iFixit's iPad Pro Teardown A "Paradoxical Expression of Repairability"
Experts at iFixit, who deal with repairs, opened up the 13-inch iPad Pro with M5 chip to evaluate its internal design, and they assigned it a score of 5 out of 10 in repairs. This teardown exposed a device which proved paradoxical in that most of its internal components are accessible but accessing them involves a big risk that could greatly escalate repair costs.
The Major Obstacle An Ultra-Thin Chassis
The most evident part of the teardown finds the tablet's 5.1 mm thin chassis leaving it with all the challenges. This, therefore, complicates the first and most critical step followed in every repair removing the display. At the point of the internal components, there is a screen just above the internal components that are glued using a lot of adhesive which leaves the display matrix very vulnerable to damage during the removal step.
Internal Access and Component Replacement
If the screen could be removed without damaging it, iFixit found the pathway into the rest of the raw internal components to be less obstructed. Most parts can be removed and replaced without requiring too much maneuvering.
Apple Pencil Repairability Stays the Same
The teardown findings also revealed that the Apple Pencil stylus did not enjoy any design modification toward improved repairability this year because it is still tagged as a "disposable" accessory with no credible repair path.
The Final Verdict
A 5/10 rating reflects that conflicting phenomenon. Though a number of parts within the device can be replaced without difficulty, the necessity to disassemble comes with the huge cost risk for breaking that expensive screen during that time. That high likelihood of collateral damage is what finally turns out to lower the overall ability of the device to be repaired and increases the potential ending costs for consumers.
