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
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.
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.
