HTC One Gets Worst Possible Repairability Score From iFixit

iFixit are a company that take modern consumer gadgets such as mobile phones and tablets, then attempt to disassemble them and put them back together. They are experts in their field and in doing these “fixability” tests they are able to determine how easily a consumer might be able to repair a broken or damaged consumer gadget. The latest device to receive the iFixit treatment is the new HTC One. However, it isn’t good news for HTC users as the One phone scored the lowest possible one out of ten.

The handset was difficult to repair right from the outset with even the job of opening the phone’s casing being nearly impossible without damaging it. Opening was possible in the end but resulted in permanent damage to the bezel surrounding the screen. The teardown found the battery buried beneath the motherboard and adhered to the midframe making the “simple” task of replacing the battery not-so-simple. Delicate copper shielding covering many components also makes accessing other components tricky and potentially damaging.

However, there is a silver lining to the whole story which is that iFixit said it was one of the most durable phones they have tested. Improved durability should mean less breakages and ultimately no need to actually take the device apart and repair it. Despite criticisms of repairability the HTC One is still regarded as one of the best Android handsets on the market, being the most advanced Android Smartphone up until Samsung recently released the Galaxy S4.

You can read the full iFixit teardown here.