iPad Mini Scores Poorly in Teardown Analysis
Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets aren't exactly known for being user friendly when it comes to do-it-yourself (DIY) repairs, but Apple appears to have gone below the call of doodie, if you will. The fine folks at iFixIt got their mittens on Apple's new iPad mini tablet, tore it open, and rated the device on its Repairability scale, which awards devices higher scores for being easier to service. The lower the score, the harder it is to repair a device. So, what did the iPad mini receive?
A 2 out of 10, which is the exact same score iFixIt gave the recently introduced 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display. In this case, the iPad mini was dinged points for having "teeny-tiny" screws that are easily misplaced if you're not careful (Protip: slap a stick of double-sided tape on your work area to hold screws and other small parts, or pick up a Petri dish), copious amounts of adhesive (front glass, logic board, battery, front and back cameras, ribbon cables), soldering the Lightning connector to the logic board, and for the use of hidden screws.
Image Source: iFixIt
On the positive side, the iPad mini's battery isn't soldered in place, and the LCD isn't fused together with the glass panel, so both of those can be replaced independently of one another. Overall, however, you're probably better off investing in a warranty (AppleCare, SquareTrade, and Best Buy, to name a few options) if you're concerned about repairs when purchasing an iPad mini.
A 2 out of 10, which is the exact same score iFixIt gave the recently introduced 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display. In this case, the iPad mini was dinged points for having "teeny-tiny" screws that are easily misplaced if you're not careful (Protip: slap a stick of double-sided tape on your work area to hold screws and other small parts, or pick up a Petri dish), copious amounts of adhesive (front glass, logic board, battery, front and back cameras, ribbon cables), soldering the Lightning connector to the logic board, and for the use of hidden screws.
Image Source: iFixIt
On the positive side, the iPad mini's battery isn't soldered in place, and the LCD isn't fused together with the glass panel, so both of those can be replaced independently of one another. Overall, however, you're probably better off investing in a warranty (AppleCare, SquareTrade, and Best Buy, to name a few options) if you're concerned about repairs when purchasing an iPad mini.
