M5 iPad Pro Teardown: iFixit Awards Highest-Ever Repair Score to an iPad [Video]

iFixit has published its teardown of the new M5 iPad Pro, awarding the device a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10. The score marks a surprising improvement for a product line notorious for its poor repairability, but iFixit notes that the most common repair—a battery replacement—remains trapped behind the expensive and fragile tandem OLED display.

The higher score is largely due to Apple's recent efforts to support independent repair. iFixit highlights that repair manuals and parts are now available through the Self-Service Repair program, a first for the iPad lineup. The teardown also confirms the USB-C port remains a modular component that can be replaced without a full logic board swap, a significant win for a high-wear part.

Despite these positive steps, the teardown shows the fundamental design challenges remain. Gaining access to any internal component still requires removing the large, glued-down display, a high-risk procedure that can easily lead to a cracked screen. This makes what should be a routine battery replacement a daunting task. The 38.99 Wh battery itself is secured with ten stretch-release pull tabs which iFixit described as "a bit of a pain to get to" due to the device's thinness.


The teardown also touches on future hardware rumors, noting that while the current model uses a simple copper sheet for heat dissipation, a future iPad Pro is rumored to gain a vapor chamber cooling system. It also points out that all internal screws are JIS-type, a detail important for DIY repairers, and confirms there is no second front-facing camera, a feature that was rumored for the new models.

iFixit calls the M5 iPad Pro a "repairability paradox." While Apple is making an effort to help users service their devices with guides and parts, the hardware design makes the component guaranteed to wear out—the battery—incredibly difficult to access. The 5 out of 10 score reflects this balance, but iFixit concludes that until the battery becomes more accessible, the iPad will never be more than "half-repairable."

You can order the new M5 iPad Pro on sale for $50 off here.

Take a look at the full teardown video below.