iFixit teardown of new iPad Pro M4 reveals easier-to-replace battery

The new 13-inch iPad Pro M4 is really thin. This will inevitably make some aspects of repairing the device even more difficult, which iFixit confirmed in a teardown published over the weekend. But it shines in one area: When it comes to battery replacement, Apple has made some very useful changes.

“For the first time on an iPad Pro, we can remove the battery immediately after removing the screen,” wrote Teardown technician Shahram Mokhtari in a blog post. Mokhtari notes that “right away is relative” as there are still a few screws and brackets to remove before the battery can be removed, and the video documenting the process shows that it takes a bit of work to access the tabs located under the batteries. but the new configuration further reduces process hours compared to previous models.

“The fact that you can remove the battery without having to remove all the major components of this device is still a huge win in terms of repairability,” Mokhtari explains in the video. “This is a huge improvement over the previous generation.” On the other hand, everything else will be quite difficult to repair without causing damage. “From the daughter board to the speakers to the coaxial cables, we found a whole bunch of stuff stuck because there just wasn’t enough room for the screws.”

And the teardown shows that the new Apple Pencil Pro is a repairability nightmare. Mokhtari – who was cut by the pencil while trying to reach inside – called it “disposable crap once the battery dies”.