Microsoft Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PCs are finally launching and they happen to be some of the most serviceable laptops on the market.
According to a new breakdown of laptops thanks to I fix it, they praised the ease with which technicians can repair them. Shahram Mokhtari from the official YouTube channel explains the process of disassembling each component, including the motherboard, to demonstrate how easy it is to remove and repair them.
Under the case of each device are several labels and QR codes that have a wrench symbol above them. Microsoft calls the labels 'Wayfinder Marks' and they tell you what type of screws you need and how many of them to secure the components in that area. Meanwhile, QR codes take you to Microsoft's official service guides page for easy instructions.
The ease of removing parts has been greatly improved, which is especially beneficial for laptops. For example, Surface Laptop batteries can now be removed by simply removing the bottom legs and back cover, compared to older models that required removing almost all other components first. This was especially egregious when the battery was the only serviceable part of the laptop. SSD cards are also easy to remove. Unfortunately, the memory is soldered to the motherboard, making it difficult for the average user to unplug and replace.
It's just as easy to work on the Surface Pro, as the SSD can be replaced without disassembly and removing the screen is much easier than on other tablets. However, due to the adhesive that secures the screen, replacing other components such as the battery can be a little more complicated.
The Surface Pro and Surface Laptop each receive a repairability score of 8 out of 10, a huge improvement over Microsoft's disastrous score in 2017, when iFixit gave the original Surface Laptop a score zero out of ten for repairability. It seems that after that, Microsoft was determined to turn the page, even Partner with iFixit in 2021 to start selling surface repair tools.
Meanwhile, MacBooks and Chromebooks are among the worst laptops in terms of repairabilityAccording to a report called Fail solutionwhich was compiled by the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), a consumer advocacy organization in the US. It seems that Apple and Google should take a page from Microsoft's book and overhaul their own PCs to make them much easier to wear.
