Microsoft’s new Surface Pro tablet PC is a steady improvement over the Surface RT, but the thing is extremely hard to repair, according to a new iFixit teardown.
[aditude-amp id="flyingcarpet" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":621417,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"mobile,","session":"D"}']The Surface Pro is Microsoft’s more powerful and versatile tablet/laptop hybrid, but supply issues have marred its debut. Microsoft has promised more 128GB units will be available by Saturday. It runs $899 for the 64GB version and $999 for the 128GB model.
While there aren’t that many Surface Pros available, the repair experts at iFixit got their hands on a unit so they could open it up and examine its build. The team found that the device was extremely hard to repair, and gave it a 1 out of 10 “repairability score,” the worst result possible.
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One huge problem iFixit found is if you do not open the case perfectly, you will almost certainly break one of the four cables surrounding the display. So there’s a good chance you’ll break the damn thing just from trying to peek inside or trying to fix a minor issue.
Here are the big takeaways iFixit noted on the Surface Pro:
- Microsoft Surface Pro Repairability Score: 1 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair)
- The battery is not soldered to the motherboard, so at least no soldering is required to replace it.
- The SSD is removable — but you risk killing your tablet by trying to open it.
- More than 90 screws are inside this device. We’re proponents of mechanical fasteners, but this number is a tad crazy.
- 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 precent correctly, chances are you’ll shear one of the four cables surrounding the display perimeter.
Check out the photos below for a few more looks inside the Surface Pro:
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