M5 iPad Pro Teardown: iFixit Reveals Weaknesses in Repairs Apfelpatient

The iPad Pro has been considered the flagship tablet for years. With each new model, Apple emphasizes performance, design, and build quality. The latest iPad Pro with the M5 chip is no exception. It's thin, powerful, and precisely built – but according to iFixit, repairability remains a problem. A recent teardown video shows that despite Apple's efforts to increase transparency and spare parts availability, the basic accessibility has hardly changed.

The repair platform iFixit has analyzed the new iPad Pro with the M5 chip in a teardown. The analysis revealed that Apple has created a device that is technically impressive but remains difficult to repair. iFixit refers to this as a "repair paradox"—a contradiction between Apple's public repair initiative and the actual design of the device.

An overview of the repair paradox

Since the beginning of the year, Apple has offered official replacement parts and repair instructions for select iPad models as part of its Self Service Repair program. The goal is to give users access to original components. Theoretically, this means that even the iPad Pro can be repaired independently. In practice, however, it remains a challenge.

The casing remains heavily glued, and the screen is delicate and difficult to remove. Accessing the battery or logic board requires removing numerous layers and using specialized tools. iFixit therefore assigns a preliminary repairability score of 5 out of 10. While this is an improvement over previous iPad Pro models, which typically received only 3 or 4 points, it demonstrates that the fundamental complexity remains largely unchanged.

Hardly any changes inside

The new iPad Pro looks almost identical to its predecessor, and this is reflected in its internal design as well. The iFixit teardown reveals no significant internal changes. The component placement remains virtually the same, and the cooling system and cabling also follow familiar patterns.

The biggest innovation is the M5 chip, which Apple claims offers improved performance and energy efficiency. This chip is based on the current generation of Apple Silicon processors, which show advancements particularly in graphics and AI calculations. Nevertheless, the iPad Pro with the M5 chip is more of a technical evolution than a complete redesign.

Apple is only opening up to a limited extent

Apple has announced that it will make replacement parts for the new iPad Pro available through its self-service repair program in the coming months. This shows that the company is continuing the course it began with iPhones and MacBooks. iFixit also recently published a teardown video for the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip.

Despite this open design, the repair process remains complicated. Spare parts are expensive, and many steps require precise technical knowledge. Even with original parts and instructions, it is nearly impossible to carry out a repair without risk. The tight construction and the delicate screen increase the danger of causing further damage during the repair.

Repairability remains a weak point.

iFixit's teardown underscores that while Apple is taking steps toward repairability, the implementation remains half-hearted. The iPad Pro is still one of the company's most difficult devices to open. Anyone expecting a simple repair will be disappointed.

The 5/10 rating reflects a certain degree of accommodatingness, but the effort required for a repair stands in stark contrast to Apple's public stance on sustainability and longevity.

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Elegance over efficiency: The iPad Pro dilemma

The new iPad Pro with the M5 chip is technically impressive, but remains problematic in terms of repairability. iFixit sums it up with the term "repair paradox": Apple now offers replacement parts and instructions, but continues to design its devices in such a way that repairs remain almost impossible.

The iPad Pro thus symbolizes Apple's balancing act between innovation, design, and sustainability. Despite the powerful M5 chip and self-repair programs, practical access to the internal components remains limited. Those who buy an iPad Pro are still getting a high-end device—but one that is difficult to repair if it malfunctions. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Apple)