Dell XPS 13 (2015) Scores Well For Repairability In Full Frontal Tear Down
Dell's new XPS 13 has been compared to Apple's MacBook Air because of its thin stature and overall aesthetic design. However, it's not just the operating system and spec sheet that separates these two laptops, there's also a big divide when it comes to in-home repair. Getting at the guts of a MacBook Air is more challenging than it should be, while the XPS 13 is decidedly easier to open and operate on, according to the latest teardown analysis by iFixIt.
There are several different configurations to choose from when ordering the XPS 13, all of them based on Intel's Broadwell-U platform. We recently reviewed the $1,400 model with a 13.3-inch IPS multi-touch display (3200x1800 QHD+ resolution), Intel Core i5 5200U CPU, 8GB of DDR3-1600 RAM, and 256GB M.2 SSD -- it earned an Editor's Choice award. The model in the teardown is configured almost the same, as a smaller size SSD is the only difference between the two.
Unlike Apple, Dell doesn't try to get in the way of repairs. Just the opposite, there's a detailed service manual that's for the XPS 13 that's freely accessible, which is especially handy when trying to figure out if you're overlooked a screw.
That said, not everything is perfect. Popping off the bottom lid requires multiple size screwdrivers, and there are some clips and adhesive to wrestle with. There's also a lot of tape holding bits and pieces down inside, though at least its fabric tape.
It helps that screws and connectors are labeled, making reassembly easier than most. Yoiu'll also find that most of the parts are pretty easy to replace, save for the RAM, which is unfortunately soldered to the motherboard.
At the completion of the teardown, "the Dell XPS 13 handily bagged a 7 out of 10 on the repairability scale,"iFixIt said.
There are several different configurations to choose from when ordering the XPS 13, all of them based on Intel's Broadwell-U platform. We recently reviewed the $1,400 model with a 13.3-inch IPS multi-touch display (3200x1800 QHD+ resolution), Intel Core i5 5200U CPU, 8GB of DDR3-1600 RAM, and 256GB M.2 SSD -- it earned an Editor's Choice award. The model in the teardown is configured almost the same, as a smaller size SSD is the only difference between the two.
Unlike Apple, Dell doesn't try to get in the way of repairs. Just the opposite, there's a detailed service manual that's for the XPS 13 that's freely accessible, which is especially handy when trying to figure out if you're overlooked a screw.
That said, not everything is perfect. Popping off the bottom lid requires multiple size screwdrivers, and there are some clips and adhesive to wrestle with. There's also a lot of tape holding bits and pieces down inside, though at least its fabric tape.
It helps that screws and connectors are labeled, making reassembly easier than most. Yoiu'll also find that most of the parts are pretty easy to replace, save for the RAM, which is unfortunately soldered to the motherboard.
At the completion of the teardown, "the Dell XPS 13 handily bagged a 7 out of 10 on the repairability scale,"iFixIt said.
