A new teardown shows the iPad Pro M5 earned Apple's best repairability score so far, but its sealed design and complex layout still make real fixes difficult.
Electronics repair firm iFixit released a teardown of the device and revealed a "repair paradox." Despite Apple's official self-service repair parts and manuals, the tablet remains among its least repairable devices.
The teardown, posted on October 30, revealed that the M5 iPad Pro is mostly a specification bump with no significant internal design changes. However, iFixit assigned it a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10.
Earlier in 2025, Apple expanded its self-service repair program to include iPads, allowing users to buy official parts, rent tools, and follow repair manuals.
Self-service repair parts for the M5 iPad Pro are expected soon. Until then, owners of earlier models can order batteries, displays, and other components directly through Apple's support portal.
Limited design changes
The teardown describes the latest iPad Pro as nearly identical to its predecessor apart from the chip update. The M5 processor replaces the M4, bringing better performance and efficiency but no visible internal redesign.
The M5 iPad Pro's internal structure and layout remain compact, emphasizing rigidity and thinness rather than ease of access. Its design approach reflects Apple's ongoing philosophy known internally as "Longevity by Design."
Apple argues that maximizing strength and minimizing flex leads to longer-lasting products, even if individual repairs are more challenging. It frames the trade-off as a balance between safety, durability, and repairability, not a simple opposition.
The reported 5 out of 10 score represents a measurable improvement over earlier iPad Pro models, which iFixit previously rated as low as 3 out of 10.
Repairability score context
By Apple's own standards, the score is similar to other M-series MacBooks. These MacBooks have recently improved due to simplified battery replacements and modular ports.
The reported 5 out of 10 score represents a measurable improvement over earlier iPad Pro models
That modest progress matters within Apple's wider product line. In October, iFixit's teardown of the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip also noted small but meaningful gains in modularity and service access.
The devices indicate that Apple's engineering teams are making gradual design changes. These adjustments align with the company's public repair commitments.
Durability vs. accessibility
Modern Apple design prioritizes structural integrity over repair simplicity. Sealed devices protect against dust, moisture, and torsion, enhancing durability scores in independent tests.
However, these seals complicate screen and battery replacements for technicians. Adhesive sealing, integrated cables, and fused glass preserve performance and waterproofing, not just aesthetics.
Apple ties its environmental goals to repairability by promoting long software support and global recycling programs. The company says extending a device's life cuts manufacturing emissions.
But environmental groups counter that repair access is still too limited.
Apple plans to release self-service repair materials and documentation for authorized and independent repairs of the M5 iPad Pro soon. The next phase will determine if Apple's repair initiative is more than a compliance effort.
