A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | |
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1 | Release Order | OEM | Device | Date | Summary | Score | Note | Scorecard Version |
2 | 146 | Pixel Fold | 2023 | + Google provides a free, comprehensive service manual. + Genuine replacement parts and software calibration tools are available for end users. - All repairs require carefully de-gluing (and later re-gluing) the outer display and/or back cover. - Foldable smartphone repairs in general present challenges due to the inherent complexity of the product. | 3 | 1.7 | ||
3 | 145 | Pixel 8 | 2023 | + Google provides a free public service manual and offers OEM replacement parts for common repairs. + The display is well-prioritized, and secures with clips even when replacement adhesive isn’t available. The battery is stubbornly glued down, and the soldered charge port can’t be easily replaced. | 6 | 1.6 | ||
4 | 144 | Pixel 8 Pro | 2023 | + Google provides a free public service manual and offers OEM replacement parts for common repairs. + The display is well-prioritized, and secures with clips even when replacement adhesive isn’t available. The battery is stubbornly glued down, and the soldered charge port can’t be easily replaced. | 6 | 1.6 | ||
5 | 143 | Apple | iPhone 15 | 2023 | + Great design prioritizes screen repairs while giving access to all other parts thru the back glass. + Screws and clips aid reassembly, whether you replace the adhesives or not. - DIY repairs are hobbled by pervasive parts pairing and deterrent messaging. | 4 | Provisional | 1.6 |
6 | 142 | Apple | iPhone 15 Plus | 2023 | + Great design prioritizes screen repairs while giving access to all other parts thru the back glass. + Screws and clips aid reassembly, whether you replace the adhesives or not. - DIY repairs are hobbled by pervasive parts pairing and deterrent messaging. | 4 | Provisional | 1.6 |
7 | 141 | Apple | iPhone 15 Pro | 2023 | + Display and battery replacements remain a priority in the design. + Previously irreplaceable back glass is now immediately replaceable. - Proprietary screws and parts pairing can foil many repairs. | 4 | Provisional | 1.6 |
8 | 140 | Apple | iPhone 15 Pro Max | 2023 | + Display and battery replacements remain a priority in the design. + Previously irreplaceable back glass is now immediately replaceable. - Proprietary screws and parts pairing can foil many repairs. | 4 | Provisional | 1.6 |
9 | 139 | Fairphone | 5 | 2023 | + Easy to disassemble/reassemble with basic tools—no adhesive blocks the way. + End users can replace the battery in a few seconds. + Fairphone provides a DIY service manual and offers original replacement parts. | 10 | 1.6 | |
10 | 138 | Pixel 7a | 2023 | • Google provides no service manual, but does offer a limited set of replacement parts. • The screen and back cover are well-prioritized for repair, but secured only with adhesive. - The glued-down battery can be tough to access, and the soldered charge port is impractical to repair. | 4 | 1.6 | ||
11 | 137 | Nokia | G22 | 2023 | + Easily pried open for repairs, with no adhesive mess. + Battery replacements are well-prioritized in the design. + Nokia supplies parts & guides for four of the most common repairs. - Screen repairs are do-able, but not well prioritized. | 8 | 1.6 | |
12 | 136 | Samsung | Galaxy S23 Ultra | 2023 | + Standard Phillips screws throughout the phone. - The battery is still strongly glued down—the new pull tab helps only marginally. - Screen repairs require a lot of disassembly while battling tough adhesive. | 4 | Provisional | 1.6 |
13 | 135 | Pixel 7 | 2022 | + Clips securing the display make for reliable reassembly, even when replacement adhesive isn’t available. • Google provides no service manual, but does offer a limited set of replacement parts. - The soldered charge port and fragile back glass are impractical to repair. | 5 | 1.6 | ||
14 | 134 | Pixel 7 Pro | 2022 | + Clips securing the display make for reliable reassembly, even when replacement adhesive isn’t available. - The glued-down battery can be tough to access, and the soldered charge port is impractical to repair. • Google provides no service manual, but does offer a limited set of replacement parts. | 5 | 1.6 | ||
15 | 133 | Apple | iPhone 14 | 2022 | + Display and battery replacements remain a priority in the design. + Previously irreplaceable back glass is now immediately replaceable. - Proprietary screws and parts pairing can foil many repairs. | 4 | Revised | 1.6 |
16 | 132 | Apple | iPhone 14 Plus | 2022 | + Display and battery replacements remain a priority in the design. + Previously irreplaceable back glass is now immediately replaceable. - Proprietary screws and parts pairing can foil many repairs. | 7 | Provisional | 1.4 |
17 | 131 | Apple | iPhone 14 Pro | 2022 | + Display and battery replacements remain a priority in the design. + Most other components are modular and straightforward to access or replace. - Unlike in the non-Pro models, there’s still no good way to replace the rear glass. | 6 | Provisional | 1.4 |
18 | 130 | Apple | iPhone 14 Pro Max | 2022 | + Display and battery replacements remain a priority in the design. + Most other components are modular and straightforward to access or replace. - Unlike in the non-Pro models, there’s still no good way to replace the rear glass. | 6 | Provisional | 1.4 |
19 | 129 | Pixel 6a | 2022 | + Display and battery repairs are well-prioritized, but complicated by reliance on adhesives. - The soldered charge port and glued back glass are impractical to repair. • Google provides no service manual, but does offer a limited set of replacement parts. | 5 | 1.6 | ||
20 | 128 | Samsung | Galaxy S22 | 2022 | + Standard Phillips screws throughout the phone. - The battery is strongly glued and requires extensive disassembly to service. - Screen repairs require a lot of disassembly while battling tough adhesive. | 3 | 1.4 | |
21 | 127 | Samsung | Galaxy S22 Ultra | 2022 | + Standard Phillips screws throughout the phone. - The battery is strongly glued and requires extensive disassembly to service. - Screen repairs require a lot of disassembly while battling tough adhesive. | 3 | 1.4 | |
22 | 126 | Fairphone | 4 | 2021 | + The pop-out battery can be replaced in seconds, with no tools required. + Display repairs are easy and well-prioritized. + The OEM supports all common repairs with clear instructions and publicly available replacement parts. | 10 | 1.4 | |
23 | 125 | Pixel 6 | 2021 | + The display is straightforward to remove and replace. + Many components are highly modular, and standard T3 screws are used throughout. - The strongly adhered battery is difficult to replace. | 6 | 1.3 | ||
24 | 124 | Pixel 6 Pro | 2021 | + Many components are highly modular, and standard T3 screws are used throughout. • Display repairs can be challenging, but free public software helps with calibration. - Replacing the glued battery is tough work, and the charge port is soldered. | 5 | 1.4 | ||
25 | 123 | Apple | iPhone 13 Pro | 2021 | + Display and battery replacements remain a priority in the new iPhones' design. + Most other components are modular and easy to access or replace. - Once again, double glass means double drop damage, and despite the improvements to durability over the years, there’s still no easy way to replace the rear glass. | 6 | 1.4 | |
26 | 122 | Pixel 5a | 2021 | + Many components are modular and can be replaced independently. + Battery repairs are reasonably well-prioritized, but tricky adhesive complicates repairs. - The charging port, a high-wear part, is not modular and repair requires a full motherboard replacement. | 6 | 1.2 | ||
27 | 121 | Mi | 11 | 2021 | + Only one standard Phillips screwdriver is needed. - The glass body makes drop damage more likely, and the curved glass requires special tools or is likely to break during repairs. - To replace the in-display fingerprint sensor, you'll need to remove the whole display—which can result in a broken screen. | 4 | 1.0 | |
28 | 120 | Huawei | Mate 40 Pro | 2020 | + Huawei uses standard Phillips screws throughout the phone. - Glass on front and back doubles the likelihood of drop damage. - The display adhesive is insanely strong. | 4 | 1.0 | |
29 | 119 | Apple | iPhone 12 Pro Max | 2020 | + Screen and battery remain prioritized and reasonably accessible for replacement. + Most components are fairly modular and replaceable. - The glass back makes drops even more dangerous and requires a full case replacement if it breaks. | 6 | 1.0 | |
30 | 118 | Apple | iPhone 12 mini | 2020 | + The two most common smartphone repairs—display and battery—are well-prioritized here. + Most major components are modular enough to be accessed/replaced independently. - Glass covering the rear housing is fragile and impractical to replace—a single drop could necessitate replacing the entire body of the iPhone. | 6 | 1.0 | |
31 | 117 | Apple | iPhone 12 Pro | 2020 | + Display and battery replacements remain a priority in the new iPhones' design. + Most other important components are modular and easy to access or replace. - Glass on front and back doubles the likelihood of drop damage—and if the back glass breaks, you'll be removing every component and replacing the entire chassis. | 6 | 1.0 | |
32 | 116 | Pixel 5 | 2020 | + Many components are modular and can be replaced independently. + Battery repairs are reasonably well-prioritized, but tricky adhesive complicates repairs. - The charging port, a high-wear part, is not modular; this repair requires microsoldering or a full motherboard replacement. | 6 | 1.0 | ||
33 | 115 | Microsoft | Surface Duo | 2020 | - Batteries are glued and require extensive disassembly to service. - The USB-C port is soldered directly to the main board. - Uncommon tri-point screws secure key components. | 2 | 1.0 | |
34 | 114 | Pixel 4a | 2020 | + Most components are modular and independently replaceable. + Repair-friendly stretch-release adhesive secures the battery, and is easy to release successfully. • The display comes off first, but is fragile and poorly protected. Foam adhesive makes the opening process relatively easy. | 6 | 1.0 | ||
35 | 113 | Samsung | Galaxy Note 20 Ultra | 2020 | + You'll only need one screwdriver, a standard Phillips. - Battery replacement remains far too difficult for a consumable component. - Screen repairs are tedious, poorly prioritized, and unnecessarily expensive. | 3 | 1.0 | |
36 | 112 | Apple | iPhone SE 2020 | 2020 | + The two most commonly replaced components, display and battery, remain straightforward to access with the proper knowledge and tools. + Most components are modular and independently replaceable, including many that are cross-compatible with iPhone 8. - The fragile glass back is impractical to replace. | 6 | 1.0 | |
37 | 111 | Samsung | Galaxy A51 | 2020 | + A single Phillips driver takes care of all the screws. • The plastic back cover is glued in place, but can be removed fairly easily with heat. - Screen repairs require a lot of disassembly while battling tough adhesive. | 4 | 1.0 | |
38 | 110 | Samsung | Galaxy S20 Ultra | 2020 | + The fasteners, all identical Phillips screws, only require one driver and can't be mixed up, simplifying repair. - Every repair starts with painstakingly un-gluing the fragile glass rear cover. - Replacing the glued-down battery is tougher than ever, especially with board interconnect cables to work around. | 3 | 1.0 | |
39 | 109 | Samsung | Galaxy Z Flip | 2020 | - Glued-down glass panels are an unnecessary barrier to entry for repairs, especially given the phone's lack of ingress protection. - Battery replacements are possible, but unnecessarily difficult due to poorly-routed cables and the lack of stretch-release adhesive. - The components involved in the folding process are likely to wear over time (even if you don't bathe them in purple dust), necessitating eventual replacement. | 2 | 1.0 | |
40 | 108 | Motorola | razr | 2020 | - Every repair starts (and ends) with stubborn, glued-on outer covers. - Replacing the battery—or rather, batteries—requires near-total disassembly. - The charging port is soldered directly to the main board. | 1 | 1.0 | |
41 | 107 | Pixel 4 XL | 2019 | + All screws are standard T3 Torx fasteners. - Display repairs continue to be difficult, requiring complete disassembly of the phone. - All repairs require access through the stubbornly-glued back panel. | 4 | 1.0 | ||
42 | 106 | Apple | iPhone 11 | 2019 | + The prioritized display makes replacement of this critical component easier than in other devices. + Display swaps don’t require too much hardware swapping to maintain Face ID. - Front and back glass doubles the chances of breakage, and the rear glass can only be fully replaced with a complete housing swap. | 6 | 1.0 | |
43 | 105 | Apple | iPhone 11 Pro Max | 2019 | + Critical display and battery repairs remain a priority in the iPhone's design. + The battery procedure has been simplified and many components are accessible independently. - Glass on front and back doubles the likelihood of drop damage—and if the back glass breaks, you'll be removing every component and replacing the entire chassis. | 6 | 1.0 | |
44 | 104 | Fairphone | 3 | 2019 | + Key components like the battery and screen have been prioritized in the design and are accessible either without tools or just a regular Phillips screwdriver. + Visual cues inside the phone help with disassembling and replacing its parts and modules. + Replacing complete modules is very easy. Going for their internal parts is also possible and requires a Torx screwdriver. | 10 | 1.0 | |
45 | 103 | Samsung | Galaxy Note10 Plus 5G | 2019 | + Equally-sized Phillips fasteners means you only need to bring one driver for repairs. - Every repair starts with painstakingly un-gluing the fragile glass rear cover. - Replacing the glued-down battery is tougher than ever, especially with board interconnect cables to work around. | 3 | 1.0 | |
46 | 102 | Shift | 6m | 2019 | + Battery and screen repairs are prioritized. + Only one type of screw head and length are used throughout the phone. + Most components are modular and can be replaced individually. | 9 | 1.0 | |
47 | 101 | Huawei | Mate 20 X 5G | 2019 | + Many components are modular and can be replaced independently. - Glued-down front and back glass means greater risk of breakage, while making all repairs difficult to start. - Screen repairs will require near-complete disassembly. | 4 | 1.0 | |
48 | 100 | Pixel 3a | 2019 | + Most components are modular and can be easily replaced once the display assembly is removed. + Repair-friendly stretch-release adhesive secures the battery. - The myriad long, thin ribbon cables connecting the internal componentry can be obnoxious to work around, and are easy to accidentally tear. | 6 | 1.0 | ||
49 | 99 | Pixel 3a XL | 2019 | + Most components are modular and can be easily replaced once the display assembly is removed. + Repair-friendly stretch-release adhesive secures the battery. - The myriad long, thin ribbon cables connecting the internal componentry can be obnoxious to work around, and are easy to accidentally tear. | 6 | 1.0 | ||
50 | 98 | Samsung | Galaxy Fold | 2019 | - The mechanics involved in the fold are likely to wear over time, causing stress to hinges and display, necessitating eventual replacement. - The fragility of the main display means you'll almost certainly be replacing it before long—a pricey repair. - Battery replacements are possible, but unnecessarily difficult—solvents help, but risk damage to the display supports. | 2 | 1.0 | |
51 | 97 | Samsung | Galaxy S10 | 2019 | + A single Phillips driver takes care of all the screws. - Battery replacement is possible, but still unnecessarily difficult. - Glued-down glass both front and back means greater risk of breakage, and makes repairs difficult to start. | 3 | 1.0 | |
52 | 96 | Huawei | Mate 20 Pro | 2018 | + Many components are modular and can be replaced independently. - Glued-down front and back glass means greater risk of breakage while making repairs difficult to start. - Screen repairs require a lot of disassembly while battling tough adhesive. | 4 | 1.0 | |
53 | 95 | Apple | iPhone XR | 2018 | + The display-first opening procedure and easy access to the battery remain design priorities. + A broken display can be replaced with minimal hardware removal, and with a little care you can preserve Face ID. - Glass on front and back doubles the crackability—and broken back glass requires an entire chassis replacement. | 6 | 1.0 | |
54 | 94 | Pixel 3 XL | 2018 | + The only screws are standard T3 Torx fasteners. - Display repairs are much more difficult than previous models, requiring complete disassembly of the phone. - To service any component, you'll have to painstakingly un-glue (and later re-glue) the glass rear panel. | 4 | 1.0 | ||
55 | 93 | Pixel 3 | 2018 | + The only screws are standard T3 Torx fasteners. - Display repairs are much more difficult than previous models, requiring complete disassembly of the phone. - To service any component, you'll have to painstakingly un-glue (and later re-glue) the glass rear panel. | 4 | 1.0 | ||
56 | 92 | Apple | iPhone XS | 2018 | + Critical display and battery repairs remain a priority in the iPhone's design. + A broken display can be replaced without removing the biometric Face ID hardware. - Glass on front and back doubles the likelihood of drop damage—and if the back glass breaks, you'll be removing every component and replacing the entire chassis. | 6 | 1.0 | |
57 | 91 | Nokia | 8110 4G | 2018 | + For the most part disassembly is extremely simple with only plastic clips, and standard Torx screws holding the phone together. + The battery is easy to access and replace - Several main components such as headphone jack, SD card slot, Micro USB port and vibrator are soldered to the motherboard. | 8 | 1.0 | |
58 | 90 | LG | G7 Thin Q | 2018 | + Lots of components are modular and can be replaced independently. - Front and back glass make for double the crackability, and strong adhesive on both makes it tough to access the internals for any repair. - Screen repair, the most common type repair, is not prioritized, requiring an almost complete disassembly while battling tough adhesive. | 4 | 1.0 | |
59 | 89 | OnePlus | 6 | 2018 | + The battery can be accessed almost the moment you open the phone, and is only lightly adhered in place. Plus, there's a convenient pull tab. - Display replacement, the most common repair, is not prioritized in the design and will take a lot of work. - Front and back glass means twice the risk of cracks—without even the benefit of wireless charging. | 5 | 1.0 | |
60 | 88 | Huawei | P20 Pro | 2018 | + Many components are modular and can be replaced independently. - Double the risk for breakage with glass front and back. - Replacing the screen requires going through at least two layers of adhesive and some disassembly. | 4 | 1.0 | |
61 | 87 | Samsung | Galaxy S9 Plus | 2018 | + Many components are modular and can be replaced independently. - Glued-down glass both front and back means greater risk of breakage, and makes repairs difficult to start. - Screen repairs require a lot of disassembly while battling tough adhesive. | 4 | 1.0 | |
62 | 86 | Samsung | Galaxy S9 | 2018 | + Many components are modular and can be replaced independently. - Glued-down glass both front and back means greater risk of breakage, and makes repairs difficult to start. - Screen repairs require a lot of disassembly while battling tough adhesive. | 4 | 1.0 | |
63 | 85 | Apple | iPhone X | 2017 | + Display and battery repairs remain a priority in the iPhone's design. + A cracked display can be replaced without removing the biometric Face ID hardware. - Fussy cables tie unrelated components together into complex assemblies—expensive and troublesome to replace. | 6 | 1.0 | |
64 | 84 | Pixel 2 XL | 2017 | + Many components are modular and can be replaced once the display assembly is removed. + All of the screws are common Phillips #00 screws, and there are only 9 of them. - The battery's loss of pull-tab adhesive, plus tightly walled-in placement, makes it much harder to remove. | 6 | 1.0 | ||
65 | 83 | Pixel 2 | 2017 | + Front panel is fairly easy to remove and replace. + Standard screws used throughout. - Cable placement makes battery removal more difficult than necessary. | 6 | 1.0 | ||
66 | 82 | Huawei | Mate 10 Pro | 2017 | + Despite the IP67-rated seals, the back cover is fairly easy to open. - A damaged front camera means switching the whole display including the frame, or damaging the display while trying to remove it. - And replacing the display—the most common repair—means taking out almost every component. | 4 | 1.0 | |
67 | 81 | Apple | iPhone 8 | 2017 | + The two most commonly replaced components, display and battery, remain straightforward to access with the proper knowledge and tools. + The addition of wireless charging means less strain on your Lightning port, a common point of failure. - The durability of the glass back remains to be seen—but replacements are likely to be very difficult. | 6 | 1.0 | |
68 | 80 | Apple | iPhone 8 Plus | 2017 | + The display and battery are straightforward to access—with the proper knowledge and tools. + Wireless charging means less wear on the all-purpose Lightning port, a common point of failure. - Despite alleged durability, the back glass is breakable and next to impossible to replace when cracked. | 6 | 1.0 | |
69 | 79 | Samsung | Galaxy Note8 | 2017 | + Many components, including all of those that experience wear, are modular and can be replaced independently. - All repairs require removing the glass rear panel, which is challenging due to the large amount of adhesive. - Replacing the display requires removing the glass rear panel and the display, both of which are fragile and secured with strong adhesive. | 4 | 1.0 | |
70 | 78 | Essential | Phone | 2017 | - The USB-C port is soldered to the motherboard, and with no headphone jack it'll be subject to extra wear. - Nearly invisible seams and copious adhesive means any attempt at repair is likely to inflict as much damage as it fixes. - Did we mention we had to freeze it? | 1 | 1.0 | |
71 | 77 | Samsung | Galaxy Note Fan Edition | 2017 | + Many components are modular and can be replaced independently. - Front and back glass make for double the crackability, and strong adhesive on the rear glass makes it very difficult to gain entry into the device. - Because of the curved screen, replacing the front glass without destroying the display is probably impossible. | 4 | 1.0 | |
72 | 76 | OnePlus | 5 | 2017 | + There are no proprietary screws. + The OnePlus 5’s display is held on by easy to dispatch reusable plastic clips. - The display and glass are fused and the home button is integrated into the display assembly making repair of all three of these parts more complicated and expensive. | 7 | 1.0 | |
73 | 75 | Samsung | Galaxy S8 Plus | 2017 | + Many components are modular and can be replaced independently. - Front and back glass make for double the crackability, and strong adhesive on both makes it tough to access the internals for any repair. - Because of the curved screen, replacing the front glass without destroying the display is extremely difficult. | 4 | 1.0 | |
74 | 74 | Samsung | Galaxy S8 | 2017 | + Lots of components are modular and can be replaced independently. - Front and back glass make for double the crackability, and strong adhesive on both makes it tough to access the internals for any repair. - Because of the curved screen, replacing the front glass without destroying the display is extremely difficult. | 4 | 1.0 | |
75 | 73 | LG | G6 | 2017 | + Standard Phillips screws used, very sparingly, throughout. • The battery can be replaced, but tough adhesive and a glued-on rear panel make it unnecessarily difficult. - Front and back glass doubles the crackability, and strong adhesive on both makes it tough to begin any repair. | 5 | 1.0 | |
76 | 72 | Huawei | Mate 9 | 2016 | + Most of the components—like both camera units, the loudspeaker, and the USB board—can be replaced. Even the proximity sensor and the NFC antenna are modular. • The battery is trapped behind some flex cables and is glued tightly into place, but still can be swapped out when its power starts to fade away. - Replacing a broken display, one of the most common repairs, will be one of the most difficult ones on this phablet. | 5 | 1.0 | |
77 | 71 | Pixel XL | 2016 | + Many components are modular and can easily be replaced once the display assembly is removed. + The battery has a removal tab and is adhered by a modest amount of adhesive, making its removal painless. - The opening procedure requires prying up a thin, poorly-supported display assembly making it difficult to open the phone without damage. | 7 | 1.0 | ||
78 | 70 | Pixel | 2016 | + The battery is secured with removable adhesive tabs, making replacement simple. + Many components are modular and can be replaced independently. - The fused display is thin and unsupported, and must be removed to access any other component. | 7 | 1.0 | ||
79 | 69 | Apple | iPhone 7 | 2016 | + The battery is straightforward to access. Removing it requires specialty screwdrivers and knowledge of the adhesive removal technique, but is not difficult. + The solid state home button eliminates a common point of failure. - With the addition of tri-point screws, many iPhone 7 repairs will require up to four different types of drivers. | 7 | 1.0 | |
80 | 68 | Apple | iPhone 7 Plus | 2016 | + The battery is straightforward to access. Removing it requires specialty screwdrivers and knowledge of the adhesive removal technique, but is not difficult. + The solid state home button eliminates a common point of failure. - With the addition of tri-point screws, many iPhone 7 Plus repairs will require up to four different types of drivers. | 7 | 1.0 | |
81 | 67 | Sony | Xperia X Compact | 2016 | + Modular design allows for replacement of many individual components. • Battery is fairly easy to access and remove, but requires removal of the delicate NFC antenna to replace. - The fused display assembly is strongly adhered to the midframe and requires disassembling the entire phone to replace. | 6 | 1.0 | |
82 | 66 | Moto | Z | 2016 | + Pull-tab on battery, easy to access once you have the device open. • Display is adhered in place with no external fasteners, but the adhesive is weak enough to easily separate after heating. - Charging port soldered to the motherboard means a common repair will be very expensive. | 7 | 1.0 | |
83 | 65 | Samsung | Galaxy Note7 | 2016 | + Many components are modular and can be replaced independently. - Front and back glass make for double the crackability, and strong adhesive on the rear glass makes it very difficult to gain entry into the device. - Because of the curved screen, replacing the front glass without destroying the display is probably impossible. | 4 | 1.0 | |
84 | 64 | Asus | Zenfone 3 Max | 2016 | + Battery is easily accessible and removable. • Parts could be more modular, especially mechanical/high wear components. - The opening procedure is extremely tough, clips are stiff and likely to be broken, and the SIM slot bends easily. | 6 | 1.0 | |
85 | 63 | Meizu | MX6 | 2016 | + The display assembly is the first component out, simplifying screen repairs. + Modular components with spring contacts, large screws, and thoughtful cabling all make repair cheaper and easier. - The MX6 uses Pentalobe security screws on the exterior, requiring a specialty screwdriver to open the phone before any repair. | 7 | 1.0 | |
86 | 62 | LG | G5 | 2016 | + The user-removable, slide-out battery is a huge boon to phone lifespan. + No glue and few screws make for a relatively simple opening procedure. - The fused display assembly will need to be replaced if the LCD or glass breaks, increasing costs. | 8 | 1.0 | |
87 | 61 | Vivo | X7 Plus | 2016 | + Battery is fairly easily accessible and removable. • The opening procedure is very tough, but easier than on the smaller model. - The single unit display assembly is annoying to reach, and will be a costly part. | 7 | 1.0 | |
88 | 60 | Vivo | X7 | 2016 | + Battery is fairly easily accessible and removable. • Parts could be more modular, especially mechanical/high wear components. - The opening procedure is extremely tough, clips are very stiff and likely to be broken. | 6 | 1.0 | |
89 | 59 | Huawei | P9 | 2016 | + Modular components with spring contacts, thoughtful cabling, and minimal adhesive all make repair cheaper and easier. + The battery is straightforward to access. Removing it requires knowledge of the adhesive removal technique, but is not difficult. - The display assembly is a fused unit, and replacement requires near complete disassembly of the phone. | 7 | 1.0 | |
90 | 58 | Xiaomi | Mi 5 | 2016 | + The motherboard and battery can be replaced independently and easily. • All screws are standard Phillips screws, but removing them will void your warranty. - The display is difficult to replace, requiring complete disassembly and purchasing consumables. | 6 | 1.0 | |
91 | 57 | Apple | iPhone SE | 2016 | + The display assembly is the first component out of the phone, simplifying screen replacements. + The battery is fairly easy to access, even though it's not technically "user replaceable." - The Touch ID cable could be easily ripped out of its socket if a user is not careful when opening the phone. | 6 | 1.0 | |
92 | 56 | Oppo | R9m | 2016 | + Battery is fairly easily accessible and removable. + Most components are extremely modular making for cheaper repairs. - The opening procedure is extremely tough, clips are very stiff and likely to be broken. | 7 | 1.0 | |
93 | 55 | Samsung | Galaxy S7 | 2016 | + Many components are modular and can be replaced independently. - The display needs to be removed (and likely destroyed) if you want to replace the USB port. - Front and back glass make for double the crackability, and strong adhesive on the rear glass makes it very difficult to gain entry into the device. | 3 | 1.0 | |
94 | 54 | Samsung | Galaxy S7 Edge | 2016 | + Many components are modular and can be replaced independently. - The display needs to be removed (and likely destroyed) if you want to replace the USB port. - Front and back glass make for double the crackability, and strong adhesive on the rear glass makes it very difficult to gain entry into the device. | 3 | 1.0 | |
95 | 53 | Lenovo | K5 Note | 2015 | + Battery is replaceable with just a couple of tools. • Some parts are modular, but high-wear components like the headphone jack and charge port are not. - Replacing the display assembly requires removing every other component from the device first. | 6 | 1.0 | |
96 | 52 | Fairphone | 2 | 2015 | + The most commonly failing components, battery and display, can be replaced without tools. + Internal modules are secured with Phillips #0 screws and simple spring connectors. + Individual modules can be opened, and many components can be individually replaced. | 10 | 1.0 | |
97 | 51 | Huawei | Mate 8 | 2015 | + Opening the phone requires only a Torx screwdriver and a prying tool (No adhesive holding it together). • The battery does have a pull tab adhesive strip, but there is a second adhesive strip that does not have a tab. - LCD Display is integrated into the front case. While the replacement process is pretty straightforward, you’ll still need to pick every component off the frame and likely pay more to replace this non-modular component. | 6 | 1.0 | |
98 | 50 | Xiaomi | Redmi Note 3 | 2015 | + Despite no external screws, the rear case is fairly easy to remove. + Modular design with charging port on its own daughterboard means many components can be independently replaced. - Display assembly is a single fused component, that requires disassembling the entire phone to replace. | 8 | 1.0 | |
99 | 49 | Wiko | Pulp 4G Phone | 2015 | + Replacing the battery is easy as pie with the swappable back cover. + This phone doesn't use excessive glue nor proprietary screws—we found only Phillips throughout the entirety. - Unfortunately, the components on the daughterboard are soldered on, making a repair on an individual component difficult. | 7 | 1.0 | |
100 | 48 | Apple | iPhone 6s | 2015 | + The display assembly continues to be the first component out, simplifying screen repairs. + The battery is straightforward to access. Removing it requires a proprietary pentalobe screwdriver and knowledge of the adhesive removal technique, but is not difficult. - The iPhone 6s still uses proprietary Pentalobe screws on the exterior, requiring a specialty screwdriver to remove. | 7 | 1.0 |