Another device, another thing to destroy in the name of science, as the daring crew at iFixit would say. Today’s special on the menu is the Surface Pro 4, which released yesterday alongside the new Surface Book, to everyone’s excitement. Unfortunately, for fans of DIY repair, it doesn’t look like Microsoft’s latest Surface Pro bodes any better than its predecessors in that department.
The Surface Pro 4 scored a 2 out of 10 from iFixit. Disassembly, as one might expect from a tablet its size, isn’t the easiest thing in the world to accomplish. Taking the tablet apart requires a specific assortment of tools, and even then, it’s risky business trying to disassemble the device without breaking it. When the iFixit squad tried dissecting the Surface Pro 4, they nearly busted the display.
Even after breaking and entering, the motherboard was virtually inaccessible while the only component that was easy to get to was the SSD, which apparently is the least difficult part of the tablet to replace. In fact, that’s the only part of the Surface Pro 4 that iFixit scored positively.
Entrenched in the long list of negatives on the list is the bit about the motherboard being difficult to remove and replace thanks to a potent use of adhesives attaching it to the battery. And while Microsoft has switched from a proprietary connector design to more commonplace connectors akin to that of an iPhone for the display, they’re still difficult to tug away at, making display removal a laborious task. Luckily, the display is still easier to remove than in previous generations, thanks to a more conservative use of adhesive on Microsoft’s part.
Adhesive is a common theme in this teardown. In fact, it holds so many components in place that self-repairing the device is probably not worth meddling with. As presumed, if you’re expecting modular hardware design, look elsewhere than the Surface Pro 4.
