Tablet Repairability list, brickbats and bouquets

When things go wrong with a device you hope someone will be able to fix it. That is the simple reasoning behind iFixIt’s “Tablet Repairability” list, which considers products in terms other than their initial functional spec.

The company is well known for its product teardowns  – see the Apple iPad mini and Kindle Fire HD, for example – that underlie its ‘repairability’ ranking. Having disassembled and analyzed each tablet, the company awards a repairability score between zero and ten (where ten is the easiest to repair).

How do they rate devices?

A device with a perfect score will be relatively inexpensive to repair because it is easy to disassemble and has a service manual available. Points are docked based on the difficulty of opening the device, the types of fasteners found inside, and the complexity involved in replacing major components. Points are awarded for upgradability, use of non-proprietary tools for servicing, and component modularity.

Tip top of the table? The Dell XPS 10. Headline points in its favour include:
    Easy to open. Easy to remove battery.
    Color-coded screws and labelled cables inside.
The LCD, however, is fused to the glass…

Apple iPads crowd the bottom of the ranking (iPad2/3/4/mini), but the absolute worst, in terms of repairability? The Microsoft Surface Pro (pictured)…     

Marks against it comprise:
    Tons of adhesive holds everything in place.
    Opening the device risks shearing the display cables.
One point in its favour, however, is that the battery is not soldered to the motherboard.

View the full Table of Tablets, with each entry linked to its relevant teardown. Nice.