What you need to know
- iFixit recently shared its preliminary repairability scores for the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7.
- Both devices received an 8/10, although they are rated as part of different form factors.
- iFixit praised Microsoft for making repair guides available from day one, making it easier to remove and replace parts, and labeling parts with QR codes that navigate to repair guides.
Microsoft shipped its Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 last week. The flagship devices, which run on the Snapdragon X Elite or Snapdragon X Plus, herald the first wave of Copilot+ PCs. These chips have dominated the headlines so far, but as more reviewers and people get their hands on the PCs, more insights about the hardware are trickling out. Well-known repairability experts iFixit recently shared their preliminary repair scores for the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7, and the early results are promising.
The Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 each received a preliminary score of 8/10 from iFixit. Notably, iFixit has different scales for different form factors. The Surface Pro 11 received an 8/10 on iFixit’s tablet scale, while the Surface Laptop 7 received an 8/10 on the laptop scale. Just because the numbers are the same doesn’t mean the ease of repair is the same for the new Surface PCs. The scores are relative to other devices within the respective form factors. The scores are also provisional, so they may change upon further inspection.
Both of Microsoft’s new Surface devices are easier to repair than their predecessors. The Surface Pro 7 infamously received a repairability score of 1/10. The original Surface Laptop was called a “glue-filled monster” by iFixit. Microsoft has steadily improved the repairability of Surface PCs over the years, as well illustrated by the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7.
Some of the changes Microsoft has made to Surface designs over the years may seem obvious, but they’re still welcome improvements. In addition, there are also PC manufacturers that have not insisted on repairability. Microsoft started off poorly when it came to making its devices easy to repair, but is now outpacing several OEMs in the region. For example, repair manuals are available from day one and many parts are marked with QR codes that navigate to those manuals.
The iFixit glitch starts with opening the Surface Laptop 7, which can be done by removing rubber feet and loosening some Torx screws. Even opening the Surface Laptop was a challenge in the early generations. Many parts of the Surface Laptop 7 are easily removable, including the battery. The “glue monster” has been defeated, or at least replaced by a PC that is easier to repair.
Similar improvements were seen in the Surface Pro 11, although the 2-in-1 is more difficult to repair than its laptop sibling. For example, removing the screen requires heat and more hardware. The now familiar option to swap the Surface Pro M.2 SSD using just a Torx key is seen, as is the option to remove the battery without having to remove any adhesive.
“The new Surface Laptop and Surface Pro are both impressively modular and accessible devices,” according to iFixit. “With easy-to-remove batteries, removable and expandable storage, handy teardown marks printed on internal components, and of course those official service manuals, the Surface Laptop 7 more than earns its preliminary eight out of ten on our laptop recovery scale. And the Surface Pro 11 also scored a preliminary eight out of ten on our tablet repairability scale.”
It’s impressive how far Microsoft has come in terms of repairs. There is always room for improvement, such as making certain cables easier to access. But improvements across generations suggest these fixes could come in the next generation of Surface PCs.