7's speakers might not be quite the caliber of the Q, but there is already talk of speaker docks to come.
• Although the official Nexus page says there's a speaker in the back, we clearly see a pair of drivers.

Step 10

• Although it looks like caution tape, the I/O cable isn't stopping us from digging in deeper.
• A few more screwdriver twists and the two part I/O set is out.
• The Nexus 7 I/O set houses a standard 3.5mm headphone jack and USB port.

Step 11

The L-shaped motherboard is littered with connectors and screws, but nothing too difficult to remove.

RED: We are guessing that this number is not the date code on expired milk, but rather a part manufacture date. It reads 12 05 04, indicating a May 4, 2012.

Step 12

The Nexus 7 comes stacked with 1 GB of Hynix H5TC2G83CFR DDR3 RAM, the same model found in the MacBook Pro with Retina Display.

RED: This isn't the "in case of emergency" kind of seal to break, but we broke it anyway to get the motherboard out.

Step 13

Out comes the 1.2 MP front-facing camera. Much like the Kindle Fire, the Nexus 7 contains no rear-facing camera. It does, however, contain a front-facing one for video chatting.

Step 14

We are eager to get to that motherboard, but it seems we have another goodie to pull off it first. Seated on the top left of the motherboard is one of the two microphones. One of the new features in Jelly Bean is improved voice recognition.

Step 15

Here she is, the motherboard:

• RED: NVIDIA T30L Tegra 3 processor
• ORANGE: Hynix HTC2G83CFR DDR3 RAM
• YELLOW: Max 77612A inverting switching regulator
• CYAN: AzureWave AW-NH665 wireless module
• BLUE: Broadcom BCM4751 integrated monolithic GPS receiver
• PURPLE: NXP 65N04 Integrated NFC Chip
• BLACK: Invensense MPU-6050 gyro and accelerometer

Step 16

On the flipside:

• RED: Kingston KE44B-26BN/8GB 8GB flash
• ORANGE: Realtek ALC5642
• YELLOW: ELAN eKTF36248WS
• CYAN: ELAN eKTH10368WS
• BLUE: Texas Instruments 22C96ST SN75LVDS83B
• PURPLE: TI20 MI60
• BLACK: Hynix HTC2G83CFR DDR3 RAM

Step 17

The frame comes off with the turn of a screwdriver, revealing another copper alloy shielding the LCD.

Step 18

We are approaching the display assembly. Nexus 7, lower your (copper) shields! We have one final cable to remove before we can remove the LCD from the front glass.

Step 19

Here we have the 7-inch, 1280x800 HD display, manufactured by Hydis and designated model HV070WX2. As is becoming a trend, the LCD is fused to the Corning glass. We have not heard if this glass is Gorilla Glass or Gorilla Glass 2, and we have broken far too many displays recently to dig any further.

Step 20

• The rear case is very easy to open, and requires minimal prying effort with a plastic opening tool to remove.
• All fasteners inside are Phillips #00 screws—no security or proprietary screws here.
• Battery replacement can be accomplished without soldering—or even a screwdriver.
• Many components, including the I/O ports, can be replaced independently of the motherboard.
• Copper alloy sheets provide convenient shielding, but they could tear during disassembly.
• The LCD does not separate from the display glass, increasing repair costs.

Source and Image Credit: iFixit

 

[Gssran]

LOOK INSIDE (PART 6): Google Nexus 7

Good work Madhan Bhai.

 

[Biswajit.HD]

RE: LOOK INSIDE (PART 6): Google Nexus 7

Good post

 

[Gagan]

RE: LOOK INSIDE (PART 6): Google Nexus 7

Very nice. :tup

 

[Vinay]

RE: LOOK INSIDE (PART 6): Google Nexus 7

Excellent post Madhan :k

 

[iS THAT ME]

RE: Android 4.1.2 OTA Update Now Rolling Out To The Nexus 7 - Adds Landscape Mode

Awesome...