Introduction

  1. CASjj4XpVyqCYNVS
    CASjj4XpVyqCYNVS
    cboZaC152JdtF6If
    hbh1GOilBUyLCepR
    • Begin with your standard issue Nest Mini. note the white insert inside the mounting hole.

    • Insert an appropriate tool underneath this flexible rubber white insert. I'm using a knife. Knives are sharp, be careful.

    • The rubber insert comes out, revealing a sneaky T6 Torx screw.

    But not open I removed hanger rubber and scroow but not open

    sham .r -

  2. BcEjqZVGsuJhy6vT
    BcEjqZVGsuJhy6vT
    qTMLdGOJJ5OyYVFj
    1GZNIMLET2PCpNMB
    • Do the normal thing with the T6 Torx screw.

    • Grab the front of the speaker in one hand and the back cover in the other, and rotate the back clockwise slightly. It should rotate just a few millimeters.

    • Four lugs inside are disengaged when it rotates. You can now gently lift the back cover away. Be careful not to put strain on the ribbon cable.

    • Using a plastic spudger, unfasten the zero insertion force (ZIF) connector latch. Slide the ribbon connector out of the ZIF connector to free it.

  3. vmfZssbMn1dF2AJw
    • Three more T6s secure a board bringing power input and a microphone switch down the ribbon cable.

  4. byjLhgC6KWlxD4Ye
    byjLhgC6KWlxD4Ye
    keTqv2iiCJumvyDV
    lbvUuIxVUeOwOQsq
    • Four more T6 screws secure the speaker assembly to the front.

    • A small connector must be unplugged to detach the speaker after unscrewing. Under the speaker, we find ... more T6 screws!

    • The speaker has no fasteners and probably cannot be opened further nondestructively.

    • The foam covering the speaker hides a serial number in QR and written form.

  5. FdmPMgUJvKrIyGXY
    • So far all the T6 screws have been the same. The five screws securing this piece, which covers the logic board, are not. Four long ones and a short one. If you forget the positions, the picture has your back.

  6. ZptkQeyuItXCVklK
    ZptkQeyuItXCVklK
    fpM5NNLThPwMcTj6
    • Relieved of its T6s, the last piece pulls away with a bit of thermal shmoo.

    • Here lies the smarts of this speaker. Ain't that much to look at, is it?

  7. PvDQ1bKTnWOZk2aL
    PvDQ1bKTnWOZk2aL
    jieNSNcJTgXMOCJl
    • The board can be gently prised from its casing, now secured only by some glue, thermal pads, and foil tape.

    • There's not much in here that's serviceable without an advanced degree in fiddly soldering.

notethan

Member since: 28/08/10

274 Reputation

24 comments

Hello notethan, good teardown, is some marking readable on the flash and cpu chips?

Leonid Protasov -

Thanks Leonid.

The NAND flash is TC58NVG2S0H

The SoC is Synaptics AS-370 A1

RAM is NT5CC128M16JR

The entire markings on each chip are:

1932KLE

ZN4238 CHINA

TC58NVG2S0H

8AI6

Synaptics

AS-370 A1

933AFFH 423

U15014.000F

NT5CC128M16JR-EK[there's more letters but they're covered]

92420800EP L T[there's more letters but they're covered]

notethan -

What power it has inside so I can make it portable with a rechargeable battery?

ALEXA -

Hello. The power brick gives out 14V 1.1A. You can buy USB-C Power Delivery module and program it to give out 15v (ranges from 14 - 16v, depending on your power supply). My highly guess is that the logic inside has it own downconverter to its desired voltage, but the driver for the speaker takes whatever comes in directly, and my guess they can handle a wide range of voltage.

Tord Are Karlsen -

@hk_asking The switch is on a small peripheral board connected by a ribbon cable. I cannot tell if it directly disconnects the microphone.

notethan -

@alexa3 the power supply is marked 14V / 1.1A

notethan -

Any ideea of any battery fix to make it portable, rechargeable preferably.

Thank you for your reply

ALEXA -

no, I’m afraid I don’t know much about battery circuitry. there is not much free space inside this little puck to hold a battery with significant capacity, though.

notethan -

One of the most discussed problem keeping buyers away from Nest mini, is the portability of the speaker.

If you could find us an external rechargeable battery to adapt modify would be a great help for us and for the poor Google.

I think I am making a better choice with Google nest mini 2nd gen versus Alexa echo dot 3rd gen because many reviewers are saying is better in voice recognition commands even it has only 2 mics, versus 4 microphones on Alexa.

Thank you for your help!

ALEXA -

There are a number of clip-on battery bases made for the Google Home Mini (1gen) which plug into the micro-USB connector of that model. I imagine it’s only a matter of time before these firms retool to create a base for the Nest Mini.

I’ve been tempted by them myself for the following use cases … taking out to the patio … on the go (and connected to a phone’s hotstpot) … in a large room where you want to relocate a Mini close by (and the Mini is easier to manage than its larger Home sibling). I myself have an outlet charger/base unit in my bathroom’s outlet — works great.

David Spalding -

You can buy a USB-C power delivery trigger module and program it to deliver 15v out.

Tord Are Karlsen -

How to make it portable: buy a jump start battery, sae/ec5 to 5.5 2.1 cable and a 3.5 1.35 to 5.5 2.1 adapter. Done. I have an ever start Maxx and it lasts 3h+ on 12v. One of these days I'll try giving it 16v… not expecting good things.

Ray Foss -

Can the mic be removed

VDub -

the mics are soldered onto the main board. also the device is primarily voice controlled so that would render it pretty much nonfunctional.

notethan -

Thank you for your work.

Culi Pham -

Where abouts are the microphone. They really aren't obvious unless there's 3 of them

Теасн Mi Kode. Cymru -

There are 3 microphones. They are 3 silver chips on one side, above through holes corresponding to rubber gasket things on the other side.

notethan -

Very helpfull. I placed black electrical tape on the led holes. So now when its muted I dont see that annoying light.

Thanks

MrGinos -

would it be possible to wire in an AUX port to turn this into a chrome cast audio?

will -

Does anyone have specs on the speaker? I'm wanting to remount one into a Hal 9000 model but the default speaker is too thick.

David Benhart -

Can you upgrade the RAM? And what’s the standard ram?

Jason Content -

what are the type numbers of microphones?

Muhammed Bolatkale -

Do you have any chipset information of the WiFi that used in this product? thank you

KJcolin -

I need to substitute my input power board. Do you know the name and specifications of this part and where i find to buy that?

Lucas Gouvea Pereira -