Google Pixel XL Teardown

– The early buzz around these phones has been glowing—and with specs like these, it’s no shocker:

– A 5.5″ AMOLED display rocking a crisp QHD 1440 x 2560 resolution (534 ppi) and topped off with sleek 2.5D Gorilla Glass 4.

– A zippy quad-core, 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor (2.15 GHz + 1.6 GHz) paired with 4GB LPDDR4 RAM—this thing’s got some serious horsepower.

– Snapping selfies or capturing moments? You’ve got a 12.3-megapixel, f/2.0 main camera equipped with phase and laser detection autofocus, plus an 8 MP front camera for those all-important selfie sessions.

– Choose between 32 GB or 128 GB of built-in storage to keep all your stuff handy.

– Say hello to the Pixel Imprint back-mounted fingerprint sensor—it’s like your phone’s secret handshake.

– Connectivity made easy with a USB Type-C port and the trusty 3.5 mm headphone jack.

– And running it all? The smooth Android 7.1 Nougat experience.

– This Pixel may claim to be all about that tech vibe, but it seems to have borrowed a dash of fruity flair.

– Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of what makes the Pixel XL unique, even with its pretty pink competition:

– Oh, and guess what? It proudly flaunts a headphone jack right up top—no need to worry about fancy adapters here!

– No home button in sight—our sleek design goes for on-screen buttons, giving the front face a clean and minimalist look.

– Check out the back-mounted fingerprint scanner and a single rear-facing camera that knows how to keep things smooth (minus the bulky bump).

– It’s got two speaker slits instead of those old-school grilles, and don’t forget the USB-C port—no proprietary nonsense here!

– With this familiar iPhone look-alike in our hands, we’re feeling pretty confident as we channel our inner repair pros. Let’s heat up an iOpener and grab our trusty opening tool!

– After giving it a minute of warmth and a bit of gentle prying, we carefully lift the phone from the top, ready to unveil its inner secrets.

– But wait! A pesky bracket securing the display cable is putting a stop to our fun. Time to grab our screwdriver and dig a little deeper!

– Time to tackle this step! First, remove the bracket to liberate the display—tools from the 64 Bit Driver Kit make those T5 Torx screws a breeze to handle.

– We like to say we take things apart so you don’t have to. That’s exactly what went down here today. Teardowns give us the lowdown on how a device is assembled—so we can whip up guides with repeatable, safe steps for everyone to follow.

– In this instance, the OLED panel came away from the digitizer glass a little easier than we’d like. With ultra-thin components and no frame or bezel behind the display, removal gets tricky—but don’t worry, we’re already brainstorming a smoother approach for next time.

– Oh, and hitching a ride on the back of the display panel: the Synaptics ClearPad S3708 touch controller, a nifty little feature we uncovered.

– This sleek and sturdy midframe is probably crafted from magnesium, fitting snugly onto the phone’s body.

– On the left side, we’ve got a curious ribbon connector hanging out with the earpiece speaker.

– On the right side, behold the rest of the phone featuring a motherboard with a chic matte black finish!

– There’s a sneaky little trick for getting that battery tab off: it’s a perforated strip on the sleeve! Just peel it away, and voila! You’ve got a nifty pull tab ready to roll.

– This HTC-made battery is like a superhero, held in place by two strong adhesive strips. Don’t worry, that pull tab is your trusty sidekick—no heat required! (And who knows? It might even serve as a tamper-evident seal!).

– Boasting a robust 13.28 Wh, this battery gives the 11.1 Wh iPhone 7 Plus a solid run for its money, but don’t let it fool you! The Galaxy S7 Edge comes in hot with a whopping 13.86 Wh powerhouse.

– Let’s get started! First, we’ll remove a unique part – a combination laser autofocus and microphone board.

– Next, we’ll take out the 3.5 mm headphone jack. Yes, it’s still a standard port!

– Now, it’s time to remove the 8-megapixel front-facing camera, perfect for all your selfie needs.

– If you need help along the way, don’t worry, you can always schedule a repair with Salvation Repair.

– Let’s take a closer look at this motherboard, but first, we need to navigate around the fingerprint sensor cable – it’s a bit of a challenge, but don’t worry, it’s easy to work with!

– Next up, we have a mini board that’s home to the microphone and the rangefinder, which enables the XL’s laser autofocus. Pretty cool, right?

– Now, let’s talk about this mysterious blue component near the main camera. After a closer look, it’s likely a passive inductor – check out those two solder pads and the copper wire coil!

– Alright, it’s time to bid farewell to the rear-facing camera! At 12.3 megapixels, it’s still bringing solid performance—though it skips the optical image stabilization that we’ve seen in this season’s top contenders.

– Here’s a side-by-side of the rear- and front-facing cameras, just for a little size check.

– Take a closer look at the sensor and optics from the main camera—pretty neat stuff!

– And here’s a cool X-ray view of the primary camera, thanks to the awesome tech over at Creative Electron!

– Front motherboard chips:

– Samsung K3RG2G20BM-MGCJ 4 GB LPDDR4 mobile DRAM is hanging out with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor chilling beneath it (two cores strutting at 2.15 GHz and two at a cool 1.6 GHz).

– Qualcomm PMI8996 power management IC, plus the Qualcomm SMB1350 Quick Charge 3.0 IC keeping everything powered up.

– NXP Semiconductor TFA9891 smart audio amplifier, making sure your sound is top-notch.

– Qualcomm WTR4905 LTE RF transceiver, helping you stay connected.

– 3207RA G707A (it’s got that Wi-Fi vibe).

– NXP 55102 1807 S0622 (could be the PN551?) NFC controller for your contactless needs.

– Bosch Sensortec BMI160 low power IMU, adding some smart sensing to the mix.

– Now, let’s check out the back of the device:

– We’ve got the Samsung KLUBG4G1CE-B0B1 32 GB Universal Flash Storage (UFS) 2.0, ready to rock your data needs.

– Say hello to the Qualcomm PM8996 Power Management IC, your power buddy!

– The Avago ACPM-7800 power amplifier is here to boost up those sound waves.

– Next up, the Qualcomm WTR3925 LTE RF transceiver and the Qualcomm RF360 Dynamic Antenna Matching Tuner (QFE2550) – a duo that keeps you connected.

– Don’t forget the Qualcomm WCD9335 audio codec, giving you the tunes you love.

– Wave hi to the Skyworks SKY77807 Quad-Band Power Amplifier Module (PAM) – ensuring your signals come in clear.

– And last but not least, the Bosch Sensortec BMP280 -series barometric pressure sensor, keeping tabs on your environment!

– If you run into any snags, no worries! You can always schedule a repair.

– Let’s dive into the tech treasure chest! First up, we’ve got the AKM Semiconductor AK09915C, your trusty 3-axis electronic compass to keep you on the right path. Next, say hello to the STMicroelectronics STM32F412RG, a powerful 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 with a generous 1 Mb flash, likely ready to take on any task.

– Then we have the Texas Instruments TPA2011D1, a 3.2 W mono class-D audio amplifier to pump up your sound. Don’t forget the ON Semiconductor FSA3000L10X, a two-port USB-2.0 MHL DPDT switch that’s all about versatility.

– Next, meet the Maxim Integrated MAX14589E, your go-to DPDT analog switch, and the Texas Instruments TPS65633B, which manages power for that stunning AMOLED display. Lastly, we have the ABLIC, Inc. S-1000C17-I4T1U, a voltage detector that operates at 1.7 V, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

– If you find yourself in a pickle or need a helping hand, don’t hesitate to schedule a repair! You got this!

– Let’s Identify the ICs, Part 3!

– Meet the ON Semiconductor FPF2281BUCX-F130, your over-voltage protection load switch superhero!

– Next up, we have the Texas Instruments TPS61240, a 450 mA boost converter that’s ready to save the day!

– Now, let’s talk about the Texas Instruments TLV707285P, a 200 mA LDO regulator that’s all about keeping things stable!

– Say hello to the Ricoh RP115L171B5, a 500 mA LDO regulator that’s got your back!

– Last but not least, we have the ON Semiconductor NCP134AMX110TCG, another 500 mA LDO regulator that’s part of the dream team!

– IC Identification, pt. 4:

– Meet the Qualcomm QFE3100 envelope tracker, your little helper in signal strength.

– Introducing the Sony CXM3642K SP12T + SP9T antenna switch module, the party planner for your antenna connections.

– Say hello to the Qorvo TQQ1013 band 13 SAW duplexer, crucial for keeping those signals in check.

– Don’t forget the Qorvo TQM963014 BC14/BC1/B25 BAW duplexer—it’s the unsung hero of frequency management.

– Also on the team is the Sony CXA4416 SP6T antenna switch (likely), helping to switch things up with style.

– And we have our mysterious friend, the antenna tuner (likely), making sure everything tunes in perfectly.

– The daughterboard easily pops out of the rear case, giving us access to the USB Type-C port and the microphone. Not too tricky, right?

– This part is pretty basic, meaning you’ll find some affordable USB port replacements. USB ports have historically been a common trouble spot, though USB Type-C might be a bit more reliable in this case.

– We spotted a few interesting bits of silicon on the daughterboard:

– Sadly, USB-C has had its own share of quirks.

– Qualcomm QFE2550 dynamic antenna matching tuner.

– AKM Semiconductor AK8789 Hall-effect sensor.

– NXP Semiconductor PTN36241G USB 3.0 redriver.

– ON Semiconductor FUSB340 USB 3.1 SuperSpeed 10 Gbps switch.

– Let’s give that Pixel Imprint fingerprint sensor a gentle nudge, just like popping a hatch off the back case!

– Taking a closer look, it may have a different vibe, but it definitely brings back memories of fingerprint sensors from phones we know and love.

– While HTC is usually a big name on its own, this time, their influence seems to be just on the battery. As a quiet collaborator, they’ve taken a back seat, sharing the spotlight with others.

– The Pixel XL’s chassis is still home to the oscillating linear vibration motor—and that’s exactly where it should be. A bit of X-ray wizardry lets us see it in motion, which is pretty cool.

– There’s a neat video out there showing the Pixel XL motor in action alongside the latest Taptic Engine from the iPhone 7 Plus. Definitely worth a look!

– Teardown Update: You asked, we listened—here’s a closer, smoother shot of that vibrating motor in action.

– The vibrator’s shiny metal casing didn’t quite impress us, so we decided to make it a bit more interesting with a rotary tool—science, right?

– The technical term for the magic behind the vibration is ‘linear oscillator.’ It’s a fancy way of saying there’s a weighted magnetic core that shakes between two springy metals. This creates the sensation of a click without any moving parts, giving you that satisfying tactile feedback.

– Here’s a super snazzy snapshot of some top-notch Pixel parts, just for you!