Legacy Smartphone
Repairability Scores
Sorted by newest to oldest
Fairphone 4
2021
PROS
- The pop-out battery can be replaced in seconds, with no tools required.
- Display repairs are easy and well-prioritized.
- The OEM supports all common repairs with clear instructions and publicly available replacement parts.
Google Pixel 6
2021
PROS
- The display is straightforward to remove and replace.
- Many components are highly modular, and standard T3 screws are used throughout.
CONS
- The strongly adhered battery is difficult to replace.
Google Pixel 6 Pro
2021
PROS
- Many components are highly modular, and standard T3 screws are used throughout.
CONS
- Replacing the glued battery is tough work, and the charge port is soldered.
NOTES
- Display repairs can be challenging, but free public software helps with calibration.
iPhone 13 Pro
2021
PROS
- Display and battery replacements remain a priority in the new iPhones’ design.
- Most other components are modular and easy to access or replace.
CONS
- Once again, double glass means double drop damage, and despite the improvements to durability over the years, there’s still no easy way to replace the rear glass.
Google Pixel 5a
2021
PROS
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
- Battery repairs are reasonably well-prioritized, but tricky adhesive complicates repairs.
CONS
- The charging port, a high-wear part, is not modular and repair requires a full motherboard replacement.
Mi 11
2021
PROS
- Only one standard Phillips screwdriver is needed.
CONS
- The glass body makes drop damage more likely, and the curved glass requires special tools or is likely to break during repairs.
- To replace the in-display fingerprint sensor, you’ll need to remove the whole display—which can result in a broken screen.
Huawei Mate 40 Pro
2020
PROS
- Huawei uses standard Phillips screws throughout the phone.
CONS
- Glass on front and back doubles the likelihood of drop damage.
- The display adhesive is insanely strong.
iPhone 12 Pro Max
2020
PROS
- Screen and battery remain prioritized and reasonably accessible for replacement.
- Most components are fairly modular and replaceable.
CONS
- The glass back makes drops even more dangerous and requires a full case replacement if it breaks.
iPhone 12 Mini
2020
PROS
- The two most common smartphone repairs—display and battery—are well-prioritized here.
- Most major components are modular enough to be accessed/replaced independently.
CONS
- Glass covering the rear housing is fragile and impractical to replace—a single drop could necessitate replacing the entire body of the iPhone.
iPhone 12 Pro
2020
PROS
- Display and battery replacements remain a priority in the new iPhones’ design.
- Most other important components are modular and easy to access or replace.
CONS
- Glass on front and back doubles the likelihood of drop damage—and if the back glass breaks, you’ll be removing every component and replacing the entire chassis.
Google Pixel 5
2020
PROS
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
- Battery repairs are reasonably well-prioritized, but tricky adhesive complicates repairs.
CONS
- The charging port, a high-wear part, is not modular; this repair requires microsoldering or a full motherboard replacement.
Microsoft Surface Duo
2020
CONS
- Batteries are glued and require extensive disassembly to service.
- The USB-C port is soldered directly to the main board.
- Uncommon tri-point screws secure key components.
Google Pixel 4a
2020
PROS
- Most components are modular and independently replaceable.
- Repair-friendly stretch-release adhesive secures the battery, and is easy to release successfully.
NOTES
- The display comes off first, but is fragile and poorly protected. Foam adhesive makes the opening process relatively easy.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
2020
PROS
- You’ll only need one screwdriver, a standard Phillips.
CONS
- Battery replacement remains far too difficult for a consumable component.
- Screen repairs are tedious, poorly prioritized, and unnecessarily expensive.
iPhone SE 2020
2020
PROS
- The two most commonly replaced components, display and battery, remain straightforward to access with the proper knowledge and tools.
- Most components are modular and independently replaceable, including many that are cross-compatible with iPhone 8.
CONS
- The fragile glass back is impractical to replace.
Samsung Galaxy A51
2020
PROS
- A single Phillips driver takes care of all the screws.
CONS
- Screen repairs require a lot of disassembly while battling tough adhesive.
NOTES
- The plastic back cover is glued in place, but can be removed fairly easily with heat.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
2020
PROS
- The fasteners, all identical Phillips screws, only require one driver and can’t be mixed up, simplifying repair.
CONS
- Every repair starts with painstakingly un-gluing the fragile glass rear cover.
- Replacing the glued-down battery is tougher than ever, especially with board interconnect cables to work around.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
2020
CONS
- Glued-down glass panels are an unnecessary barrier to entry for repairs, especially given the phone’s lack of ingress protection.
- Battery replacements are possible, but unnecessarily difficult due to poorly-routed cables and the lack of stretch-release adhesive.
- The components involved in the folding process are likely to wear over time (even if you don’t bathe them in purple dust), necessitating eventual replacement.
Motorola razr
2020
CONS
- Every repair starts (and ends) with stubborn, glued-on outer covers.
- Replacing the battery—or rather, batteries—requires near-total disassembly.
- The charging port is soldered directly to the main board.
Google Pixel 4 XL
2019
PROS
- All screws are standard T3 Torx fasteners.
CONS
- Display repairs continue to be difficult, requiring complete disassembly of the phone.
- All repairs require access through the stubbornly-glued back panel.
iPhone 11
2019
PROS
- The prioritized display makes replacement of this critical component easier than in other devices.
- Display swaps don’t require too much hardware swapping to maintain Face ID.
CONS
- Front and back glass doubles the chances of breakage, and the rear glass can only be fully replaced with a complete housing swap.
iPhone 11 Pro Max
2019
PROS
- Critical display and battery repairs remain a priority in the iPhone’s design.
- The battery procedure has been simplified and many components are accessible independently.
CONS
- Glass on front and back doubles the likelihood of drop damage—and if the back glass breaks, you’ll be removing every component and replacing the entire chassis.
Fairphone 3
2019
PROS
- Key components like the battery and screen have been prioritized in the design and are accessible either without tools or just a regular Phillips screwdriver.
- Visual cues inside the phone help with disassembling and replacing its parts and modules.
- Replacing complete modules is very easy. Going for their internal parts is also possible and requires a Torx screwdriver.
Samsung Galaxy Note10 Plus 5G
2019
PROS
- Equally-sized Phillips fasteners means you only need to bring one driver for repairs.
CONS
- Every repair starts with painstakingly un-gluing the fragile glass rear cover.
- Replacing the glued-down battery is tougher than ever, especially with board interconnect cables to work around.
Shift 6m
2019
PROS
- Battery and screen repairs are prioritized.
- Only one type of screw head and length are used throughout the phone.
- Most components are modular and can be replaced individually.
Huawei Mate 20 X 5G
2019
PROS
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- Glued-down front and back glass means greater risk of breakage, while making all repairs difficult to start.
- Screen repairs will require near-complete disassembly.
Google Pixel 3a
2019
PROS
- Most components are modular and can be easily replaced once the display assembly is removed.
- Repair-friendly stretch-release adhesive secures the battery.
CONS
- The myriad long, thin ribbon cables connecting the internal componentry can be obnoxious to work around, and are easy to accidentally tear.
Google Pixel 3a XL
2019
PROS
- Most components are modular and can be easily replaced once the display assembly is removed.
- Repair-friendly stretch-release adhesive secures the battery.
CONS
- The myriad long, thin ribbon cables connecting the internal componentry can be obnoxious to work around, and are easy to accidentally tear.
Samsung Galaxy Fold
2019
CONS
- The mechanics involved in the fold are likely to wear over time, causing stress to hinges and display, necessitating eventual replacement.
- The fragility of the main display means you’ll almost certainly be replacing it before long—a pricey repair.
- Battery replacements are possible, but unnecessarily difficult—solvents help, but risk damage to the display supports.
Samsung Galaxy S10
2019
PROS
- A single Phillips driver takes care of all the screws.
CONS
- Battery replacement is possible, but still unnecessarily difficult.
- Glued-down glass both front and back means greater risk of breakage, and makes repairs difficult to start.
Huawei Mate 20 Pro
2018
PROS
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- Glued-down front and back glass means greater risk of breakage while making repairs difficult to start.
- Screen repairs require a lot of disassembly while battling tough adhesive.
iPhone XR
2018
PROS
- The display-first opening procedure and easy access to the battery remain design priorities.
- A broken display can be replaced with minimal hardware removal, and with a little care you can preserve Face ID.
CONS
- Glass on front and back doubles the crackability—and broken back glass requires an entire chassis replacement.
Google Pixel 3 XL
2018
PROS
- The only screws are standard T3 Torx fasteners.
CONS
- Display repairs are much more difficult than previous models, requiring complete disassembly of the phone.
- To service any component, you’ll have to painstakingly un-glue (and later re-glue) the glass rear panel.
Google Pixel 3
2018
PROS
- The only screws are standard T3 Torx fasteners.
CONS
- Display repairs are much more difficult than previous models, requiring complete disassembly of the phone.
- To service any component, you’ll have to painstakingly un-glue (and later re-glue) the glass rear panel.
iPhone XS
2018
PROS
- Critical display and battery repairs remain a priority in the iPhone’s design.
- A broken display can be replaced without removing the biometric Face ID hardware.
CONS
- Glass on front and back doubles the likelihood of drop damage—and if the back glass breaks, you’ll be removing every component and replacing the entire chassis.
Nokia 8110 4G
2018
PROS
- For the most part disassembly is extremely simple with only plastic clips, and standard Torx screws holding the phone together.
- The battery is easy to access and replace
CONS
- Several main components such as headphone jack, SD card slot, Micro USB port and vibrator are soldered to the motherboard.
LG G7 Thin Q
2018
PROS
- Lots of components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- Front and back glass make for double the crackability, and strong adhesive on both makes it tough to access the internals for any repair.
- Screen repair, the most common type repair, is not prioritized, requiring an almost complete disassembly while battling tough adhesive.
OnePlus 6
2018
PROS
- The battery can be accessed almost the moment you open the phone, and is only lightly adhered in place. Plus, there’s a convenient pull tab.
CONS
- Display replacement, the most common repair, is not prioritized in the design and will take a lot of work.
- Front and back glass means twice the risk of cracks—without even the benefit of wireless charging.
Huawei P20 Pro
2018
PROS
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- Double the risk for breakage with glass front and back.
- Replacing the screen requires going through at least two layers of adhesive and some disassembly.
Samsung Galaxy S9+
2018
PROS
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- Glued-down glass both front and back means greater risk of breakage, and makes repairs difficult to start.
- Screen repairs require a lot of disassembly while battling tough adhesive.
Samsung Galaxy S9
2018
PROS
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- Glued-down glass both front and back means greater risk of breakage, and makes repairs difficult to start.
- Screen repairs require a lot of disassembly while battling tough adhesive.
iPhone X
2017
PROS
- Display and battery repairs remain a priority in the iPhone’s design.
- A cracked display can be replaced without removing the biometric Face ID hardware.
CONS
- Fussy cables tie unrelated components together into complex assemblies—expensive and troublesome to replace.
Google Pixel 2 XL
2017
PROS
- Many components are modular and can be replaced once the display assembly is removed.
- All of the screws are common Phillips #00 screws, and there are only 9 of them
CONS
- The battery’s loss of pull-tab adhesive, plus tightly walled-in placement, makes it much harder to remove.
Google Pixel 2
2017
PROS
- Front panel is fairly easy to remove and replace.
- Standard screws used throughout.
CONS
- Cable placement makes battery removal more difficult than necessary.
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
2017
PROS
- Despite the IP67-rated seals, the back cover is fairly easy to open.
CONS
- A damaged front camera means switching the whole display including the frame, or damaging the display while trying to remove it.
- And replacing the display—the most common repair—means taking out almost every component.
iPhone 8
2017
PROS
- The two most commonly replaced components, display and battery, remain straightforward to access with the proper knowledge and tools.
- The addition of wireless charging means less strain on your Lightning port, a common point of failure.
CONS
- The durability of the glass back remains to be seen—but replacements are likely to be very difficult.
iPhone 8 Plus
2017
PROS
- The display and battery are straightforward to access—with the proper knowledge and tools.
- Wireless charging means less wear on the all-purpose Lightning port, a common point of failure.
CONS
- Despite alleged durability, the back glass is breakable and next to impossible to replace when cracked.
Samsung Galaxy Note8
2017
PROS
- Many components, including all of those that experience wear, are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- All repairs require removing the glass rear panel, which is challenging due to the large amount of adhesive.
- Replacing the display requires removing the glass rear panel and the display, both of which are fragile and secured with strong adhesive.
Essential Phone
2017
CONS
- The USB-C port is soldered to the motherboard, and with no headphone jack it’ll be subject to extra wear.
- Nearly invisible seams and copious adhesive means any attempt at repair is likely to inflict as much damage as it fixes.
- Did we mention we had to freeze it?
Samsung Galaxy Note Fan Edition
2017
PROS
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- 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.
- Because of the curved screen, replacing the front glass without destroying the display is probably impossible.
OnePlus 5
2017
PROS
- There are no proprietary screws.
- The OnePlus 5’s display is held on by easy to dispatch reusable plastic clips.
CONS
- The display and glass are fused and the home button is integrated into the display assembly making repair of all three of these parts more complicated and expensive.
Samsung Galaxy S8+
2017
PROS
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- Front and back glass make for double the crackability, and strong adhesive on both makes it tough to access the internals for any repair.
- Because of the curved screen, replacing the front glass without destroying the display is extremely difficult.
Samsung Galaxy S8
2017
PROS
- Lots of components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- Front and back glass make for double the crackability, and strong adhesive on both makes it tough to access the internals for any repair.
- Because of the curved screen, replacing the front glass without destroying the display is extremely difficult.
LG G6
2017
PROS
- Standard Phillips screws used, very sparingly, throughout.
CONS
- Front and back glass doubles the crackability, and strong adhesive on both makes it tough to begin any repair.
NOTES
- The battery can be replaced, but tough adhesive and a glued-on rear panel make it unnecessarily difficult.
Huawei Mate 9
2016
PROS
- Most of the components—like both camera units, the loudspeaker, and the USB board—can be replaced. Even the proximity sensor and the NFC antenna are modular.
CONS
- Replacing a broken display, one of the most common repairs, will be one of the most difficult ones on this phablet.
NOTES
- The battery is trapped behind some flex cables and is glued tightly into place, but still can be swapped out when its power starts to fade away.
Google Pixel XL
2016
PROS
- Many components are modular and can easily be replaced once the display assembly is removed.
- The battery has a removal tab and is adhered by a modest amount of adhesive, making its removal painless.
CONS
- The opening procedure requires prying up a thin, poorly-supported display assembly making it difficult to open the phone without damage.
Google Pixel
2016
PROS
- The battery is secured with removable adhesive tabs, making replacement simple.
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- The fused display is thin and unsupported, and must be removed to access any other component.
Apple iPhone 7
2016
PROS
- The battery is straightforward to access. Removing it requires specialty screwdrivers and knowledge of the adhesive removal technique, but is not difficult.
- The solid state home button eliminates a common point of failure.
CONS
- With the addition of tri-point screws, many iPhone 7 repairs will require up to four different types of drivers.
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
2016
PROS
- The battery is straightforward to access. Removing it requires specialty screwdrivers and knowledge of the adhesive removal technique, but is not difficult.
- The solid state home button eliminates a common point of failure.
CONS
- With the addition of tri-point screws, many iPhone 7 Plus repairs will require up to four different types of drivers.
Sony Xperia X Compact
2016
PROS
- Modular design allows for replacement of many individual components.
CONS
- The fused display assembly is strongly adhered to the midframe and requires disassembling the entire phone to replace.
NOTES
- Battery is fairly easy to access and remove, but requires removal of the delicate NFC antenna to replace.
Moto Z
2016
PROS
- Pull-tab on battery, easy to access once you have the device open.
CONS
- Charging port soldered to the motherboard means a common repair will be very expensive.
NOTES
- Display is adhered in place with no external fasteners, but the adhesive is weak enough to easily separate after heating.
Samsung Galaxy Note7
2016
PROS
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- 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.
- Because of the curved screen, replacing the front glass without destroying the display is probably impossible.
Asus Zenfone 3 Max
2016
PROS
- Battery is easily accessible and removable.
CONS
- The opening procedure is extremely tough, clips are stiff and likely to be broken, and the SIM slot bends easily.
NOTES
- Parts could be more modular, especially mechanical/high wear components.
Meizu MX6
2016
PROS
- The display assembly is the first component out, simplifying screen repairs.
- Modular components with spring contacts, large screws, and thoughtful cabling all make repair cheaper and easier.
CONS
- The MX6 uses Pentalobe security screws on the exterior, requiring a specialty screwdriver to open the phone before any repair.
LG G5
2016
PROS
- The user-removable, slide-out battery is a huge boon to phone lifespan.
- No glue and few screws make for a relatively simple opening procedure.
CONS
- The fused display assembly will need to be replaced if the LCD or glass breaks, increasing costs.
Vivo X7 Plus
2016
PROS
- Battery is fairly easily accessible and removable.
CONS
- The single unit display assembly is annoying to reach, and will be a costly part.
NOTES
- The opening procedure is very tough, but easier than on the smaller model.
Vivo X7
2016
PROS
- Battery is fairly easily accessible and removable.
CONS
- The opening procedure is extremely tough, clips are very stiff and likely to be broken.
NOTES
- Parts could be more modular, especially mechanical/high wear components.
Huawei P9
2016
PROS
- Modular components with spring contacts, thoughtful cabling, and minimal adhesive all make repair cheaper and easier.
- The battery is straightforward to access. Removing it requires knowledge of the adhesive removal technique, but is not difficult.
CONS
- The display assembly is a fused unit, and replacement requires near complete disassembly of the phone.
Xiaomi Mi 5
2016
PROS
- The motherboard and battery can be replaced independently and easily.
CONS
- The display is difficult to replace, requiring complete disassembly and purchasing consumables.
NOTES
- All screws are standard Phillips screws, but removing them will void your warranty.
Apple iPhone SE
2016
PROS
- The display assembly is the first component out of the phone, simplifying screen replacements.
- The battery is fairly easy to access, even though it’s not technically “user replaceable.”
CONS
- The Touch ID cable could be easily ripped out of its socket if a user is not careful when opening the phone.
Oppo R9m
2016
PROS
- Battery is fairly easily accessible and removable.
- Most components are extremely modular making for cheaper repairs.
CONS
- The opening procedure is extremely tough, clips are very stiff and likely to be broken.
Samsung Galaxy S7
2016
PROS
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- 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.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
2016
PROS
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- 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.
Lenovo K5 Note
2015
PROS
- Battery is replaceable with just a couple of tools.
CONS
- Replacing the display assembly requires removing every other component from the device first.
NOTES
- Some parts are modular, but high-wear components like the headphone jack and charge port are not.
Fairphone 2
2015
PROS
- The most commonly failing components, battery and display, can be replaced without tools.
- Internal modules are secured with Phillips #0 screws and simple spring connectors.
- Individual modules can be opened, and many components can be individually replaced.
Huawei Mate 8
2015
PROS
- Opening the phone requires only a Torx screwdriver and a prying tool (No adhesive holding it together).
CONS
- LCD Display is integrated into the front case. While the replacement process is pretty straightforward, you’ll still need to pick every component off the frame and likely pay more to replace this non-modular component
NOTES
- The battery does have a pull tab adhesive strip, but there is a second adhesive strip that does not have a tab.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
2015
PROS
- Despite no external screws, the rear case is fairly easy to remove.
- Modular design with charging port on its own daughterboard means many components can be independently replaced.
CONS
- Display assembly is a single fused component, that requires disassembling the entire phone to replace.
Wiko Pulp 4G Phone
2015
PROS
- Replacing the battery is easy as pie with the swappable back cover.
- This phone doesn’t use excessive glue nor proprietary screws—we found only Phillips throughout the entirety.
CONS
- Unfortunately, the components on the daughterboard are soldered on, making a repair on an individual component difficult.
Apple iPhone 6s
2015
PROS
- The display assembly continues to be the first component out, simplifying screen repairs.
- The battery is straightforward to access. Removing it requires a proprietary pentalobe screwdriver and knowledge of the adhesive removal technique, but is not difficult.
CONS
- The iPhone 6s still uses proprietary Pentalobe screws on the exterior, requiring a specialty screwdriver to remove.
Apple iPhone 6s Plus
2015
PROS
- The display assembly continues to be the first component out, simplifying screen repairs.
- The battery is straightforward to access. Removing it requires a proprietary Pentalobe screwdriver and knowledge of the adhesive removal technique, but is not difficult.
CONS
- The iPhone 6s Plus still uses proprietary Pentalobe screws on the exterior, requiring a specialty screwdriver to remove.
Nexus 5X
2015
PROS
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
- Standard Phillips screws means a driver is easy to find.
CONS
- Fused display assembly—glass and LCD will need to be replaced together if one or the other breaks.
Nexus 6P
2015
CONS
- It’s very difficult—although not impossible—to open the device without damaging the glass camera cover. Because of the unibody design, this makes every component extremely difficult to replace.
- The display assembly cannot be replaced without tunneling through the entire phone. This makes one of the most common repairs, a damaged screen, difficult to accomplish.
- Tough adhesive holds the rear cover panels and battery in place.
OnePlus 2
2015
PROS
- A single (non-proprietary) screw head decreases cost of tools for repairs.
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- The LCD and digitizer glass are fused together and must be replaced as a single part; heat is required to remove it from the midframe.
Shift 5.1
2015
PROS
- Cover and battery are easy to remove and can be swapped without using tools.
- No excessive glue and no proprietary screws are used, only Phillips #000.
CONS
- Lots of components and connectors are soldered to the motherboard. They could be soldered by hand if needed but this makes repairs more difficult.
LG G4
2015
PROS
- Rear panel and battery can be removed with no tools.
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- Fused display assembly—glass and LCD will need to be replaced together if one or the other breaks.
Samsung Galaxy S6
2015
PROS
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- 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.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
2015
PROS
- Many components are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- 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.
- The battery is very tightly adhered to the back of the display, and buried beneath the midframe and motherboard.
HTC One M9
2015
CONS
- The battery is buried beneath the motherboard and adhered to the midframe, hindering its replacement.
- The display assembly cannot be replaced without tunneling through the entire phone. This makes one of most common repairs—a damaged screen—very difficult to accomplish.
- Intense adhesives make many components difficult, and even dangerous, to remove and replace.
Nexus 6
2014
PROS
- Pressure contacts and cable connectors make the modular components (cameras, buttons, headphone jack) easy to replace.
- The Nexus 6 uses a single kind of screw, although it’s a fairly uncommon size (T3).
CONS
- Several components (vibrator, SIM slot, speaker, USB port) are soldered directly to the motherboard and will be more difficult to replace than if they were connected by cable.
iPhone 6 Plus
2014
PROS
- Continuing the trend from the iPhone 5 series, the display assembly comes out of the phone first, simplifying screen repairs.
- The battery is straightforward to access. Removing it requires a proprietary pentalobe screwdriver and knowledge of the adhesive removal technique, but is not difficult.
CONS
- The iPhone 6 Plus still uses proprietary Pentalobe screws on the exterior, requiring a specialty screwdriver to remove.
iPhone 6
2014
PROS
- Continuing the trend from the iPhone 5 series, the display assembly comes out of the phone first, simplifying screen repairs.
- The battery is straightforward to access. Removing it requires a proprietary pentalobe screwdriver and knowledge of the adhesive removal technique, but is not difficult.
CONS
- The iPhone 6 still uses proprietary Pentalobe screws on the exterior, requiring a specialty screwdriver to remove.
Samsung Galaxy Alpha
2014
PROS
- The battery is incredibly easy to remove and replace.
CONS
- The display assembly is held in with a significant amount of adhesive and requires very careful prying and a considerable amount of heat to remove without cracking the thin glass or cutting cables.
- Replacing anything other than the battery requires first removing the display, risking extra damage on the way to a repair.
Amazon Fire Phone
2014
PROS
- External, non-proprietary screws means no adhesive holding the device together, and an easier time getting in.
CONS
- Tons of cables and connectors make disassembly tedious and reassembly difficult.
- The four Dynamic Perspective cameras are encased in glue. Replacement will mean heat and cutting.
Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini
2014
PROS
- The battery is incredibly easy to remove and replace.
CONS
- Replacing anything other than the battery requires first removing the display, risking extra damage on the way to a repair.
NOTES
- The display is now one of the first components out, making its replacement a little faster. However, it is held in with a significant amount of adhesive and requires very careful and persistent prying, as well as a considerable amount of heat to remove without cracking the glass or cutting cables.
OnePlus One
2014
PROS
- No proprietary screws and only one screw head type decreases cost of tools for repairs.
CONS
- With its connector trapped under a plastic panel and several screws, the battery is more of a chore to replace than necessary.
- The LCD and digitizer glass are fused together and must be replaced as a single part, and they require heat to remove from the midframe.
Samsung Galaxy S5
2014
PROS
- The battery is incredibly easy to remove and replace.
CONS
- Replacing anything other than the battery requires first removing the display, risking extra damage on the way to a repair.
NOTES
- The display is now one of the first components out, making replacements a little faster. However, it is held in with a significant amount of adhesive and requires very careful and persistent prying and a considerable amount of heat to remove without cracking the glass or cutting cables.
HTC One M8
2014
CONS
- It’s very difficult—although no longer impossible—to open the device without damaging the rear case. This makes every component extremely difficult to replace.
- The battery is buried beneath the motherboard and adhered to the midframe, hindering its replacement.
- The display assembly cannot be replaced without tunneling through the entire phone. This makes one of most common repairs, a damaged screen, very difficult to accomplish.
Fairphone 1
2013
PROS
- The battery can be replaced without any tools.
- It’s very easy to open and access the internal components.
CONS
- Several smaller components are soldered to the motherboard, increasing repair difficulty (front-facing camera, vibrator motor, LED flash, and headphone jack).
Nexus 5
2013
PROS
- Very modular design allows independent replacement of several wear-prone components—like the headphone jack and speakers.
- Only very mild adhesive holds the battery in place, making it fairly easy to safely remove and replace.
CONS
- The glass and LCD are fused to the display frame. Fixing broken glass will be either expensive or very difficult.
iPhone 5c
2013
PROS
- Just like in the iPhone 5, the display assembly is the first component out of the phone, simplifying screen replacements.
- The battery is still fairly easy to access, even though it’s not technically “user replaceable.”
CONS
- Adhesive on the antenna connectors hinder disassembly.
iPhone 5s
2013
PROS
- Just like in the iPhone 5, the display assembly is the first component out of the phone, simplifying screen replacements.
- The battery is still fairly easy to access, even though it’s not technically “user replaceable.”
CONS
- The fingerprint sensor cable could be easily ripped out of its socket if a user is not careful while opening the phone.
Motorola Moto X 1st Generation
2013
PROS
- Pressure contacts and cable connectors make the modular components (cameras, buttons, headphone jack and speakers) easy to replace.
- The Moto X uses a single kind of screw, although it’s a fairly uncommon size (T3).
CONS
- Sticky adhesive on the back cover is annoying and will slow opening the phone.
Samsung Galaxy S4
2013
PROS
- The battery can be replaced in seconds, without any tools.
- Very easy to open and access internal components.
CONS
- The glass is fused to both the display and the display frame, increasing repair costs.
HTC One
2013
CONS
- Very, very difficult (possibly impossible?) to open the device without damaging the rear case. This makes every component extremely difficult to replace.
- The battery is buried beneath the motherboard and adhered to the midframe, hindering its replacement.
- The display assembly cannot be replaced without removing the rear case—this will make the most common repair, a damaged screen, nearly impossible.
BlackBerry Z10
2013
PROS
- The battery can be replaced without any tools.
- Motherboard and display come out with little difficulty and are held in place with little adhesive.
CONS
- Smaller components (headphone jack, camera) are modular and can be replaced individually, but have somewhat strong adhesive holding them in place.
Nexus 4
2012
PROS
- Removing the back cover requires nothing more than a common screwdriver, a plastic opening tool, and some patience.
- The entire device only contains four different length screws—all common screw types—for a total of only 15 screws.
CONS
- The battery is stuck to the frame with a lot of adhesive, so removing it without puncturing the battery can be difficult.
Samsung Galaxy Note II
2012
PROS
- Battery is easy to replace.
- Very easy to open for access to internal components.
CONS
- Components adhered to the back of a fused display assembly.
iPhone 5
2012
PROS
- We’re quite happy that the glass/display is the first thing that comes off the iPhone 5. The majority of iPhone repairs are due to a shattered front glass.
- The battery comes out with a bit of prying once the front panel is removed.
CONS
- The iPhone 5 still uses Pentalobe screws on the exterior, making it more difficult to open the device.
Samsung Galaxy S III
2012
PROS
- The battery can be replaced without any tools.
- Very easy to open and access internal components.
CONS
- The glass is fused to both the display and the display frame, increasing repair costs.
Motorola Droid 4
2012
PROS
- The lack of security or proprietary screws is a welcome sight.
CONS
- Keyboard contacts are located on the motherboard, making keyboard replacement costly and difficult.
- Tons of glue adheres the glue that is securing the glue to the glue that holds the phone together.
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
2011
PROS
- Battery replacement is incredibly simple thanks to the removable rear panel.
- Minimal adhesive makes removal of the motherboard and other components a snap.
CONS
- Removing the rear case to access the motherboard and other internals requires a lot of careful prying and guitar-picking.
Motorola Droid RAZR
2011
PROS
- Once the battery and motherboard are within reach, replacement is easy—no soldering required.
CONS
- The front panel is adhered to the AMOLED display, so they must be replaced as one expensive unit.
- All plastic frames and casing proved to be incredibly tedious to remove, and felt like they would break at any moment.
iPhone 4S
2011
PROS
- The iPhone 4S is still held together primarily with screws and limited adhesive.
- The rear panel and battery are both easy to remove and replace (provided you have the correct screwdriver).
CONS
- Apple is again using Pentalobe screws to secure the rear panel and keep people out
Samsung Galaxy Note
2011
PROS
- Battery is easy to replace.
- Very easy to open for access to internal components.
CONS
- Components adhered to the back of a fused display assembly.
Motorola Droid Bionic
2011
PROS
- No tools are necessary for changing the SIM and microSD cards.
- The battery can be removed in seconds.
- The phone is held together with a limited number of screws and plastic clips. Adhesive is minimally used in its construction.
Motorola Droid 3
2011
PROS
- There were no security screws in the entire device.
- The battery was not soldered to anything and was easy to replace.
CONS
- There is a lot of adhesive holding things together, making disassembly and reassembly difficult.
Samsung Galaxy S II
2011
PROS
- Battery is easy to replace.
- Very easy to open for access to internal components.
CONS
- Components adhered to the back of a fused display assembly.
Samsung Galaxy S 4G
2011
PROS
- Removing the rear panel to replace the microSD/SIM cards and the battery requires no tools.
- Attaching components like the headphone jack to separate cables makes their replacement less costly than replacing the entire motherboard.
CONS
- The front panel is adhered to the AMOLED display, so they must be replaced as one expensive unit.
iPhone 4 Verizon
2011
PROS
- The iPhone 4 is held together primarily with [lots of] screws, sans tabs, and limited adhesive.
- The rear panel and battery are both easy to remove and replace (provided you have the right screwdriver).
CONS
- Apple is using Pentalobe screws to secure the rear panel and keep people out.
Motorola Atrix 4G
2011
PROS
- The LCD is separable from the glass front panel, making them independently replaceable.
- The phone is held together with a limited number of screws and plastic clips. Adhesive is minimally used in its construction.
- The battery can be removed in seconds.
Nexus S
2010
PROS
- Battery is very easily replaceable — just remove the back cover to swap it out.
- The motherboard comes out easily once you’re inside, as it’s held in place by regular screws and connectors.
CONS
- Front panel is attached with adhesive instead of screws, so it’s harder to take off than on the iPhone.
HTC Surround
2010
PROS
- Relatively easy to remove the rear case to replace the battery.
CONS
- Unable to access the internal MicroSDHC card without voiding the warranty.
- It is very difficult to access the front panel and LCD for replacement.
Nokia N8
2010
PROS
- The battery, although considered by Nokia not to be user-serviceable, can be easily removed.
- The AMOLED display easily comes apart from the glass, which means that you can replace the glass and the display independently.
CONS
- Removing the cameras is near-impossible, and requires tedious, potentially detrimental steps.
iPhone 3GS
2009
PROS
- LCD and front glass are not fused and can be replaced individually.
- Standard Phillips screws used throughout.
CONS
- Battery is buried under the logic board, making it difficult to replace.
iPhone 3G
2008
PROS
- LCD and front glass are not fused and can be replaced individually.
- Standard Phillips screws used throughout.
CONS
- Battery is buried under the logic board, making it difficult to replace.
iPhone 1st Generation
2007
PROS
- Standard Phillips screws used throughout.
CONS
- Hidden clips make it nearly impossible to open rear case without damaging it.
- Soldered battery is very difficult to replace.
