Smartphone Repairability

Our engineers disassembled and analyzed each smartphone, awarding a repairability score between zero and ten. Ten is the easiest to repair.

How we rate devices:

A device with a perfect score will be relatively inexpensive to repair, because it is easy to disassemble and has a service manual available. Points are docked based on the difficulty of opening the device, the types of fasteners found inside, and the complexity involved in replacing major components. Points are awarded for upgradability, use of non-proprietary tools for servicing, and component modularity.

Sort by: Score | Release

Apple iPhone 5s Apple
iPhone 5s
2013
Front panel is fairly easy to remove and replace.
Battery is adhered in place and difficult to remove.
Proprietary pentalobe driver required for opening.
6

Apple iPhone 5c Apple
iPhone 5c
2013
Front panel is easy to remove and replace.
Battery is adhered in place and difficult to remove.
Proprietary pentalobe driver required for opening.
6

Motorola Moto X Motorola
Moto X
2013
Modular design allows replacing of individual components.
Only a single type of screw is used throughout.
Strong adhesive on the rear cover makes opening difficult.
7

Samsung Galaxy S4 Samsung
Galaxy S4
2013
Battery is easy to replace.
Very easy to open for access to internal components.
Components adhered to the back of a fused display assembly.
8

Blackberry Z10 Blackberry
Z10
2013
Battery is easy to replace.
Standard screws make the device easy to open.
Smaller components are strongly adhered in place.
8

HTC One HTC
One
2013
Solid external construction improves durability.
Virtually impossible to open without extreme damage to rear case.
Battery is buried under motherboard and adhered to midframe.
1

Google Nexus 4 Google
Nexus 4
2012
The back cover can be removed with common tools.
Pressure contacts throughout the phone ease disassembly.
The battery is held in place with strong adhesive.
7

Samsung Galaxy Note II Samsung
Galaxy Note II
2012
Battery is easy to replace.
Very easy to open for access to internal components.
Components adhered to the back of a fused display assembly.
8

Apple iPhone 5 Apple
iPhone 5
2012
Front panel is easy to remove and replace.
Battery is relatively easy to replace.
Proprietary pentalobe driver required for opening.
7

Samsung Galaxy S III Samsung
Galaxy S III
2012
Battery is easy to replace.
Device is easy to open.
Components adhered to the back of a fused display assembly.
8

Motorola Droid 4 Motorola
Droid 4
2012
LCD and front glass are not fused and can be replaced individually.
Tons of adhesive seals the phone and its components.
Replacing the front glass requires complete phone disassembly.
4

Samsung Galaxy Nexus Samsung
Galaxy Nexus
2011
Battery is easy to replace.
Only the volume switch and vibrator motor are soldered in.
The glass is fused to both the display and the display frame.
6

Motorola Droid RAZR Motorola
Droid RAZR
2011
Battery is relatively easy to replace.
All plastic frames and casings are incredibly tedious to remove.
The front panel is adhered to the display.
4

Apple iPhone 4s Apple
iPhone 4s
2011
Screws and limited adhesive ease opening.
The back panel is easy to remove, but requires a pentalobe driver.
LCD is fused to front glass.
6

Samsung Galaxy Note Samsung
Galaxy Note
2011
Battery is easy to replace.
Very easy to open for access to internal components.
Components adhered to the back of a fused display assembly.
8

Motorola Droid Bionic Motorola
Droid Bionic
2011
Battery can be removed in seconds.
Modular design allows replacement of many individual parts.
Rear camera replacement requires removing an EMI shield.
9

Motorola Droid 3 Motorola
Droid 3
2011
Battery is easy to replace.
Many components on a single cable, which increases cost of parts.
LCD replacement requires disassembly of the entire device.
6

Samsung Galaxy S II Samsung
Galaxy S II
2011
Battery is easy to replace.
Very easy to open for access to internal components.
Components adhered to the back of a fused display assembly.
8

Motorola Atrix 4G Motorola
Atrix 4G
2011
LCD and front glass are not fused and can be replaced individually.
Battery is easy to replace.
Many components soldered in place, which increases replacement costs.
9

Google Nexus S Google
Nexus S
2010
Battery is easy to replace.
Standard screws and connectors make the motherboard accessible.
Fused LCD and glass; the front panel is attached with adhesive.
7

HTC Surround HTC
Surround
2010
Battery is relatively easy to replace.
Accessing the internal MicroSDHC card voids the warranty.
Very difficult to access the front panel and LCD for replacement.
5

Nokia N8 Nokia
N8
2010
Battery is easy to replace.
LCD and front glass are not fused and can be replaced individually.
Removing the camera is incredibly difficult.
8

Apple iPhone 4 Apple
iPhone 4
2010
Screws and limited adhesive ease opening.
Modular design allows replacement of many individual parts.
Replacing the rear camera requires removing an EMI shield.
6

Dell Streak Dell
Streak
2010
Device is easy to open.
Battery is easy to replace.
LCD is fused to the glass.
8

Samsung Galaxy S 4G Samsung
Galaxy S 4G
2010
Modular design allows replacing of individual components.
Battery is easy to replace.
LCD is fused to front glass.
6

Apple iPhone 3GS Apple
iPhone 3GS
2009
LCD and front glass are not fused and can be replaced individually.
Standard Phillips screws used throughout.
Battery is buried under the logic board, making it difficult to replace.
7

Apple iPhone 3G Apple
iPhone 3G
2008
LCD and front glass are not fused and can be replaced individually.
Standard Phillips screws used throughout.
Battery is buried under the logic board, making it difficult to replace.
7

Apple iPhone Apple
iPhone
2007
Standard Phillips screws used throughout.
Hidden clips make it nearly impossible to open rear case without damaging it.
Soldered battery is very difficult to replace.
2

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