Dell XPS 10 Easiest Tablet to Repair, Surface Pro Hardest

By Zak Islam
published

Microsoft's device received lowest score of 1 out of 10.

Repair experts iFixit has detailed its list of the easiest and hardest tablets to repair, with Dell's XPS 10 topping the list.

Its new "Tablet Repairability" list depicts slates it's taken apart to examine how easy it is for owners to repair the devices. Each tablet is given a score on a scale of 1 to 10, with the Dell XPS 10 earning the highest score with 9. Reasons cited for its high score are that it's easy to open and includes labeled cables, as well as a series of color-coded screws.

Apple and Microsoft see their devices ranking low on the list. Surface RT has a score of 4 in iFixit's scale, which is predominately due to the difficulty in opening the tablet. Also, because of the effort required to open them, the iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4 and iPad Mini all received scores of 2.

Surface Pro received the worst score in iFixit's list, with the device having a score of 1 for its "tons of adhesive holds," in addition to a host of other issues. The firm said there's a high risk of destroying the device by just opening it.

"We weren't able to list every single tablet, but this list is a good start," an iFixit representative told CNET. "We have to disassemble each tablet to score it, so additional hardware will show up as we perform more teardowns. Our hope is that through customers' votes, manufacturers will create long-lasting, easy-to-repair hardware that we can all love."

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Zak Islam
11 Comments Comment from the forums
  • internetlad
    M$: Oh yeah Apple, you think you know how to glue a screen on eh? TOM, SET THE GLUE MACHINE ON OVERDRIVE.
    Reply
  • yialanliu
    Not suprising. As much as we may not like dell, you have to remmeber, Dell makes everything ready to be serviced, unlike other companies that don't cater to business as their bread and butter.
    Reply
  • alidan
    yialanliuNot suprising. As much as we may not like dell, you have to remmeber, Dell makes everything ready to be serviced, unlike other companies that don't cater to business as their bread and butter.
    when it comes to things like tablets, im williong to look at companies i would never buy a pc from
    Reply
  • K2N hater
    Firstly the XPS 10 isn't a tablet but a convertible. Secondly it seems like the sole purpose of these "news" are to draw hatred upon Ballmer's latest creation. Comparing the Surface Pro to a Lanovo Tablet 2, Acer W7 or Dell Latitude 10 would be far more reasonable.
    Reply
  • extremepcs
    Good Lord! $180 for a keyboard for the XPS 10? MS isn't even charging that much for their Surface keyboards!
    Reply
  • extremepcs
    K2N haterFirstly the XPS 10 isn't a tablet but a convertible.
    You're thinking of the XPS 12. XPS 10 is a Win 8 RT tablet with optional (and WAY overpriced) keyboard.
    Reply
  • 10tacle
    alidanwhen it comes to things like tablets, im williong to look at companies i would never buy a pc from
    Exactly. And guess who else is getting back into tablet scene after elected to abandon the Touchpad two years ago? HP. You can tell a woman is running that company from the constant mind changing.
    Reply
  • skyjogger
    extremepcs XPS10 comes as Win 8 Pro I have one on my desk. good little tablet. XPS 12 is where its at, better than any tablet I have used as a tablet and a damn good laptop as a laptop.
    Reply
  • alidan
    10tacleExactly. And guess who else is getting back into tablet scene after elected to abandon the Touchpad two years ago? HP. You can tell a woman is running that company from the constant mind changing.
    no, they abandoned their propriatary os and... are they still useing it or did they go android...
    Reply
  • back_by_demand
    As yet, this website has not posted a review on the Surface Pro
    ...
    All we seems to get is the same tired report of scoring low on the iFixit chart
    ...
    Thanks, I read that weeks ago, along with all the actual reviews of the product which Tom's still can't seem to manage. Maybe you asked for one but Microsoft thought you were such a partisan site spewing anti-Microsoft vomit that when you asked for a test unit they told you to go fish, whilst every other reputable site got a free test model
    ...
    Hell, even Penny Arcade got a test unit, are you really so low down the respectability chart that we have to rate you as 1 also? Or can we just call it an even zero...
    Reply