While some of the changes on the OnePlus 15R have raised questions, a new teardown video has revealed that some things are still solid. The company is sticking to a welcome aspect of its predecessor that reduces worry for anyone who dreads expensive and complicated phone repairs. So here are all the details.

OnePlus 15R teardown & repairability

According to a detailed teardown by PBKreviews on YouTube, the brand’s new value flagship phone has managed to earn a strong 8.5 out of 10 repairability score. In the video, the tech channel praised the Chinese brand for its smart engineering choices, like common Philips screws and modular camera parts that simplify disassembly. There are also other aspects, such as an easy-to-remove battery with pull tabs and accessible core components, that helped achieve the high repairability scores.

Although battery cables are underneath graphite film and copper tape, the overall process remains simpler than on many other devices. But it’s not all perfect here. The glass backplate still sticks via adhesive. So you’ll need careful heating to avoid cracking during removal. Screen replacements can be the hardest task, as one needs to disassemble multiple internal layers before the display flex cable becomes accessible.

Overall, the OnePlus 15R teardown paints a picture of a smartphone that strikes a smart balance between modern build quality and repair-friendly design. Apart from the repairability, the teardown also offers us a proper look at the OnePlus 15R, showcasing its dual camera sensors, motherboard, and other key hardware.

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Samsung has come out on top as the most repair-friendly smartphone brand in 2022, beating Apple by a large margin, according to a study by the Electronics Hub. The study aggregated data from iFixit to determine which smartphones were easiest and most difficult to repair at home, based on average repair times and the difficulty of repair guide instructions found online.

Study finds Samsung phones most DIY-repair friendly of 2022

Samsung’s Galaxy phones released in 2022 were found to be the easiest to repair, with the Galaxy S22 Ultra ranked third in terms of DIY repair-friendliness after the Galaxy A40 (2019) and the Moto G7 launched the same year. The Galaxy A40 has an average repair time of 32.6 minutes per fix, with 42.9% of repairs considered easy. While Galaxy S22 Ultra has an average repair time of 48.1 minutes, with a notable 33.3% of repairs being easy to execute.

Meanwhile, the most difficult smartphone to repair was found to be the Google Pixel 7 (2022), with an average home repair time of 60.3 minutes. The Galaxy Note 10 was also labeled as not DIY-repair-friendly, with an average repair time of 58.4 minutes and repair instructions labeled as difficult to follow.

Interestingly, Samsung was also the top brand in terms of home repair friendliness in 2013 and 2014, after which it lost the lead to other brands such as Google, Motorola, Apple, and Xiaomi. However, in 2022, Samsung regained its position as the most repairable smartphone brand in the world.

Samsung’s focus on repairability can be seen in its latest phones, including the 2023 Galaxy S23 series, which now come with battery pouches that greatly simplify battery replacements. This move is likely to further enhance Samsung’s position as the most repair-friendly smartphone brand in the market.

Overall, the study highlights the importance of repairability as a key factor for consumers when choosing a smartphone. With Samsung leading the way in this regard, other brands may need to follow suit and prioritize repairability to remain competitive in the ever-evolving smartphone market.

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(Source, Via)

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Repairing a smartphone can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience, especially if you don’t have the right tools or experience. However, if you’re looking to repair your phone yourself, some devices are easier to fix than others. Recently, ElectronicsHub analyzed 228 smartphone repair guides on the popular repair website iFixit and found that Apple’s iPhone accounted for the largest proportion of the top ten most repairable lists.

Moto G7 has an Average Repair Time of 25 minutes

Interestingly, Google’s Pixel 7 was one of the most difficult and time-consuming phones to repair, with an average repair time of 60.3 minutes. In contrast, the Motorola Moto G7 was the easiest to fix, with the shortest average repair time of just 25 minutes.

In the list of the ten easiest smartphones to repair, Apple dominated with four devices, accounting for the most. The iPhone 11 Pro Max ranked fourth, with an average repair time of 63.2 minutes, and the iPhone 13 ranked fifth with 67.8 minutes. The eighth-ranked iPhone 14 had an average repair time of 47.7 minutes, while the iPhone 12 came in tenth with 72.2 minutes.

So why are some smartphones easier to repair than others? It often comes down to design choices made by the manufacturer. For example, smartphones with easily accessible battery compartments and modular designs are typically easier to repair. Additionally, manufacturers who use standard screws and connectors make it easier for DIY repair enthusiasts to fix their devices.

While some may argue that repairing your phone yourself can be risky, it can also be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to replacing your device altogether. However, it’s essential to do your research and make sure you have the right tools and knowledge to repair your phone safely. Ultimately, the repairability of a smartphone is an important factor to consider when choosing a new device, especially if you value the ability to fix your phone yourself.

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(Via)

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For those looking to repair or tear open your Surface Laptop SE, Microsoft has just released a new video to assist you in the process. The company has shared a new video that showcases the notebook being disassembled (Via XDADevelopers).

Talking about the laptop first, the Surface Laptop SE was unveiled last year and was the first Surface device that was made for kids (K-8: kindergarten through eighth grade). The new notebook is a budget PC from American tech giant that runs its Windows 11 SE, which is a cut down version of Windows 11 OS. In the past, the company received a fair bit of criticism over their bad repairability. But it seems that the brand has taken this into account with the newer models.

In the teardown video, we can see the Surface Laptop SE being opened and disassembled with just a few screwdrivers like Torx T6 and Philips PH0. Although while tearing down isn’t too much of a hassle, but you can’t simply remove and replace every component. The processor, RAM, and storage are soldered on the motherboard, however, the speakers, power connector, battery, and the display assembly can be removed.

In other words, repairs on these parts are still possible. Furthermore, the company has even partnered with iFixit for the distribution of essential tools for Surface Laptops and Surface Pro devices. This implies that Microsoft is making these products compatible with third party repairs as well.

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Samsung’s Galaxy Note lineup never really fared well for its repairability. Last year’s Galaxy Note 9 got a poor score of just four out of 10 in iFixit’s repairability score. However, according to the latest teardown by iFixit, the new Galaxy Note 10+ 5G takes its internals to a whole new level. It’s the worse of the lot, scoring only three out of ten for its repairability.

Why the low score you ask? Well, everything seems to be glued down inside the phone, right from the back cover to the battery, which is now wider than before. The biggest change inside the new Note 10+ 5G is the use of a stacked motherboard (similar to Apple) in order to save space. But this makes for a trickier mother and daughterboard connection which forced Samsung to use “annoying interconnect cables” (as iFixit puts it) which further block access to the battery.

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Another notable change inside was the use of the square-ish vibration motor instead of the regular circular one found on its predecessors. iFixit notes that this should result in better haptics on the new model. You’ll also find three mmWave antenna modules inside for 5G, two on each side of the phone and one facing the screen.

But what gave this phone the worst repairability score is the mess you have to go through for something as simple as replacing its beautiful display. iFixit says that the Note 10+ 5G will either require a complete teardown or you’ll have to replace half the phone just to change its 6.8-inch screen! That’s too much of a hassle and it practically kills any possibility of doing it yourself.

In short, the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G is an amazing smartphone as long as you don’t break it.

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(Source)

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