iFixit did its conventional teardown of the M5 iPad Professional on Thursday and gave Apple’s latest pill a a lot better reparability rating than earlier fashions. That doesn’t imply the pc is simple to repair, although.
Watch the teardown to take a deep dive into the heart of the M5 iPad Professional.
M5 iPad Professional teardown finds plenty of glue
iPads are troublesome to restore primarily due to how tightly built-in and compact their design is. Apple prioritizes thinness, sturdiness and a seamless look, which implies many elements are glued collectively. The display screen, for instance, is glued to the physique with robust adhesive, making it dangerous to take away with out cracking it. Inside, elements just like the battery, logic board and audio system are layered and linked with delicate flex cables, so reaching one part typically requires eradicating a number of others first.
As iFixit’s teardown video for the M5 iPad Professional demonstrates, the most recent and best from Apple is not any totally different. The video begins by exhibiting the very cautious course of wanted to pry the display screen from the remainder of the pc, the primary steps essential to do any restore.
The video then continues to the steps essential to take away the twin batteries, that are additionally held in with adhesives.
“It’s on to the ten pull tabs securing the battery in place,” stated iFixit. “Pull faucets are positive after they work, however these ones have been a little bit of a ache to get to due to how skinny the battery is and the way quick the top of the pull faucets are.”
The challenges in having access to the batteries are necessary as a result of that’s one of the crucial frequent repairs wanted on any digital machine, on condition that lithium-ion batteries inevitably put on out. (Examine your iPad’s battery well being now.)
That stated, as soon as the display screen has been eliminated, taking out the M5 iPad Professional’s USB-C port is straightforward. And that’s one other frequent restore.
Apple’s newest pill is definitely sort of repairable
The difficulties in opening an iPad, then accessing the assorted elements, imply Apple tablets sometimes get a repairability rating of two or 3 out of a potential 10 from iFixit. In distinction, the M5 iPad Professional will get a 5. Whereas not a really excessive rating, it’s a particular upswing.
Nevertheless, the change isn’t a results of Apple redesigning the pc to make it easier to repair. However the firm did make it simpler to work on. iPad joined Apple’s Self Service Restore program in spring 2025, which implies prospects have entry to elements and instruments they should repair their very own units.
“Regardless of the underwhelming repairability, Apple is making an effort to assist individuals service this stuff,” famous iFixit. “They’ve performed this by releasing guides, with elements anticipated to reach quickly, and even renting out the instruments their very own technicians use on the Apple Service facilities.”
iFixit provides its personal instruments and restore information for all kinds of iPad fashions.
