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Tablet 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 tablets 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.


Tablet Scores

Sorted by newest to oldest

Google Pixel Tablet

2023

PROS
  • The USB-C port is highly modular, and the battery is readily accessible once the display is removed.
  • Google offers a solid selection of original replacement parts.
CONS
  • All repairs require first carefully de-gluing (and later re-gluing) the display—a difficult process that can be challenging to get right in one try.
  • Google does not provide a public service manual.

Microsoft Surface Pro X

2019

PROS
  • The user-removable SSD makes for easy upgrades and data security that doesn’t require device destruction.
  • To the extent that screws are used, they are all standard Torx fasteners.
CONS
  • The battery is firmly glued in place, with its connector pinned under the motherboard—requiring near-total disassembly for service.

iPad 7

2019

CONS
  • As with all iPads, a solid barrier of very strong adhesive hinders all repairs.
  • The Lightning port, a common point of failure, is soldered to the logic board.
  • More adhesive holds nearly everything else in place. Battery and logic board replacements are particularly obnoxious.

HP Elite x2 G4

2019

PROS
  • All screws are standard Torx or Phillips—only three drivers are needed for complete disassembly.
  • A modular and flat construction allows access to most components early on.
NOTES
  • The display is fused to the front panel, simplifying repair but increasing the cost of an LCD or front glass replacement.

HP Elite x2 1012 G2

2019

PROS
  • All screws are standard T5 Torx, Phillips #1, or Phillips #0.
  • Removing the battery, display, and system board is relatively straightforward and does not require fighting against adhesive.
NOTES
  • The device is fairly modular, but consolidation of the I/O board into the system board is a notable step in the wrong direction.

iPad Air 3

2019

CONS
  • Battery replacement is possible, but still unnecessarily difficult.
  • Gobs of adhesive hold many parts and cables in place, complicating all repairs.
NOTES
  • Many components are modular and can be replaced independently, but the Lightning port is soldered to the logic board.

iPad Mini 5

2019

CONS
  • Battery replacement is possible, but still unnecessarily difficult.
  • Gobs of adhesive hold many parts and cables in place, complicating all repairs.
  • Removing the home button is tough, and will be required for display replacement if you want to keep Touch ID functionality.

HP Elite x2 1013 G3

2018

CONS
  • All screws are standard Torx or Phillips.
NOTES
  • A modular and flat construction allows access to most components, but layering issues and excessive adhesive make the process less straightforward.
  • The display is fused to the front panel, simplifying repair but increasing the cost of an LCD or front glass replacement.

iPad Pro 11″

2018

PROS
  • The USB-C port is modular and can be independently replaced.
CONS
  • Gobs of adhesive hold most everything in place, making all repairs more difficult.
NOTES
  • The battery is secured with both easier-to-remove stretch-release tabs and conventional, non-removable adhesive.

Microsoft Surface Pro 6

2018

CONS
  • All repairs require first removing the display assembly—which is stubbornly glued in place, expensive, and prone to shattering.
  • The battery is firmly glued in place, with its connector pinned under the motherboard—requiring near-total disassembly for service.
  • Once upon a time, Surface Pro storage was removable—but not in this version.

iPad 6

2018

CONS
  • As in all iPads, a solid barrier of very strong adhesive bars the way to any repairs, and makes rework a sticky proposition.
  • More adhesive holds nearly everything else in place. Battery replacement is particularly challenging.
  • The LCD has foam sticky tape adhering it to the front panel, increasing risk of damage during disassembly.

Acer Iconia One 7

2017

PROS
  • Battery is easy to replace.
  • Modular design allows replacement of many individual parts.
CONS
  • High wear components soldered in place, which increases replacement costs.

Kindle Paperwhite 3rd Generation

2017

PROS
  • The display is easily removed from the simple clips holding it to the body, simplifying repairs
CONS
  • The battery is extremely difficult to remove, even with heat and prying.
  • The charging port is soldered to the motherboard, making replacement of this high-use component expensive.

Huawei MediaPad M2

2017

PROS
  • Rear case is secured by clips, not glue, and is flexible enough to remove fairly easily.
CONS
  • Battery is held in place with excessive adhesive. A hole in the midframe means prying the battery out may risk damaging the back of the display.
  • Charging port is soldered to motherboard, increasing cost of a common repair.

Amazon Fire 5th Generation

2017

PROS
  • The plastic case assembly is held together by clips and no adhesive, and opening only requires prying with an iFixit opening tool.
CONS
  • Removing the digitizer and LCD panel requires fighting through some very resilient adhesive.
NOTES
  • The battery is modular, but it’s held in place by somewhat stubborn adhesive.

HP ElitePad 1000 G2

2017

PROS
  • Display is easy to remove and has no adhesive.
  • Most commonly-failing components, including all the ports and buttons and are modular and can be replaced quickly.
NOTES
  • The battery can be removed relatively quickly, but is covered in tape that needs to be replaced.

Huawei MediaPad T2

2017

PROS
  • Rear case is secured by clips, not glue, and is flexible enough to remove fairly easily.
CONS
  • Battery is held in place with excessive adhesive. A hole in the midframe means prying the battery out may risk damaging the back of the display.
  • Charging port is soldered to motherboard, increasing cost of a common repair.

Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet

2017

PROS
  • Many parts are modular and can be replaced independently.
CONS
  • The delicate and arduous opening procedure leaves no room for mistakes, and must be completed to access any other component.
  • The display assembly consists of a thin fused glass panel and LCD, and is extremely difficult to remove and replace.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

2017

PROS
  • Many components (including the headphone jack, speakers, and micro SD slot) are modular and can be replaced.
CONS
  • In order to repair or replace anything, both the front and rear panel need to be removed.
  • The front and rear panel are secured in place with a lot of adhesive, and are extremely hard to remove.

Microsoft Surface Pro 5

2017

CONS
  • Adhesive holds many components in place, including the display and battery.
  • Replacement of any part requires removal of the display assembly, an easy part to damage.
  • The SSD is no longer replaceable.