Samsung Galaxy S7 Teardown

Written By: Jeff Suovanen

Published: 11/03/16

Comments: 32

Samsung Galaxy S7 Teardown

Published: 11/03/16

Teardown

Introduction

Okay, this phone may have been cracked open a couple times already, but we're eager to investigate the mysterious thermal spreader ourselves. Will the fancy new tech in the S7 be as cool as it's cracked up to be? Only a teardown will tell.

Stay up to date on the latest repair news, and get a behind the scenes look at where the teardown magic happens by following us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Tools

Step 1

While legend has it that the number 7 has magical qualities, there's no knowing what qualities the S7 has. If we were to guess completely at random:
5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 × 1440 resolution (576 ppi)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with 4 GB RAM + Adreno 530 GPU
12-megapixel rear camera with dual pixel autofocus, 4K video capture; 5-megapixel selfie camera
32 or 64 GB internal storage, expandable via MicroSD card (up to 200 GB additional)
IP68 water resistance rating
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Since the S7 has never been seen on the internet before, there's no way to know if these educated guesses are right.

Step 2

Compared with its predecessor, the Galaxy S6, the all-new S7 is... uhhhh...
Sorry—which one's the S7 again? We have to flip them over to double-check.
That's better. Unlike its predecessor, the S7's back panel curves gently on the sides, making it a more grabbable handset.
The S7 also shaves off roughly a millimeter from the S6's length and width, while packing on nearly a full extra mm in thickness. That said, at 7.9 mm, it's plenty thin—and even sports a reduced camera bump.
After tearing down the S6, we weren't exactly wowed by its glass-on-glue construction; it scored a 4 out of 10 and a big "meh" in the repairability department. Here's hoping that, appearances notwithstanding, the S7 will fare better...

Step 3

Interestingly, Samsung chose to stay with a run-of-the-mill micro USB port, instead of the new USB Type-C standard.
Many new flagship phones (Nexus 6P, LG G5, OnePlus 2) feature Type-C, though few fully utilize the power of the connector.
For now, Samsung seems to think that the older, more widely compatible standard is good enough.
Or, they just thought it would be awkward if all those free Gear VR headsets weren't compatible with the phones they shipped with.
Samsung has also made upgrading to a new phone incredibly easy, with an included USB adapter. It's almost like they expect you to buy a new phone before your current device is completely worn out beyond repair. Weird.

Maybe IPX8 rated type C connectors were not available yet? Also, type C generally takes up more board space.

Hugo - 25/01/17

Step 4

With no exterior screws to be found, there can only be one form of dark matter holding this Galaxy together. Yep, that'd be glue.
Fortunately, it's nothing a hot iOpener can't handle.
We love any excuse to break out our trusty twin-suction-cupped iSclack tool, and the S7's front and rear glass panels make it a perfect target.
With the rear glass lifted by a smidge, we attack with an opening pick and slice apart the adhesive.
All in all, it's the same drill as last time—with maybe a slight increase in stickiness.

qui a écrit ça? c’est incompréhensible!!!!

aquouel tequila - 11/05/18

Bonjour! Merci pour la remarque attentive. La traduction a été adaptée à présent. Nous vous encourageons à rejoindre nos fidèles traducteurs ici https://fr.ifixit.com/Translate ;-) Ensemble, nous pouvons réparer le monde ! Cordialement, Claire

Claire Miesch - 21/06/18

My rear glass shattered once I started to cut the adhesive. I would say replacing the LCD on this phone is nearly impossible without destroying the phone.

ossmark77 - 16/08/18

Step 5

Where last year we found gooey white adhesive, we now find gooey black adhesive. Possibly it was reformulated for waterproofing purposes—or, it could just be a matter of better color-matching.
Removing the back cover hasn't given us access to anything useful—just a smooth surface for the glass to stick to.
Fortunately, part of that surface consists of screws.

Step 6

Actually, that smooth surface contains some useful bits, like the S7's antennas...
...and its speaker...
...and MY axe.
We'd rather see a user-replaceable battery, or at least an accessible connector for one, but these days we're not expecting much from Samsung. Its once-lofty repairability scores have fallen hard from the heady days of the Galaxy S4.

Step 7

We line up the pieces for a closer look at the individual components, including the wireless charging coil.
Last year's Galaxy flagship had a single midframe with a handful of aggressively adhered parts, so this separation is a welcome change in our book.
All these modular components connect to the motherboard by way of tiny spring contacts, making removal and replacement a snap—once you've muscled your way past all the glue and glass, anyway.

Step 8

Samsung got some flak from consumers for reducing battery capacity in last year's S6. It seems they took the hint and made up for it by including this 3000 mAh battery in the S7.
That's a significant boost over the Galaxy S6's 2550 mAh battery, and it even beats the much larger iPhone 6s Plus's 2750 mAh powerplant.
Sadly, as evidenced by this important warning label, the S7's battery does not work in the presence of puppies.
Although the battery upgrade means more time to binge on apps and games, the battery itself is well wedged and adhered in place, making extraction a little tough.
If it wasn't designed to be readily removed, then it wasn't intended to be repaired or replaced. Boo.

I would never buy a phone with this warning against puppies

Alber Einsten - 15/03/16

Step 9

Working our way to the motherboard, we pluck out a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.
Unfortunately, you'll have to work almost as hard to get flawless selfies on the S7 as you did on the S6. The only front-facing camera upgrade here is the shiny new ƒ/1.7 aperture.
With the front camera out of the way, we lift up the motherboard and find a familiar daughterboard connector on its underside.

Step 10

Compared to the 16-megapixel rear camera on the S6, it seems the S7 got a downgrade with a 12-megapixel/4K rear camera .
However, the sensor in the S7 sports Dual Pixel autofocus technology (a.k.a. phase detection) for every pixel.
Additionally, these pixels measure in at 1.4 µm—a full 25% increase from last year's model. So, despite having fewer pixels, even photos taken in the worst lighting should come out clearer in a head-to-head comparison.
Looking closely at the camera assembly, we find:
Sony IMX260 12 MP image sensor (likely)
Renesas OIS driver
STMicroelectronics L2G2IS 2-axis MEMS gyroscope
Winbond W25Q32FWXGIG 32 Mb flash memory

Step 11

Our friends at Chipworks may have beaten us to the punch, but that doesn't stop us from giving this board our due diligence. Squirreled away under the EMI shields, we find:
SK Hynix H9KNNNCTUMU-BRNMH 4 GB LPDDR4 memory layered over the Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820
Samsung KLUBG4G1CE-B0B1 32 GB MLC universal flash storage 2.0
DSP Group DBMD4 audio/voice processor
Qualcomm WCD9335 audio codec
Maxim Integrated MAX98506BEWV audio amplifier
Maxim Integrated MAX77854EWZ power management w/ li-ion battery charger
ON Semiconductor load switch

The part number of the memory should be H9HKNNNCTUMUBR-NMH.

H9KNNNCTUMU-BRNMH is incorrect.

JJ Wu - 16/03/16

Step 12

And some more:
Avago AFEM-9040 multiband multimode module
Murata FAJ15 front end module
Qorvo QM78064 high band RF fusion module
Qorvo QM63001A diversity receive module
TDK D5287 antenna switch module
TDK D5275 antenna switch module
Qorvo TQF6260 power amplifier duplexer

Step 13

And on the flip side...
Samsung 1316S7 Wi-Fi Module (likely contains a Broadcom BCM4359 WiFi/Bluetooth transceiver)
NXP Semiconductor 67T05 (PN67T) NFC controller
IDT P9221 wireless power receiver (likely an iteration of IDT P9220)
STMicroelectronics LSM6DS3 always-on 6-Axis IMU
Qualcomm PM8996 PMIC
Qualcomm QFE3100 envelope tracker
Qualcomm WTR4905 and WTR3925 RF transceivers

Step 14

IC identification, pt. 2:
Samsung camera processor (possibly)
Zinitix ZF115N haptic driver
Samsung S2MPB02 power management
Qualcomm PM8004 power management
Maxim Integrated MAX77838EWO power management
NXP Semiconductor NCX2200 comparator
Toshiba TC7SBD385FU bus switch

Step 15

IC identification, pt. 3:
NXP Semiconductor BGU8103 GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/BeiDou low noise amplifier
NXP Semiconductor BGS8M2 LTE low noise amplifier
NXP Semiconductor BGS8H2 LTE low noise amplifier
NXP Semiconductor BGS8L2 LTE low noise amplifier
Infineon BGSX22GN10 DPDT RF antenna switch
Infineon BGS12SN6 RF switch
Infineon BGS12PL6 RF switch

Step 16

IC identification, pt. 4:
Infineon RF switch
Infineon antenna tuning switch
RDA Microelectronics RDA6213N FM radio receiver
ON Semiconductor FPF2495B over-voltage/current protection load switch
Diodes Incorporated AP7346D-3318FS6-7 dual 3.3V & 1.8V LDO regulator
Diodes Incorporated AP7340D-18FS4-7 1.8 V LDO regulator
Knowles MEMS microphone

Step 17

IC identification, pt. 5 (sensors):
Maxim Integrated MAX86902 heart rate sensor/integrated pulse oximetry/UV sensor module (likely)
STMicroelectronics LSM6DS3 3-axis accelerometer/gyroscope
Bosch Sensortec BMP280 pressure sensor
AKM Semiconductor AK09911 3-axis electronic compass
ABLIC, Inc. (Formerly Seiko Instruments) S-5712CCDL1-I4T1U Hall sensor

Step 18

Next up is the S7's modular headphone jack.
Complete with cute rubber seal!
Looks like Samsung decided to take its ruggedized "Sport" standards to their flagship, with a hefty IP68 rating (the highest level being IP69).
Perhaps responding to a certain fruit company's recent waterproofing efforts?
We find more rubber seals around the lower microphone and speaker making for some serious ingress protection.

Step 19

Just like its predecessor, the cables for the S7's soft buttons are wrapped around the display-backing frame.
These sandwiched cables make a daughterboard replacement (including the charging port) next to impossible, since freeing these cables means removing the OLED screen.
Undaunted, we bring back our iOpener to ease the ~~tension~~ adhesive.
While we're at it, we grab a trusty opening pick and set to work on the terrible task of prying open the OLED.

Step 20

Peeling up those pesky soft button LED cables lets us finally free the daughterboard.
Just for those of you keeping score, this messy situation prevents easy replacement of: display and digitizer (of course), USB port, microphone, and soft button LEDs.
If you need to replace the charging port, unless you have some microsoldering skills, you have two options: sacrifice those soft button LEDs or replace your display in the process.
Remember that fake "midframe" made of antennas? Turns out the S7 just buried its midframe deeper, and adhered the display to it, rather than secure its display assembly to a midframe with screws.
This beefs up the S7’s waterproofiness, but means more of a fight to repair the thing should you suffer non-water related troubles.

Step 21

Daughterboard IC identification:
ABOV Semiconductor MC80F1504M 8-Bit microcontroller w/ 8 Kb flash
Qualcomm QFE2550 antenna tuner
Infineon antenna tuning switch
Knowles MEMS microphone
ABLIC, Inc. (Formerly Seiko Instruments) S-5712CCDL1-I4T1U Hall sensor

Step 22

Alright, the moment we've all been waiting for: the legendary "liquid cooling" system in the S7.
It's a tiny copper twig.
Actually, it's a teeny heat pipe (thin copper tube) with less than half a gram of material, measuring less than half a millimeter thick.
This may not be as revolutionary as Samsung describes it, but most heat pipes do technically use liquid to transfer heat.
In the case of the S7, we're guessing that the pipe transfers heat to the phone's metal midframe, where it can then radiate out to the side—or directly into your hands.
We've seen heat pipes in phones before, but the growing need for them shows how phone processors are getting faster (and sometimes hotter) each year.

Step 23

Samsung Galaxy S7 Repairability Score: 3 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair).
Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
Unlike the S6 Edge, the battery can be removed without first ousting the motherboard—but tough adhesive and a glued-on rear panel make replacement more difficult than necessary.
The display needs to be removed (and likely destroyed) if you want to replace the USB port.
Front and back glass make for double the crackability, and strong adhesive on the rear glass makes it very difficult to gain entry into the device.
Replacing the glass without destroying the display is probably impossible.

Author

Jeff Suovanen

Member since: 06/08/13

427153 Reputation

26 comments

Fantastic breakdown, shame that Samsung refuse to have easily repaired phones (or even replace the battery). Its as if they want you to buy a new one... At the end of the day, I love my S4 (CM13) and until there is a reason to up(down)grade I am happy with it

Lucas - 08/03/16

brightness of the photos is the best reason

m2k - 09/03/16

Thanks for helping me decide which phone to get. Samsung is out of my list because I keep my phone longer than the battery lasts. So the shortlist is down to Nexus 5X and LG G5. Keep on your good work:-)

Jens Anders Salberg - 08/03/16

G5 man

It's compatible with that little rolly ball thing

Albert Einstein - 09/03/16

Another reason the LG G5 wins, it's not a freaking lazy throw away. This kind of e waste design needs to be banned. We don't have unlimited materials on earth to waste on a phone.

John Ross - 08/03/16

Nice teardown iFixit! Question I hope you can answer: There is a Flex coming from the Display back next to the Battery holder, where the heatpipe bends. Where is this Flex coming from?

First I thought this was perhaps the Touchscreen controller, however the S6 had this integrated in a single 60ckt. connection to the board, whereas the S7 has a 64ckt. connection using the same screen as the S6. So perhaps this is something else?

Thanks for your advise on this!

Ferdi - 09/03/16

That's the home button cable :)

Andrew Optimus Goldheart - 11/03/16

Historians has noted how technology has regressed to the point that there was no proper solution of sealing a mere phone's back without destroying it while opening in 2016.

J87 - 09/03/16

Planned obsolescence at its best. Too bad, Samsung was one of my favorites.

Techie Purple guy - 09/03/16

Many thanks guys great fantastic work

best regards

andres

andrzejczarnecki - 09/03/16

Did i see right? The glass is no longer permanently cemented to the screen? That seems like an improvement...

kylegreenhow - 10/03/16

So glad I held onto my S5... the last good Samsung phone, and a battery that can be removed without removing multiple layers of glue and risking breaking your whole fscking phone.

Scott Remick - 10/03/16

Here's my advice in response to this so-called tear down...DON'T DO IT. YOU WILL REGRET IT

samadams72 - 11/03/16

Just because something is slightly complicated or in the "too hard and delicate basket" to fix, doesn't mean it's a great phone. It is and I just love my Samsung S7 edge. Man up, and get it done.

Jason Edwards - 06/04/16

I was told Himax Technologies has controllers or other components (cameras, ect) in the Galaxy S6's and S7's- is this true?

Richard Smatt - 30/06/16

I was also told that this came from Himax: 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 × 1440 resolution (576 ppi)

Richard Smatt - 30/06/16

cool! you break the display.. and also all adhesives that correctly removed can be reused perfectly :) but respect!... with such teardown you earned the phone price 10x

albert einstein - 14/10/16

Hi. I accidentally poked the top mic hole instead of the sim tray with the pin. What an idiot! Mic still works fine, but does anyone have any information on the waterproof setup of the mic. Might I have compromised it? Thanks

Matt Guest - 06/02/17

The waterprotective stuff is waterprotective GLASS, so it should still be able to work underwater, so hope it helped

Tyler Boehm - 16/05/17

It’s a shame that the customer is demanding slimmer phones with less bezel area. They are getting ridiculous. They need to make the phone sealed (no user replaceable battery) in order to get it super slim. The bezels are getting so small that they are absolutely impossible to hold in your hand without holding it completely awkward, which leads to errant screen touches, and/or dropping the phone. It is now impossible to hold a flagship phone without an Otter Box, or similar type of case, to give your hand some purchase. They want you to not be able to hold the phone so you drop it more frequently, and have to buy replacement parts, service, or a new phone; or even worse, deal with a cracked/partially functioning screen. Every person I’ve seen tat doesn’t use an Otter Box case, or a case with equal protection, ALWAYS has a cracked screen… ALWAYS. Anyone I’ve come across carrying a naked phone has a completely battered phone.

Andrew Delashaw - 17/06/18

I discover your website. It is amazing. Thank you.

My question : is it possible to find bigger MLC stockage universel Flash 2.0 such as 64 or more and to install it ? Same question for the S6.

Cédric Henrissat - 01/01/20

I was trying to nail down the bluetooth location and reason for weak signal. You did mention the chipsets, but some comments on antenna routing and service would help. Regardless, thank you for this !!

Max Reynal - 04/04/20

First, all types of Heat-pipes use the same thermal process to cold-down a GPU, CPU, BRIDGE I/O and RAM. Second, what Samsung just did was done before by Sony, Microsoft and many others. Third, Vapor-chamber really? for god sake don't be a ...

شركة جذاب نقل اثاث - 26/01/21

Thank you so much for this guide. Recently my Galaxy S7 died and I lost all data. Now I know how to open it.

Alturas Contractors -

I have a samsung galaxy s7 which died stuck at the loading screen, where can i get this chip K3RG2G20CM-CGCJ.

Is there any trustable sites to buy it ? Please advice

ChandyTech -

bonjour,

merci pour ce démontage complet.

mais ou est le module gps ?

peter -