Fix Your Stuff Community Store

How we rate tablets

We all want our devices to be easier to repair—after all, repairability is synonymous with longevity. As much as we wish everything could score a ten, only some will walk away victorious. What makes a repairable device?

To start, points are docked based on how difficult it is to open the device. If you can’t open it, how can you repair it? Once inside, we note what types of fasteners are used. Proprietary screws or glues? Yuck! Phillips screws? Better!

As we continue to examine the device’s internals, evidence of easy-to-swap modular parts, prioritized access to often-replaced components, and upgradeability put big smiles on our faces and more points on the scoreboard. Finally, to score that perfect 10, the device must also have a free, public service manual available from the manufacturer.

Which devices earned our fixer seal of approval? Check out our tablet repair score list below, and take a look at smartphone repair scores, and laptop repair scores for more product recommendations.

Sort by: Release | Score

Microsoft Surface Pro X
Microsoft Surface Pro X
  • 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.
  • The battery is firmly glued in place, with its connector pinned under the motherboard—requiring near-total disassembly for service.

6
iPad 7
iPad 7
  • 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.

2
Elite x2 G4
Elite x2 G4
  • All screws are standard Torx or Phillips—only three drivers are needed for complete disassembly.
  • Easy access to repair documentation and replacement parts by HP makes self-repair more feasible.
  • A modular and flat construction allows access to most components early on.

9
HP Elite x2 1012 G2
HP Elite x2 1012 G2
  • All screws are standard T5 Torx, Phillips #1, or Phillips #0.
  • Manufacturer provided repair documentation takes the guesswork out of repair.
  • Removing the battery, display, and system board is relatively straightforward and does not require fighting against adhesive

9
iPad Air 3
iPad Air 3
  • Battery replacement is possible, but still unnecessarily difficult.
  • Gobs of adhesive hold many parts and cables in place, complicating all repairs.
  • Many components are modular and can be replaced independently, but the Lightning port is soldered to the logic board.

2
iPad Mini 5
iPad Mini 5
  • 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.

2
Elite X2 1013 G3
Elite X2 1013 G3
  • All screws are standard Torx or Phillips.
  • Easy access to repair documentation and replacement parts by HP makes self-repair more feasible.
  • A modular and flat construction allows access to most components, but layering issues and excessive adhesive make the process less straightforward.

9
iPad Pro 11"
iPad Pro 11"
  • Gobs of adhesive hold most everything in place, making all repairs more difficult.
  • The battery is secured with both easier-to-remove stretch-release tabs and conventional, non-removable adhesive.
  • The USB-C port is modular and can be independently replaced.

3
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
  • 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.

1
iPad 6
iPad 6
  • 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.

2
Acer Iconia One 7
Acer Iconia One 7
  • LCD and front glass are not fused and can be replaced individually.
  • Battery is easy to replace.
  • High wear components soldered in place, which increases replacement costs.

8
Kindle Paperwhite 3rd Generation
Kindle Paperwhite 3rd Generation
  • The battery was very easy to remove.
  • All screws were Phillips #00 screws.
  • Thin layer of adhesive that needed to broken in order to remove the bezel and access the internal components.

8
Huawei MediaPad M2
Huawei MediaPad M2
  • The display is easily removed from the simple clips holding it to the body, simplifying repairs.
  • Most components are modular and not overly complex.
  • The battery is extremely difficult to remove, even with heat and prying.

7
Amazon Fire 5th Generation
Amazon Fire 5th Generation
  • The plastic case assembly is held together by clips and no adhesive, and opening only requires prying with an iFixit opening tool.
  • The digitizer and LCD panel are not fused together.
  • Removing the digitizer and LCD panel requires fighting through some very resilient adhesive.

7
HP ElitePad 1000 G2 Teardown
HP ElitePad 1000 G2 Teardown
  • 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.
  • RAM and SSD are soldered to the motherboard and non-upgradable.

7
Huawei MediaPad T2
Huawei MediaPad T2
  • Rear case is secured by clips, not glue, and is flexible enough to remove fairly easily.
  • Non-proprietary Phillips screws used throughout.
  • 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.

6
Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet
  • 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.
  • Many parts are modular and can be replaced independently.

5
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
  • 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.
  • Many components (including the headphone jack, speakers, and micro SD slot) are modular and can be replaced.

4
Microsoft Surface Pro 5
Microsoft Surface Pro 5
  • 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.

1
iPad Pro 10.5"
iPad Pro 10.5"
  • 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.
  • While not soldered in place, the battery is very solidly adhered—no more pull tabs like we saw in the iPad Pro 12.9".

2
LG G Pad 7.0
LG G Pad 7.0
  • 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.
  • Display assembly is a single fused component, that requires disassembling the entire phone to replace.

8
iPad 5 Wi-Fi
iPad 5 Wi-Fi
  • 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.

2
HP Pro x2 612 G2
HP Pro x2 612 G2
  • Manufacturer-provided repair documentation.
  • Easy opening procedure.
  • Intricate construction allows for modularity but makes repair more complex than necessary.

9
Google Pixel C
Google Pixel C
  • The motherboard is glued tightly to the rear case.
  • Crazy strong adhesive holds the battery to the rear case, complicating the inevitable replacement.
  • Many parts, including the USB-C port, are modular and can be replaced independently.

4
HP Elite x2
HP Elite x2
  • Easy opening procedure.
  • Simple, modular, glue-free design.
  • Manufacturer-provided repair documentation.

10
iPad Pro 9.7"
iPad Pro 9.7"
  • 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.
  • 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"

2
iPad Pro 12.9"
iPad Pro 12.9"
  • 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.
  • The battery is not soldered to the logic board, and can now be removed with adhesive tabs, greatly simplifying battery removal.

3
Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Microsoft Surface Pro 4
  • 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.
  • The battery is not soldered to the motherboard, but very strong adhesive makes removal and replacement a hazardous chore.

2
iPad mini 4 Wi-Fi
iPad mini 4 Wi-Fi
  • 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.

2
Kindle Voyage
Kindle Voyage
  • Several modular components can be replaced individually.
  • Screws secure a slide-off rear case, simplifying opening procedure compared to other Kindles.
  • The front glass and e-ink display are fused together, increasing the cost of repairs.

7
Nexus 9
Nexus 9
  • 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.
  • 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).

3
iPad Mini 3 Wi-Fi
iPad Mini 3 Wi-Fi
  • 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.

2
iPad Air 2
iPad Air 2
  • 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.

2
Kindle 7th Generation
Kindle 7th Generation
  • 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.
  • Battery adhesive is much stronger than necessary, making its replacement hazardous.

8
Kindle Fire HD 6
Kindle Fire HD 6
  • 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.
  • 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).

6
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
  • 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.

1
iPad Mini 2
iPad Mini 2
  • 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.

2
Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9"
Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9"
  • Front panel is held in place with clips.
  • Modular design allows replacement of several components.
  • Battery is glued and difficult to remove.

7
iPad Air LTE
iPad Air LTE
  • 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.

2
Microsoft Surface Pro 2
Microsoft Surface Pro 2
  • 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.

1
Kindle Fire HDX 7"
Kindle Fire HDX 7"

3
Kindle Fire HD 2013
Kindle Fire HD 2013
  • 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.
  • A decent amount of adhesive is used on the battery, meaning some prying and gentle working is required for disassembly.

8
Dell XPS 10
Dell XPS 10
  • Easy to open. Easy to remove battery.
  • Color-coded screws and labeled cables inside.
  • LCD is fused to the glass.

9
Microsoft Surface Pro
Microsoft Surface Pro
  • 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.

1
Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9"
Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9"
  • With just a few clips, the device is very easy to open.
  • Heat gun is needed for fused LCD and front glass.
  • Battery and cables are adhered to case.

5
Google Nexus 10
Google Nexus 10
  • Easily removable battery. LCD is not fused to glass.
  • The opening procedure is a very difficult process.
  • Several components are attached by both screws and glue.

6
iPad Mini Wi-Fi
iPad Mini Wi-Fi
  • 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.

2
iPad 4 Wi-Fi
iPad 4 Wi-Fi
  • 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.

2
Microsoft Surface
Microsoft Surface
  • 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.
  • Several components are modular and replaceable without requiring desoldering.

4
Kindle Fire HD
Kindle Fire HD
  • The rear case is very easy to open, granting trouble-free access to the internals.
  • The battery is held in with absolutely no adhesive.
  • Copper tape over the processor is somewhat difficult to remove and to readhere correctly.

7
Nexus 7
Nexus 7
  • 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.
  • The LCD does not separate from the display glass, increasing repair costs.

7
Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight
Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight
  • 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.
  • The front glass, GlowLight LEDs, and digitizer are fused together, so breaking any of these parts will require replacement of the entire display assembly.

7
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0
  • Modular design and easy-to-remove components.
  • Front glass is not fused to the LCD.
  • Heat gun is needed to replace the LCD.

8
iPad 3 4G
iPad 3 4G
  • 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

2
Nook Tablet
Nook Tablet
  • The LCD is not fused to the front panel assembly, making replacement easy, if necessary.
  • Hidden screws prevent removal of rear panel.
  • Excessive amount of adhesive and adhesive strips make disassembly a painfully tedious process.

6
Kindle Fire
Kindle Fire
  • 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.
  • 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).

8
iPad 2 Wi-Fi EMC 2415
iPad 2 Wi-Fi EMC 2415
  • 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.

2
Motorola Xoom
Motorola Xoom
  • 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.
  • Everything is accessible but somewhat inconvenient to repair -- there's just a lot of labor involved with removing that many screws.

8
Dell Streak
Dell Streak
  • Good: Replacing the battery is super easy and takes less than one minute.
  • Good: Opening the device requires prying the bezels and removing five screws.
  • Bad: The LCD is bonded to the Gorilla Glass, increasing the cost of fixing the device if you break just the glass.

8
iPad Wi-Fi
iPad Wi-Fi
  • Front panel is held in place with clips.
  • LCD is not fused to the display glass.
  • Battery is difficult to remove and replace.

6