Taken apart by iFixit, the 13-inch iPad Air M2 showed some improvements, but there’s still a complex repair process to go through
Latest “affordable” model from Applethe iPad Air with M2 chip was dismantled this week. iFixit, proving that the Cupertino giant has maintained the tradition of bringing a complicated repair process to its tablets. In its 13-inch version, the launch features improvements, such as easy access to the battery, but the difficulty of removing the display and some internal components prevents the device from being really easy to repair.
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Like the other devices in the family, the new iPad Air also continues to require heating of the screen to open, since the body is made of a single piece of aluminum and there are no screws to detach any part of the device. Here the difficulties begin: despite the “simple” concept, the glue used is quite strong, and requires persistence to remove the panel.
The lack of an official repair manual is another element that complicates the procedure, but as the team explains iFixit, the intention is actually to prevent the user from carrying out repairs on their own, forcing them to take the tablet to specialized assistance. Other than that, like this as seen in the iPad Pro M4 teardownthere are microphone and display cables connected – you have to be careful not to break them.
Once these obstacles have been overcome, there is good news: the battery is easily accessible, does not require the removal of other components, and uses easy-to-remove detachable stickers (known as “pull tabs”). Even though we have a huge amount of tabs, at least eight, and some force needs to be applied, this step is not as complicated as expected.
Analyzing the cells reveals a generous battery much larger than the previous generation, with 36.59 Wh, instead of the 28.6 Wh of the iPad Air 5. That said, there are two somewhat disappointing aspects to consider: the previous model was only offered in the 11-inch variant, and the 13-inch iPad Pro offers even more capacity despite being thinner and lighter at 38.99 Wh. In short, the space here is underused, a missed opportunity considering the new dimensions.
The rest of the pieces have a similar theme. We have an excessive amount of cables that need to be removed if doing deeper repairs, and there are some curious decisions on Apple’s part, such as the fact that the speakers are attached directly to the aluminum body, preventing individual removal.
Overall, the iPad Air M2 maintains the family tradition of being barely repairable, although some improvements have been implemented. With these characteristics the device obtained a score of 3 out of 10 on the repairability scale. iFixitsymbolizing that the company still has much to improve.
Available in 11- and 13-inch sizes, the iPad Air M2 brings specific new features, including processing, new front camera position for horizontal use and compatibility with Magic Keyboard and the new Apple Pencil Pro. Next to its more expensive “brother”, the device went on sale in Brazil this Friday (24)with prices starting from R$6,999 for the smaller version and R$9,499 for the larger one.
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Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
