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Apple iPad Air torn down, gets 2/10 repairability score

posted by Daniel P. / Nov 01, 2013, 9:36 AM

Apple iPad Air torn down, gets 2/10 repairability score

The demolition folks from iFixit went Down Under on the red-eye again to put their grubby mitts on the elegant new iPad Air, and dissect it on a Halloween night for our viewing pleasure.

The zombified iPad Air got a repairability score of 2 out of 10 possible points, and we didn't expect much more from a 0.3" (7.5mm) slate that is just 16.86 oz (478 g) of feathery for an aluminum 10-incher weight. With a powerful 64-bit A7 processor and a wretched 2048 x 1536 pixels display, you'd think the iPad air would be a power hog, but the slimmed down display panel allowed for more battery inside, to the tune of 8827 mAh, ensuring the typical 10 hours of usage we've come to expect from an iPad. Since inside the tablet is mostly battery, you'd be sad to hear that it is extremely difficult to remove it, with tons of adhesive holding everything together.

Teamed up with Chipworks, iFixit confirms a different Apple A7 chipset version is in the iPad Air, compared to the iPhone 5s, and found a Qualcomm LTE modem that ensures the record 14 LTE bands support that comes with the new Apple slate. Have a gander at the teardown details below, and watch the Halloween-themed teardown video.

iPad Air Teardown

source: iFixit

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View Full specs

PhoneArena Rating:

9.2

Read Full Review

User Rating:

8.4

Based on 10 Reviews

Display 9.7" 2048 x 1536 pixels

Camera 5 MP / 1.2 MP front

Processor Apple A7, Dual-core, 1400 MHz

Storage 128 GB

Battery 8820 mAh

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24 Comments

1. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

Sounds like there won't be many Airs being repaired. Any issues, and it will be time to swap for a replacement.

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 9:40 AM 0

2. gallitoking

Posts: 4721; Member since: May 17, 2011

good you shouldn't be repairing your ipad... is a 500.00+ plus device.. you can't go cheap and repair it yourself... have a pro do it

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 9:43 AM 0

5. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

I doubt the pros will be doing many Air repairs. The expense of the time involved to just open up the Air is going to make replacement more cost-effective.

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 9:57 AM 0

11. cezarepc

Posts: 718; Member since: Nov 23, 2012

+1 Fix it yourself if you really know what you're doing. And even then I'd still suggest going to an official repair center. *gallitoking haven't seen you post a comment in a long time. Where's the gang? remixfa, wendy, troll (the first one), mxyzptlk, kingkurogii, etc lol

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 12:32 PM 0

15. gallitoking

Posts: 4721; Member since: May 17, 2011

don't know but I am back nice to see new people here

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 2:24 PM 0

14. DukeX

Posts: 327; Member since: Aug 28, 2013

You make it seem like just cause its expensive it wont break. What if its defective out the box? With your logic $50,000 cars should never need repairs. Man I would hate to see you racing...

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 2:06 PM 1

18. Ninetysix

Posts: 2965; Member since: Oct 08, 2012

You're so smart DookieX. When you buy something that is defective out of the box, you get a replacement. You don't try to do anything that will break your warranty. You live in a 3rd world country or something?

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 4:07 PM 0

20. Slammer

Posts: 1515; Member since: Jun 03, 2010

Oh really? So what happens after one year and you have problems with the battery? You just throw it away? Or do just replace the battery? Oh wait.....you can't get to the battery. I guess you just throw your expensive tablet away. John B.

posted on Nov 02, 2013, 4:37 AM 1

23. Slammer

Posts: 1515; Member since: Jun 03, 2010

So, you need a pro to change your own battery? John B.

posted on Nov 02, 2013, 4:58 AM 1

3. squallz506

Posts: 1075; Member since: Oct 19, 2011

I like how iPhone arena spins a 2/10 repair ability score into a glowingly positive article.

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 9:44 AM 4

4. RoyalPayne

Posts: 458; Member since: Aug 07, 2013

u gonna cry now?

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 9:48 AM 6

9. WHoyton1

Posts: 1635; Member since: Feb 21, 2013

i love how you got your multiple accounts to like that useless comment

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 11:39 AM 4

13. _PHug_

Posts: 482; Member since: Oct 11, 2011

OMG is that how he's doing it? LOL didn't think someone would be that desperate for thumbs/validation.

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 12:42 PM 0

16. gallitoking

Posts: 4721; Member since: May 17, 2011

I am guilty for a thumb up on RP

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 2:25 PM 0

8. jromy

Posts: 114; Member since: Feb 26, 2013

From the first couple of sentences you can tell how hard phonarena is trying lol I mean, "to put their grubby mitts on the elegant new iPad Air", you can almost feel the suction of how hard they're trying to kiss up to Apple.

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 11:19 AM 2

10. donfem

Posts: 708; Member since: Mar 30, 2011

Why do you think a lot refer to this site as iphonearena? :)

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 11:55 AM 1

6. mas11

Posts: 1034; Member since: Mar 30, 2012

How else is Apple supposed to get you to upgrade? It's pretty smart of Apple to make their devices difficult to repair. If the consumer can't repair it they will have to buy a new $500 iPad.

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 10:24 AM 4

7. RoyalPayne

Posts: 458; Member since: Aug 07, 2013

BIGGEST LOL AT YOU! If ur iPad isnt working, they change it for free n without hassles. That along with timely updates n support is known as COSTUMER CARE! Ofcourse ur unfamiliar wid this, being a TROLL.

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 10:28 AM 3

22. Slammer

Posts: 1515; Member since: Jun 03, 2010

Oh really? And how long into ownership do they cover it? I have two friends that have an ipad each sitting in a drawer useless because something went terribly wrong and it was more feasible to purchase a new one. 500 dollars is an expensive throw away item. Wouldn't you think so? John B.

posted on Nov 02, 2013, 4:56 AM 0

12. MrsPotatoHead

Posts: 48; Member since: Aug 18, 2013

It don't make no sense to buy it then if you can't get it fixed. That's a big turn off for me and I was thinkin of replacing my original iPad with this but if it aint easily fixable then I might look at one of those Nexuses. Who make those anyways?

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 12:34 PM 0

17. gallitoking

Posts: 4721; Member since: May 17, 2011

Have you been under the hood of newer cars.. in some you can't even see the battery....

posted on Nov 01, 2013, 2:27 PM 0

19. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

In many cars, the battery isn't even in the engine compartment, so you would never find it looking under the hood.

posted on Nov 02, 2013, 2:09 AM 0

21. Slammer

Posts: 1515; Member since: Jun 03, 2010

The batteries in a car are accessible and can be replaced by a consumer if need be. Some are more difficult to get to but it is accessible. Now take an expensive stereo system or TV such as an Onkyo, Marantz, Pioneer and seal the battery in the remote. If the battery dies, you have to spend 200-250 dollars on a new remote? The industry logic here is to slave the consumer to spending more dollars on repairs than need to be. I wish tech geeks would quit making excuses for the d-bag moves the manufacturers for tablets and phones are pulling over consumers. Go ahead. Throw a perfectly good 500 dollar tablet away just because the battery failed. John B.

posted on Nov 02, 2013, 4:50 AM 1

24. Slammer

Posts: 1515; Member since: Jun 03, 2010

History is going to repeat itself here. The importance of this news by Phonearena and teardown by iFixit, is that the low score inherently tells the consumer that if something goes wrong with your device, you're basically in trouble. Every little thing drives the consumer to a service center. In most cases, huge dollars are exchanged. Apple is losing marketshare due to this logic. If someone has to throw away a tablet just because of a stupid battery dying outside the warranty even though the rest of the tablet works flawlessly, it is much cheaper to purchase a less expensive device for this purpose alone. John B.