Items tagged with iFixIt
Samsung took a page from Apple's design portfolio when it released the Galaxy Alpha, a handset that looks like a stretched out version of the iPhone 5s, complete with metal construction. Yes, the front and back are still made of plastic, but the metal frame gives the handset a premium look and feel that's not...
Read more...
You know what they say about dudes who carry around big phones, right? Indeed, they have big batteries, too! That's especially true of Apple's recently launched iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models, both of which are bigger than any previous iPhone model. Our friends at iFixIt felt like ending the work week by slicing...
Read more...
As if the whole Oculus Rift movement wasn't exciting enough, there's even more reason to like the virtual reality headset. The folks at iFixIt got their hands on the Oculus Rift Development Kit 2 and did what they do best -- they tore it apart, bit by bit, to evaluate its repairability. The verdict? An impressive 9...
Read more...
Amazon turned the tablet market upside down with its low cost Kindle Fire family, and now it will try to do the same thing in the smartphone sector with its recently launched Fire Phone. While that plays out, the Fire Phone has already received the teardown treatment, and lucky for Amazon, passing the test with flying colors isn't a prerequisite...
Read more...
The LG G Watch (LG-W100) is notable for at least a couple of reasons, the first of which is that it's one of not very many smartwatches rocking Google's promising Android Wear platform. Tying into that tidbit, it also happens to be the first Android Wear device to get the full teardown treatment from the folks over at...
Read more...
As gadgets shrink in size, it brings up the question of how feasible it is to perform repairs on your own at home. So far the answer depends on the device, as well as your level of patience and expertise. Some are a bear to repair, and others, like Samsung's Gear Fit, are a bit easier, though it's not without its...
Read more...
Depending on who you ask, Samsung's Galaxy S5 is the best Android smartphone (or smartphone, period) on the planet (Apple and HTC would both object). At the very least, it's in the discussion, as it should be when you consider the spec sheet. Far less impressive, however, is how difficult the Galaxy S5 is to repair on...
Read more...
If handset makers have their way, eventually we'll all be wearing smartwatches synced up to our mobile phones. The verdict is still out on whether this type of wearable has the legs to go the distance in the consumer market, but if it does, what happens when one of these pricey gadgets breaks and is out of its...
Read more...
In a perfect world, you'd never need to crack open any of your electronic devices because they'd work forever, dutifully doing their job and never needing repair. Here in the real world, things break, and they have a tendency to happen once that all-important warranty period expires. What then? Well, if you're handy...
Read more...
As was expected, HTC introduced its new One (M8) handset yesterday, and judging by the media coverage and user comments, there appears to be a fair amount of excitement over the company's new flagship device. Understandable, considering it features a large 5-inch Full HD 1080p display powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core...
Read more...
There's not a gadget in the world the folks at iFixIt can't tear into, though some are definitely easier to disassemble than others. Mobile devices like tablets and smartphones tend to be difficult to surgically operate on, and even some hybrid laptops can give users fits if there's a need to service or a replace a part. On the opposite end...
Read more...
You're not bringing home a Mac Pro for less than three large, and when spending that much on a computer, the expectation is that it will work and work well for a long time to come. Fair enough, but eventually you'll either want or need to dive in; it could be out of sheer curiosity or because a stick of RAM went bad...
Read more...
After reading the title, you might be thinking, "OMG why does HotHardware hate tablets?!?!" Don't get us wrong, we think tablets are great for what they're designed to do, but when it comes to servicing and/or upgrading parts on your own, they don't hold a candle next to a traditional PC. Teardown after teardown...
Read more...
This is a big month for console gamers. Sony last week launched its PlayStation 4 to retail, and tonight at the stroke of midnight, stores like Best Buy will begin selling Microsoft's Xbox One. That means the next-generation console wars will be in full swing, and while gamers debate exclusive titles and which has the...
Read more...
After seven long years, Sony today finally launched to retail another flagship game console. We're of course talking about the PlayStation 4, a $399 system with a x86 foundation that further blurs the lines between what constitutes a console for a PC (we're not saying they're one-in-the-same, just more similar than...
Read more...
Apple may have chosen to quietly launch its second generation iPad mini tablet with an upgraded "Retina" class display, but that didn't stop the folks at iFixIt from snagging a sample for their operating tablet. They made quick work of tearing into the newest iPad mini, which sports a panel that still measures 7.9 inches like before, but with...
Read more...
Other than the fact that demand is currently outstripping supply, there's not a whole lot to dislike about Google's Nexus 5, at least on paper. Spec for spec, it's a better version of the Nexus 4, and there are many happy Nexus 4 owners in the wild, You might be one of them. Of course, it would take a hands-on...
Read more...
Based on a new report by J.D. Power, there's a good chance you'll be satisfied with the iPad Air, should you decide to grab one. Samsung ranks highest in customer satisfaction among tablet owners, but Apple isn't far behind. However, should something break out of warranty and you find yourself tempted to perform an autopsy, well, best of luck....
Read more...
We've said before that we think Microsoft might be onto something with its second generation Surface systems. Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 are thinner, lighter, faster, and more feature-rich than the first generation Surface tablets, and though we'll reserve final judgement until we're able to formally review these devices, what we saw during...
Read more...
Showtime's popular Dexter series might have come to an end (don't worry, no spoilers here), but if you're still interested in seeing things gutted, iFixIt is your go-to place for the same level of carnage, albeit in the realm of electronics. The newest candidate to fall on iFixIt's operating table is Amazon's recently...
Read more...
Score a victory for the boys and girls in the good ol' U.S. of A. The tech Dexters at iFixIt hijacked Motorola's American made Moto X smartphone and were prepared to pry it open no matter how messy things might get, but as it turns out, the device is really not all that difficult to service and repair, scoring a...
Read more...
We already gave NVIDIA's Shield handheld gaming device a pretty thorough once-over in our official review, though one thing we didn't do is disassemble the gadget and take a look at its guts. It's not that we didn't want to, but such operations are best left to the fearless folks at iFixIt, who post some of the best...
Read more...
