Legacy Tablet
Repairability Scores
Sorted by newest to oldest
iPad Pro 10.5″
2017
CONS
- The fused front panel increases the cost of screen repair, and the risk of damaging the LCD when opening.
- Gobs of adhesive hold everything in place, making all repairs more difficult.
NOTES
- While not soldered in place, the battery is very solidly adhered—no more pull tabs like we saw in the iPad Pro 12.9″.
LG G Pad 7.0
2017
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
- Display assembly is a single fused component, that requires disassembling the entire phone to replace.
iPad 5 Wi‑Fi
2017
CONS
- Just like in previous iPads, the front panel is glued to the rest of the device, greatly increasing the chances of cracking the glass during a repair.
- Gobs of adhesive hold everything in place. As with its Air 1 predecessor, this ranks among the most difficult battery removal procedures we’ve seen in an iPad.
- The LCD has foam sticky tape adhering it to the front panel, increasing chances of it being shattered during disassembly.
HP Pro x2 612 G2
2017
PROS
- Manufacturer-provided repair documentation.
- Easy opening procedure.
CONS
- Intricate construction allows for modularity but makes repair more complex than necessary.
Google Pixel C
2016
PROS
- Many parts, including the USB-C port, are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
- The motherboard is glued tightly to the rear case.
- Crazy strong adhesive holds the battery to the rear case, complicating the inevitable replacement.
HP Elite x2
2016
PROS
- Easy opening procedure.
- Simple, modular, glue-free design.
- Manufacturer-provided repair documentation.
iPad Pro 9.7″
2016
CONS
- The fused front panel increases the cost of screen repair, and the risk of damaging the LCD when opening.
- Gobs of adhesive hold everything in place making all repairs more difficult.
NOTES
- While not soldered in place, the battery is very solidly adhered—no more pull tabs like we saw in the larger iPad Pro 12.9″.
iPad Pro 12.9″
2015
PROS
- The battery is not soldered to the logic board, and can now be removed with adhesive tabs, greatly simplifying battery removal.
CONS
- The fused front panel increases the cost of screen repair, and the risk of damaging the LCD when opening.
- Gobs of adhesive hold everything in place making all repairs more difficult.
Microsoft Surface Pro 4
2015
CONS
- The display assembly consists of a fused glass panel and LCD, and is difficult to remove and replace.
- Adhesive holds many components in place, including the display and battery.
NOTES
- The battery is not soldered to the motherboard, but very strong adhesive makes removal and replacement a hazardous chore.
iPad Mini 4 Wi‑Fi
2015
CONS
- The fused front panel also increases the cost of repairing a cracked screen, and increases risk of damage to the LCD when opening.
- The Lightning connector is soldered to the logic board, so don’t bend its pins.
- Gobs of adhesive hold everything in place making all repairs more difficult.
Kindle Voyage
2014
PROS
- Several modular components can be replaced individually.
- Screws secure a slide-off rear case, simplifying opening procedure compared to other Kindles.
CONS
- The front glass and e-ink display are fused together, increasing the cost of repairs.
Nexus 9
2014
PROS
- The rear case is secured with clips, so it can be easily removed without heat or tools (just don’t lose your rear-facing camera).
CONS
- The interior is a maze of tape and thin, delicate cables, making disassembly and reassembly difficult and perilous.
- The LCD is fused to the front glass, so you’ll need to replace both components in the event of a cracked screen.
iPad Mini 3 Wi‑Fi
2014
CONS
- Copious amounts of adhesive hold many components in place—front glass, battery, front camera, back camera, ribbon cables—making repair extremely difficult.
- The Lightning connector is soldered to the logic board, so don’t bend its pins.
- Removing the home button is now a much more difficult job. If you want to keep Touch ID functionality after a screen replacement, you’ll have to transfer the home button to the new front panel.
iPad Air 2
2014
CONS
- The fused front panel also increases the cost of repairing a cracked screen, and increases risk of damage to the LCD when opening.
- Just like in previous iPads, the front panel is glued to the rest of the device, greatly increasing the chances of cracking the glass during a repair.
- Gobs of adhesive hold everything in place making all repairs more difficult.
Kindle 7th Generation
2014
PROS
- Simple, modular design with few, distinct components that can be replaced independently.
- Easy opening procedure—clips supplemented by mild adhesive are all that hold the front bezel in place.
CONS
- Battery adhesive is much stronger than necessary, making its replacement hazardous.
Kindle Fire HD 6
2014
PROS
- The rear case is very easy to open, granting trouble-free access to the internals.
- All the fasteners found inside are T5 Torx screws—one non-proprietary screwdriver is all you need.
CONS
- The glass panel is fused to the front plastic frame, meaning a heat gun is required for replacing cracked glass (or you have to replace both components together).
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
2014
CONS
- The display assembly consists of a fused glass panel and LCD, and is extremely difficult to remove and replace.
- Tons of adhesive hold everything in place, including the display and battery.
- The delicate and arduous opening procedure leaves no room for mistakes: one slip-up, and you’ll be out a screen.
iPad Mini 2
2013
CONS
- Copious amounts of adhesive hold many components in place—front glass, battery, front camera, back camera, ribbon cables—making repair extremely difficult.
- The Lightning connector is soldered to the logic board, so don’t bend its pins.
- Hidden screws mean you’ll need to be very diligent when trying to remove internal components.
Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9″
2014
PROS
- Front panel is held in place with clips.
- Modular design allows replacement of several components.
CONS
- Battery is glued and difficult to remove.
iPad Air LTE
2013
CONS
- Just like in previous iPads, the front panel is glued to the rest of the device, greatly increasing the chances of cracking the glass during a repair.
- Gobs, gobs, and goblins of adhesive hold everything in place. This is the most difficult battery removal procedure we’ve seen in an iPad.
- The LCD has foam sticky tape adhering it to the front panel, increasing chances of it being shattered during disassembly.
Microsoft Surface Pro 2
2013
CONS
- The display assembly consists of a fused glass panel and LCD, and is extremely difficult to remove and replace.
- Tons of adhesive hold everything in place, including the display and battery.
- The delicate and arduous opening procedure leaves no room for mistakes: one slip-up, and you’ll likely shear one of the four ribbon cables in the edge of the display.
Kindle Fire HDX 7″
2013
CONS
- The battery is glued in place with strong adhesive and requires motherboard removal to replace.
- The motherboard is very difficult to replace—the midframe must be separated from the display assembly in order to reinstall it.
NOTES
- The rear case is secured with screws and clips, so it can be removed (albeit with difficulty) without heat.
Amazon Kindle Fire HD 2013
2013
PROS
- Simple, modular design means the few components that might fail can be easily, inexpensively replaced.
- All the fasteners found inside are Torx T5 screws—one non-proprietary screwdriver is all you need.
CONS
- A decent amount of adhesive is used on the battery, meaning some prying and gentle working is required for disassembly.
Dell XPS 10
2013
PROS
- Easy to open. Easy to remove battery.
- Color-coded screws and labeled cables inside.
CONS
- LCD is fused to the glass.
Microsoft Surface Pro Gen 1
2013
CONS
- The display assembly (comprising of a fused glass and LCD) is extremely difficult to remove/replace.
- Tons of adhesive hold everything in place, including the display and battery.
- Unless you perform the opening procedure 100% correctly, chances are you’ll shear one of the four cables surrounding the display perimeter.
Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9″
2012
PROS
- With just a few clips, the device is very easy to open.
CONS
- Heat gun is needed for fused LCD and front glass.
- Battery and cables are adhered to case.
Google Nexus 10
2012
PROS
- Easily removable battery. LCD is not fused to glass.
CONS
- The opening procedure is a very difficult process.
- Several components are attached by both screws and glue.
iPad Mini Wi‑Fi
2012
CONS
- Copious amounts of adhesive hold many components in place — front glass, logic board, battery, front camera, back camera, ribbon cables — making repair extremely difficult.
- The Lightning connector is soldered to the logic board, so don’t bend its pins.
- Hidden screws mean you’ll need to be very diligent when trying to remove internal components.
iPad 4 Wi‑Fi
2012
CONS
- Just like in the iPad 2 & 3, the front panel is glued to the rest of the device, greatly increasing the chances of cracking the glass when trying to remove it.
- Gobs, gobs, and gobs of adhesive hold everything in place, including the prone-to-start-a-fire-if-punctured battery.
- The LCD has foam sticky tape adhering it to the front panel, increasing chances of it being shattered during disassembly.
Microsoft Surface RT
2012
PROS
- Several components are modular and replaceable without requiring desoldering.
CONS
- It’s pretty difficult to remove the rear panel and gain access to the device.
- It is impossible to remove the keyboard connector without first removing the display from the frame.
Kindle Fire HD
2012
PROS
- The rear case is very easy to open, granting trouble-free access to the internals.
- The battery is held in with absolutely no adhesive.
CONS
- Copper tape over the processor is somewhat difficult to remove and to readhere correctly.
Nexus 7
2012
PROS
- The rear case is very easy to open, and requires minimal prying effort with a plastic opening tool to remove.
- All fasteners inside are Phillips #00 screws—no security or proprietary screws here.
CONS
- The LCD does not separate from the display glass, increasing repair costs.
Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight
2012
PROS
- The opening procedure was very simple, and aside from the massive amounts of adhesive, every part came free rather easily.
- There were a total of only 12 screws (all T5 Torx), 11 of which were the same length.
CONS
- The front glass, GlowLight LEDs, and digitizer are fused together, so breaking any of these parts will require replacement of the entire display assembly.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0
2012
PROS
- Modular design and easy-to-remove components.
- Front glass is not fused to the LCD.
CONS
- Heat gun is needed to replace the LCD.
iPad 3 4G
2012
CONS
- Just like the iPad 2, the front panel is glued to the rest of the device, greatly increasing the chances of cracking the glass when trying to remove it.
- Gobs, gobs, and gobs of adhesive hold down everything in place, including the prone-to-start-a-fire-if-punctured battery.
- The LCD has foam sticky tape adhering it to the front panel, increasing chances of the front panel being shattered during disassembly.
Nook Tablet
2011
PROS
- The LCD is not fused to the front panel assembly, making replacement easy, if necessary.
CONS
- Excessive amount of adhesive and adhesive strips make disassembly a painfully tedious process.
NOTES
- Hidden screws prevent removal of rear panel.
Kindle Fire
2011
PROS
- The rear case is very easy to open, granting trouble-free access to the internals.
- All the fasteners found inside are Phillips #0 screws—one non-proprietary screwdriver is all you need.
CONS
- The glass panel is fused to the front plastic frame, meaning a heat gun is required for replacing cracked glass (or you have to replace both components together).
iPad 2 Wi‑Fi EMC 2415
2011
CONS
- The front panel is now glued to the rest of the device, greatly increasing the chances of cracking the glass when trying to remove it.
- The LCD has foam sticky tape adhering it to the front panel, increasing chances of it being shattered during disassembly.
- The battery is very securely stuck down to rear case, and you have to remove the logic board to remove it.
Motorola Xoom
2011
PROS
- There’s no proprietary screws or fasteners in the machine—everything comes out with a spudger and a couple of Torx screwdrivers.
- LCD and front panel glass are not fused together. That’s great news for folks unfortunate enough to drop their Xooms and crack their glass.
CONS
- Everything is accessible but somewhat inconvenient to repair—there’s just a lot of labor involved with removing that many screws.
Dell Streak
2010
PROS
- Replacing the battery is super easy and takes less than one minute.
- Opening the device requires prying the bezels and removing five screws.
CONS
- The LCD is bonded to the Gorilla Glass, increasing the cost of fixing the device if you break just the glass.
iPad Wi‑Fi
2010
PROS
- Front panel is held in place with clips.
- LCD is not fused to the display glass.
CONS
- Battery is difficult to remove and replace.
