All articles tagged with #ifixit
iFixit released a $34.95 Megalodon Driver Kit aimed at household repairs and DIY projects, featuring a swivel-cap Megalodon driver that spins for quick screw removal and locks for torque, plus 16 long 2-inch bits for reaching recessed fasteners, all packaged in a foam tray inside a plastic case for organizing appliances, furniture assembly, and general tinkering.
Trump Mobile has started selling its T1 Phone to the general public even as a large pre-order backlog (roughly 600,000 deposits totaling about $60 million) remains unfulfilled, drawing criticism for skipping the queue. The move follows recent PR turbulence and a teardown by iFixit that suggests the T1 is essentially a clone of the HTC U24 Pro, while Trump Mobile also rebranded its marketing from 'Made in America' to 'Assembled in America'.
iFixit’s teardown shows Trump Mobile’s T1 is effectively a rebranded HTC U24 Pro, with only cosmetic changes to differentiate it; the two share the same 6.8-inch display and mainboard, and even the same camera layout, with the T1 swapping in a different memory package and a larger 19.35Wh battery but a slower 30W charger versus the U24 Pro’s 17.23Wh battery and 60W charger. Pricing places the T1 at $499 as an “introductory” tag while the U24 Pro commonly sells around $470–$557, suggesting reduced hardware costs and a branding stance that may be more marketing than reality than patriotic claims.
A teardown by iFixit shows the Trump Mobile T1 is essentially the HTC U24 Pro in disguise, with near-identical design and likely built by an ODM rather than being made in the USA; HTC’s mobile division was sold to Google years ago, and the T1 is expected to use the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, matching the U24 Pro’s specs.
iFixit’s teardown finds the Trump T1 Phone is essentially a clone of the HTC U24 Pro, sharing the same board and most specs with minor differences in battery origin and small hardware tweaks, implying a common third‑party manufacturer and raising questions about where the Trump phone is made.
iFixit teardown finds Apple’s budget MacBook Neo to be the most repairable MacBook since 2012, with a screw-in battery and modular components accessible after removing the bottom cover. The improvements are tied to Right-to-Repair pressure, especially in the EU, which spurred Apple to adopt easier-to-service design choices, though the overall repair score sits around 6/10. The story highlights a shift toward repairability in the face of policy changes and contrasts it with the vendor’s ongoing balance between price, design, and repairability.
Apple's latest M5 MacBook Pro features a minor improvement in battery repairability, allowing battery replacement without removing the trackpad, but the process remains complex and costly, with a repairability score of 4 out of 10.
The Pixel Watch 4 is the most repairable smartwatch on the market, featuring screws instead of glue for the display and battery, easy access for repairs, and the ability to replace parts without voiding the warranty, marking a significant shift towards sustainability and user serviceability.
The Pixel Watch 4 has received high praise for its design, software, and battery life, but notably stands out for its exceptional repairability score of 9/10 by iFixit, making it the most repairable smartwatch on the market, a significant improvement over its predecessor and surpassing the Apple Watch.
The Pixel Watch 4 is designed to be easily repairable, with simple access requiring only a few screwdriver bits, and no adhesive sealing the components. iFixit has provided a detailed teardown and repair manual, giving it a high repairability score of 9 out of 10, and Google has released official repair manuals for the device and other products.
iFixit gave the AirPods Pro 3 a 0 out of 10 repairability score due to their glued-together design, making battery replacement and repairs nearly impossible without damage, highlighting concerns about their sustainability and repairability.
Genuine repair parts for the Pixel 10 series are now available, with the Pixel 10 Pro featuring a more expensive screen and back glass, but cheaper batteries and cameras. Google and partners are also hosting an event to promote repairability and educate consumers on repair options.
iFixit investigated reports of scratches on the iPhone 17 Pro's camera area, attributing the damage to sharp edges on the anodized aluminum bump that could have been mitigated with a more gradual curve, and noted that the design makes the camera plateau prone to damage without a case. They also praised the battery repairability but criticized the need to remove the screen for most repairs.
The iPhone Air, despite its slim design, remains quite repairable due to clever engineering that simplifies access to key components like the battery and modular parts, making maintenance easier even with its compact size.
The iPhone Air, despite its thin design, is highly repairable with easy battery replacement, modular USB-C port, and accessible components, earning a 7/10 repairability score from iFixit, similar to recent iPhone models.