Teardown: Samsung Cuts LTE Cost in Half

​The Samsung Galaxy Nexus made a big impact on the market in December due to its sleek design, new Android operating system (Ice Cream Sandwich), and NFC capability.  The Galaxy Nexus has another notable hidden feature, however: the Samsung Galaxy Nexus modem is constructed with the combination of a Via Telecom CDMA/EVDO Rev. A integrated circuit and a Samsung LTE baseband integrated circuit.  This combination is now common for Samsung’s Verizon phones, but the Galaxy Nexus sports a new version of the LTE baseband chip.  The new chip is estimated at nearly half the cost of the prior chip’s $23 price tag.  This type of cost reduction is an important milestone in securing the rapid migration to LTE throughout the world.    

The application processor found inside the Galaxy Nexus is a TI OMAP4460.  This processor runs at 1.2GHz and has matched the performance of the prior handset performance leader (Samsung’s own Exynos running at 1.2GHz).  The OMAP4460 matched the performance and power consumption for graphics and video test but consumed significantly more power in computational intensive tests. 

Major Samsung Galaxy Nexus notables include:

•    New Samsung LTE baseband chip

•    NFC support, with NFC antenna embedded in the battery

•    CSR GPS single chip

•    Broadcom Wi-Fi/BT/FM single chip

•    Avago LTE PA and GPS frontend

•    1.2GHz OMAP4460 application processor

ABI Research’s “Samsung Galaxy Nexus Teardown” provides detailed photos, process evaluation, and part descriptions for all of the major components such as power amplifier, power management, baseband processor, application processor, RF, Bluetooth, GPS, WiLAN, and many discretes. Tying all this information together are unique circuit board photos, performance measurements, benchmark data, cost information, and board area data.

It is one of thousands of devices and components – phones, baseband processors, power management, RF front end components, connectivity components, application processors, sensors, and power management discretes – that are torn down and analyzed in the firm’s Mobile Device Teardown Service. 

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 40+ research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.