Samsung E60 eReader Teardown

Written By: Michel Stempin

Published: 27/01/11

Comments: 0

Samsung E60 eReader Teardown

Published: 27/01/11

Teardown

Introduction

We stripped down the Samsung E60 eReader to its basic components!

Equipped with a Cortex A8 CPU, 256 Mb of RAM, 2Gb of Flash, USB OTG, Wifi, Bluetooth, SDCard slot and a 6" 600 x 800 e-Ink display, this device plays into the same category as the Amazon Kindle or the B&N Nook.

In Europe and in France particularly, its price has dropped from an introductory 329 Euros down to 99 Euros plus a 50 Euros refund, making it the cheapest available eReader available.

Many thanks to SegmentationFault for providing us with a device!

Tools

Step 1

Turn the device upside-down and slide open the back panel
Remove all accessories, including battery, stylus and additional MicroSD Card
Remove the 5 screws using a Philips #000 screwdriver

Step 2

Turn the device to have the screen up and slide open the keyboard
Gently twist the back cover at one of the keyboard corners to separate it from the keyboard top
The back cover is maintained by 3 or 4 invisible hooks on each side of the device
Following the join, squeeze gently the back cover to open it

Step 3

Gently pull up the 2 speaker connectors
Take off the 2 speakers that are soft-glued into their cavity

Step 4

The main PCB is maintained by 2 hooks at the top and 2 at the bottom
Make sure the keyboard is in the open position to get the maximum length for the screen's Flat Plastic Cable (FPC)
Press the 2 top hooks to release the PCB
There may be a sticker close to the 2 bottom hooks: peel it
Lift the PCB up and disconnect the screen FPC cable, then remove completely the PCB from the plastic case

Step 5

Unscrew the 6 short black screws using a Philips #00 screwdriver
Separate the plastic keyboard top from the screen assembly

Step 6

Push in the 3 small metallic hooks from the back of the keyboard to release the brushed aluminium keys

Step 7

Remove the 3 top metallic stickers that hide 3 screws
Remove the 5 screws usign a Philips #000 screwdriver
Separate the sliding assembly from the plastic top

Step 8

Remove all the transparent tapes on the PCBs and connectors, keeping the top one holding the screen to the plastic case
Pull up the small black lever on each connector (4 of them) on the intermediate PCB to release the corresponding cable

Step 9

Remove the left touchscreen FPC by pushing the 2 ears on the tiny intermediate plastic part to remove it out from the touchscreen PCB connector, then pull apart the FPC cable itself
Remove the 2 screws that hold the "Next/Prev" key PCB in place using a Philips #000 screwdriver

Step 10

Turn the "Prev/Next" keys PCB up, remove the transparent tape from the connector
Lift up the small lever on top of the conenctor to release the "Prev/Next" FPC cable
Remove the transparent tape that holds the screen to the pastic top

Step 11

As always, we provide each device with a fitting final layout shot that it so greatly deserves.
We would like to thank you for joining us tonight during this monumental endeavor.
When reassembling the device, make sure to exercise slowly the sliding keyboard before closing, in order to verify that the screen FPC cable is correctly in place and will not be sheared by the sliding assembly!