Microsoft has pulled a miracle: its Surface Copilot PCs are now the most repairable in the market
They’ve gone from zero to hero
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Microsoft’sSurface Pro 10andSurface Laptop 7Copilot+ PCs are finally launching, and, as it turns out, they are some of the most repairable laptops on the market.
According to a new breakdown of the laptops thanks toiFixit, they praised how easily technicians can service them. Shahram Mokhtari from the officialYouTubechannel walks through the process of detaching each component, including the motherboard, to demonstrate how straightforward it is to remove and repair them.
Under the case of each device are several labels and QR codes that feature a wrench symbol above them. Microsoft calls the labels ‘Wayfinder Markings,’ and they inform you how what kind of screws you need and how many of them to secure components in that area. Meanwhile, the QR codes bring you to Microsoft’s official service guides page for easy instructions.
The ease of parts removal has been greatly improved, which is especially a boon for laptops. For instance, batteries in the Surface Laptop can now be removed by simply removing the bottom feet and back cover, compared to older models that required nearly every other component to be taken out first. This was especially egregious when the battery was the only serviceable part of the laptop. SSD cards are also simple to take out. Unfortunately, memory is soldered to the motherboard, making it difficult for the average user to detach and replace.
TheSurface Prois just as easy to work on, with the SSD replaceable without disassembly, and removing the display is much simpler than other tablets. However, due to the adhesive securing the screen, replacing other components like the battery can be a bit more challenging.
The Surface Pro and Surface Laptop each receive a repairability score of 8 out of 10, a massive improvement compared to Microsoft’s disastrous scoring back in 2017, when iFixit gave the original Surface Laptop azero out of ten score for repairability. It seems that after that, Microsoft was determined to turn over a new leaf, evenpartnering with iFixit in 2021to start selling Surface repair tools.
Meanwhile, MacBooks and Chromebooks areamong the worst laptops for repairability, according to a report calledFailing the Fix, which was compiled by the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), a consumer advocacy organization in the U.S. Sounds likeAppleandGoogleshould be taking a page from Microsoft’s book and overhaul their own PCs to be far more user friendly.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
You might also like
Named by the CTA as a CES 2023 Media Trailblazer, Allisa is a Computing Staff Writer who covers breaking news and rumors in the computing industry, as well as reviews, hands-on previews, featured articles, and the latest deals and trends. In her spare time you can find her chatting it up on her two podcasts, Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, as well as playing any JRPGs she can get her hands on.
Finally, some good Copilot news: Microsoft could be making 16GB RAM a standard for AI PCs
Cyber Monday PC deals 2023 – the best extended deals still live
MacBook Air OLED reportedly delayed until at least 2028 – here’s why
