Introduction
We took apart the Kindle Paperwhite 3 (7th Generation) to find a simple constructions. The Paperwhite 3 comprises a e-ink screen, replaceable battery, and a single motherboard, earning it a respectable 8 out of 10 for repairability.
Parts
No parts specified.
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Front and rear reference shot.
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Adhesive is holding the bezel in place.
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An opening pick and an iFixit opening tool were the only tools needed to remove the bezel.
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No heat was needed, yielding a moderately difficult opening procedure.
There are no clips, only adhesive holding on the bezel. Starting midway on a side, insert a pick or thin blade tool into the narrow gap and slide underneath the bezel. The most difficult part is just getting the pick started. Once started, slide the tool farther in and work toward the ends, sliding the tool deep enough to break the adhesive as you go. Work all the way around and the bezel will be free to lift off.
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There are 11 Phillips screws holding the midframe to the rear case. One of those screws is hidden underneath tape.
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Once the screws are out the midframe easily separates from the rear case.
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The battery and motherboard are connected to the rear case.
You do not need to remove the tape hiding the one screw. Simply scrap it away overtop of the screw and then the screw can be removed.
The midframe can be a little snug in the back frame. Gently pry it out from the top and then lift it out from the top. Do not pry on the bottom, because the charging port and the off/on switch prevent it from being pried out from the bottom. The switch and charging port can be damaged it you pry from the bottom.
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The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite earns an 8 out of 10 on our repairability scale (10 is the easiest to repair):
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The battery was very easy to remove.
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All screws were Phillips #00 screws.
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All components likely needing replacement were modular, except for the USB port.
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Thin layer of adhesive that needed to broken in order to remove the bezel and access the internal components.
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Manufacturer does not provide user-accessible repair documentation.
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2 Comments
Thanks! Looking to replace scratched screen and this gives me confidence to diy.
Hi! How should I replace or fix the USB port? It’s malfunctioning and making my Kindle charge intermittently.
