iPad Pro M5: Minimal improvements in repairability
With the spec bump to the new M5 chip, repair technicians had hoped for improvements to the iPad Pro. Unfortunately, these have not been met.
Opening the iPad Pro M5: According to iFixIt, a "repair paradox".
(Image: iFixIt)
The hope that Apple would make the iPad Pro M5 slightly easier to repair has unfortunately not been fulfilled. The official Teardown of the new Apple tablet, released in October, by repair service provider iFixit shows that the device remains one of the least repairable devices in Apple's portfolio. Experts even describe it as a “repair paradox.” Both beginners and experienced repair technicians “hated” opening iPads. At least Apple has now published instructions—in fact, there are already for the 11- and 13-inch variants of the iPad Pro M5. However, what is currently missing are spare parts, such as those for the new iPhone models (17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and Air) already available.
Not for beginners
Overall, iFixit gave the iPad Pro M5 a slightly higher repairability score of 5 out of a possible 10 points. No major internal changes were noted, apart from the new M5 SoC. On the 13-inch model, Apple still uses a 38.99 Wh battery, the removal of which, as usual, requires a lot of caution due to difficult-to-access adhesive and cables that are in the way.
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Apple still does not anticipate a quick battery removal by applying voltage. Other standard repairs are also complex; usually, you have to remove the OLED screen first to access parts like the USB-C ports.
Adhesives and JIS
The screws used are mostly JIS (Japanese Industry Standard) and not Phillips cross-head. Both formats look very similar but should be used with the correct tool. Apple uses Torx screws in two places. The thinness of the iPad Pro M5—it is Apple's thinnest device ever—leads to very tight tolerances. Adhesive surfaces are still of great importance to Apple, even though many screws and clip mechanisms are used.
Those interested in self-repair should consult the repair manual linked above and ideally wait until spare parts and repair techniques, such as for correctly reattaching the screen, are available. Apple also rents these out, so you don't necessarily have to buy the expensive tools.
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