Microsoft’s Surface hardware has had a reputation for being difficult to repair in the past, but recent models have shown significant improvements in repairability. According to a teardown by iFixit, the most recent Snapdragon X-powered Surface Pro and Surface Laptop devices have earned a repairability score of 8 out of 10, a significant improvement from previous models.
The Surface Laptop, in particular, has been praised for its ease of access to internal components. With just four screws hidden beneath the laptop’s rubber feet, users can easily open the device to access the battery and SSD. The bottom of the laptop is attached with magnets, making it simple to remove and replace parts. Labels inside the device indicate which screws need to be removed for each part, and scannable barcodes provide easy access to repair manuals and parts on Microsoft’s website.
On the other hand, the Surface Pro still requires more effort to access internal components. While the M.2 2232 SSD is easily accessible under a pop-off cover, accessing the battery and other components requires removing the screen, which is held in place with adhesive. Once inside, parts and screws are clearly labeled, but replacing the battery requires removing the entire heatsink.
iFixit notes that both devices have soldered-down non-upgradeable RAM and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth modules, which may have contributed to the lower repairability score. Additionally, the devices use more screws and clips compared to other laptops, such as the Framework Laptop. Despite these drawbacks, the new Surface devices are still a significant improvement in repairability compared to previous models.
Overall, Microsoft’s efforts to improve repairability in its Surface devices have been successful, with the most recent models receiving high praise from iFixit. The ease of access to internal components, clear labeling, and availability of repair manuals and parts have made the new Surface devices much more repair-friendly. As we continue to use these devices, we look forward to sharing more insights on their performance and hardware in the coming days.
