iFixit and ABI deconstruct the Galaxy S II

A new teardown by iFixit has revealed much of the construction of the Galaxy S II and has been joined by a similar look by ABI Research that has revealed some genuinely new parts. While the battery life is unspectacular given the Samsung-made 1.2GHz Exynos chip, the Android 2.3 flagship uses a low-power Infineon XMM6260 baseband chip to keep the power consumption down while reaching full speed. A new CMOS antenna switch, and an all-in-one power amplifier that condenses multiple bands into one also help Samsung manage the smaller size.

Even the eight-megapixel camera is smaller than that on the iPhone 4, iFixit said, while still producing quality shots.

In spite of the 8.8mm (0.35in) depth, the phone is relatively easy to disassemble: unclipping five ribbon cables and removing two screws takes it out. The very thin plastic back panel appears to be Samsung's main sacrifice, iFixit said. Enough can be safely disassembled that it's possible to get back a fully functioning phone even after a complete teardown.

Samsung is currently selling the Galaxy S II in the US only as an unlocked model that often lacks 3G. Canadians get it first through Bell, SaskTel, and Virgin, but it should reach most major US carriers if and when slow negotiations wrap up.

By Electronista Staff