Microsoft will begin selling replacement parts for its Surface products in 2023, another step in the right direction for repair eligibility.
Microsoft has never been cautious about improving the maintainability of its Surface devices, and the Redmond-based firm will soon begin offering replacement parts for sale. In a press release sent by iFixit, the American giant explains that it is preparing a “global availability”of parts for individuals and independent repairers in the first half of 2023. Full Surface Pro 9 repair guides will also arrive before the end of this year. year. A larger repair network will also follow early next year with the help of a “major US dealer”.
Microsoft will sell parts of its Surface products in 2023
This view of repair is reflected in the latest developments of the company. Microsoft explains that maintainability was an “important aspect”when designing the Surface Pro 9, and iFixit confirmed this by properly disassembling a Windows 2-in-1 tablet. Affordable SSD is just the beginning. The battery is bolted instead of glued, and the screen is easier to remove when you open the beast. According to iFixit, this is the “most repairable”surface to date, in stark contrast to previous generations that were very difficult to repair.
Another step in the right direction to qualify for repairs
This isn’t the first time Microsoft has entered the home repair market. The Surface Laptop 3 was easier to open, and even the thin Surface Pro X had a user-replaceable SSD. iFixit also cautions that it cannot fully assess Surface Pro 9 repairability until manuals and replacement parts are available. The RAM is also soldered, although this allows for better performance and better power management. So it’s a big step forward, but it’s far from over.
As with Apple, Google, Samsung and others, Microsoft is not doing this out of kindness. The tech industry is currently under intense pressure from governments to improve maintainability, including through the Right to Repair Act, which requires parts, documents, and diagnostics to be available to customers. If Microsoft had not improved the maintainability of its Surface line, there is no doubt that the competent authorities would have given the giant a slap in the face.