E-Reader Repairability Scores
You have the right to repair the things you own—but how easily can that be done?
To find out, our engineers tear down the latest e-readers and score their repairability from zero (unrepairable) to ten (easiest to repair) so you can pick a product that is easy to repair and lasts as long as possible.
What makes a repairable device?
It should be straightforward to disassemble and replace whatever’s broken, using parts and instructions supplied (or endorsed) by the manufacturer. But that’s just to start—repairability means so much more. For full details, see our repairability scoring explainer.
Repairability is a moving target
We update our scoring rubric frequently to stay current with new technologies, materials, and design trends. This means that devices scored in years past might not fare exactly the same if they were re-scored today, but they can be readily compared with their contemporaries. For a precise list of criteria used to calculate each score, click the scorecard version number linked to each device below. For a downloadable (CSV) list of all scores, click here.
E-Reader Scores
Sorted by newest to oldest
Kobo Libra Colour
2024
PROS
- Opening is quick and simple, and the battery is easy to access and secured with stretch-release adhesive.
- Kobo provides official replacement parts and instructions for repairs.
CONS
- Sticky waterproofing coats everything inside, guarding against liquid damage but complicating other repairs.
- The USB-C port is soldered to the motherboard.
Kobo Clara Colour
2024
PROS
- Opening is quick and simple, and the battery is easy to access and secured with stretch-release adhesive.
- Kobo provides official replacement parts and instructions for repairs.
CONS
- Sticky waterproofing coats everything inside, guarding against liquid damage but complicating other repairs.
- The USB-C port is soldered to the motherboard.
Kobo Clara BW
2024
PROS
- Opening is quick and simple, and the battery is easy to access and secured with stretch-release adhesive.
- Kobo provides official replacement parts and instructions for repairs.
CONS
- Sticky waterproofing coats everything inside, guarding against liquid damage but complicating other repairs.
- The USB-C port is soldered to the motherboard.
Nook GlowLight 4
2023
CONS
- The battery, page turn buttons, power button, and USB-C port are all soldered to the motherboard.
- Display repairs require prying out and replacing the glued-in battery.
- No official replacement parts or repair instructions are available.
Onyx Boox Poke5
2023
PROS
- The battery is replaceable, sporting stretch-release adhesive and a friendly connector.
- A modular microSD card slot supports expandable storage.
CONS
- No official replacement parts or repair instructions are available.
Moaan InkPalm 5
2023
PROS
- The power and page turn buttons are both modular parts.
CONS
- Display replacements seem impractical, requiring full disassembly, including prying out and replacing the glued-in battery.
- No official replacement parts or repair instructions are available.
Amazon Kindle (11th gen)
2022
PROS
- The battery is replaceable, sporting stretch-release adhesive and a friendly connector.
CONS
- The power button and USB-C port are soldered to the motherboard.
- No official replacement parts or repair instructions are available.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (11th gen)
2021
PROS
- Getting inside with standard tools is very straightforward.
CONS
- The battery and motherboard are both stubbornly glued in place. Display replacements seem impractical.
- The USB-C port is soldered to the motherboard.
- No official replacement parts or repair instructions are available.
Kobo Sage
2021
CONS
- Opening the device is likely a destructive process, requiring heat and a delicate hand.
- The battery, page turn buttons, and USB-C port are all soldered to the motherboard.
- Strong adhesive secures the battery.
- No official replacement parts or repair instructions are available.
PocketBook InkPad Lite
2021
PROS
- The page turn buttons, power button, and USB-C port are all part of a replaceable daughterboard.
- A modular microSD card slot supports expandable storage.
CONS
- Display repairs require prying out and replacing the glued-in battery.
- No official replacement parts or repair instructions are available.
