Surface Duo is hard to repair, though you probably already knew that
iFixit illustrates how the Surface Duo is difficult to repair in its latest teardown.
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What you need to know
Microsoft’sSurface Duois a remarkably thin and light device. It has two folding halves that can rotate around a 360-degree hinge. Microsoft spent years designing and refining the Surface Duo. That’s nice for creating a thin and light device with a unique form factor, but it’s apparently pretty bad for repairability.
iFixit recently tore downthe Surface Duo to reveal its glue-filled insides. The Surface Duo has “stubborn glue at all entry points” and has batteries that are glued down. The USB-C port of the device is soldered directly to the main board, which makes it more difficult to repair. For these and other reasons, the Surface Duo earned a 2/10 repairability score from iFixit.
Microsoft seems to prioritize sticking things in place for safety with the Surface Duo. Microsoft’s own bumper case is one of thebest Surface Duo cases, and even it attaches with adhesive.
It’s not that surprising that the Surface Duo isn’t easy to repair, though some will be disappointed. Microsoft focused heavily on making the Surface Duo thin and light, and that seems to have come at the cost of repairability. The addition of the hinge also complicates the device’s design. In general,Surface devices don’t have excellent repairability scoresfrom iFixit, though they’vegotten better over time.
Two screens are better than one
Microsoft delves into the future of foldables with an ambitious dual-screen device, featuring two ultra-thin 5.6-inch AMOLED displays bound by a 360-degree hinge. This pocketable inking-enabled Android smartphone marks the latest in the Surface lineup, geared for mobile productivity.
Microsoft Surface Duo
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
