Samsung Galaxy Tab Teardown
When Apple introduced the iPad, many were probably disappointed to learn that it would run the same operating system found on Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch devices. "Isn't the iPad just a big iPhone?" people wondered. Samsung has a similar problem to overcome with the Galaxy Tab. Isn't the Tab, which runs Google's Android 2.2 Froyo operating system (the same one found on nearly a dozen smartphones), really just a big Android phone? The answer is yes and no. In this slideshow, we take a look unde
![](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt69509c9116440be8/bltc0182b2356ae8eed/64b83949410a1b4c0bd7459b/IW_generic_image.png?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Based on a component breakdown analysis, TechInsights estimates that it costs Samsung $215 to build the Galaxy Tab. A breakdown of the carrier-specific variants (i.e., Sprint versus T-Mobile, Verizon, et al.) wasn't available. The Galaxy Tab is being offered by Sprint and T-Mobile for $400 with a two-year data contract, or for $600 with no contract. Verizon Wireless is offering the Galaxy Tab with no contract for $600.
By way of comparison, it costs Apple $259.60 to build the 16GB version of the iPad. The 16GB iPad sells for $500.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab's capacitive touchscreen has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels and features a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera and Qik video chat with a 1.3-MP webcamera on the front, 2048 x 1536 pixels, auto focus, LED flash, micro SD card reader, Edge, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, USB and video, HDMI out (via Dock), a battery for up to eight hours of use, and a weight of 1 pound (380g) Platforming is the cost reduction strategy for both Samsung and Apple and it becomes evident in the design of the Samsung Galaxy Tab. Though 'platforming' certainly isn't new and actually RIM, Nokia, Moto among others have used it to good effect for quite some time. Perhaps what's different here is the notion that people see the Tab and iPad as quite different products from phones when in fact they aren't too much more hardware-wise other than a bigger display. Get more tablet coverage from UBM TechInsights here.
SEE ALSO:
First Impressions Of Samsung's Galaxy Tab
The Samsung Galaxy Tab has a 7-inch touch display and runs Google's Android 2.2 Froyo mobile operating system. It is shipping on all four major network operators in November, and will sell for $400 on contract and $600 with no contract.
SEE ALSO:
First Impressions Of Samsung's Galaxy Tab
The Samsung Galaxy Tab has a 3 megapixel main camera, and also has a flash. It has a user-facing camera on the front. The Tab can conduct video chats with both cameras working together.
SEE ALSO:
First Impressions Of Samsung's Galaxy Tab
The Tab's display measures seven-inches, and is a TFT-LCD screen with 1024 x 600 pixels. Surprisingly, Samsung doesn't use its own Super AMOLED technology in the display.
SEE ALSO:
First Impressions Of Samsung's Galaxy Tab
4. The 7-inch LCD is compact and thin, and Samsung chose the Atmel MXT224 touchscreen controller for the Super TFT screen.
SEE ALSO:
First Impressions Of Samsung's Galaxy Tab
5. The large, white block is the battery. Samsung is using a Maxim MAX8998 power management IC, and a Maxim MAX17042G+ T battery fuel gage.
SEE ALSO:
First Impressions Of Samsung's Galaxy Tab
6. With the battery removed, the entire chassis is visible, as are most of the individual components. The Tab uses the Samsung S5PC110A01 1Ghz Hummingbird Multimedia Applications Processor and the KB100D00YM Package-on-Package (PoP) 8Gb of MLC Flex OneNAND, 1 Gb of OneDRAM and 3Gb of Mobile DDR.
SEE ALSO:
First Impressions Of Samsung's Galaxy Tab
Samsung choose to use the Broadcom BCM4329 Bluetooth/FM/WLAN Single-chip, and the Broadcom BCM4751 GPS Receiver. The Samsung Tab runs with 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 and full quad-band GDSM/EDGE and tri-band 900/1900/2100 7.2Mbps HSDPA.
SEE ALSO:
First Impressions Of Samsung's Galaxy Tab
The Tab also includes an Infineon PMB9801 X-GOLD 616 HSDPA/HSUPA/EDGE Modem Solution (Baseband) and an STMicroelectronics L3G4200D Digital 3-D MEMS Gyroscope.
SEE ALSO:
First Impressions Of Samsung's Galaxy Tab
The main camera on the Galaxy Tab rates 3 megapixels camera and is positioned on the back with a flash and auto-focus. The secondary camera is 1.3 megapixel user-facing shooter. This means the Tab can be used for video chats, and as a replacement camera if need be.
SEE ALSO:
First Impressions Of Samsung's Galaxy Tab
Here, UBM TechInsights uses colors to highlight the individual components of the Tab's radios. It supports most types of radios that are available on modern cell phones, though it can't make voice calls.
SEE ALSO:
First Impressions Of Samsung's Galaxy Tab
Here, UBM TechInsights uses colors to highlight the individual components of the Tab's radios. It supports most types of radios that are available on modern cell phones, though it can't make voice calls.
SEE ALSO:
First Impressions Of Samsung's Galaxy Tab
Based on a component breakdown analysis, TechInsights estimates that it costs Samsung $215 to build the Galaxy Tab. A breakdown of the carrier-specific variants (i.e., Sprint versus T-Mobile, Verizon, et al.) wasn't available. The Galaxy Tab is being offered by Sprint and T-Mobile for $400 with a two-year data contract, or for $600 with no contract. Verizon Wireless is offering the Galaxy Tab with no contract for $600.
By way of comparison, it costs Apple $259.60 to build the 16GB version of the iPad. The 16GB iPad sells for $500.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab's capacitive touchscreen has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels and features a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera and Qik video chat with a 1.3-MP webcamera on the front, 2048 x 1536 pixels, auto focus, LED flash, micro SD card reader, Edge, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, USB and video, HDMI out (via Dock), a battery for up to eight hours of use, and a weight of 1 pound (380g) Platforming is the cost reduction strategy for both Samsung and Apple and it becomes evident in the design of the Samsung Galaxy Tab. Though 'platforming' certainly isn't new and actually RIM, Nokia, Moto among others have used it to good effect for quite some time. Perhaps what's different here is the notion that people see the Tab and iPad as quite different products from phones when in fact they aren't too much more hardware-wise other than a bigger display. Get more tablet coverage from UBM TechInsights here.
SEE ALSO: First Impressions Of Samsung's Galaxy Tab iPad Leads Tablets Into Workplace Five Vital Samsung Tab Facts
About the Author(s)
You May Also Like