Smartphones repairability grade

Each smartphone model has been analysed by SOSav experts to give them a repairability grade from 0 to 10, toughest to easiest. A small idea of your phone disassembly difficulty !

How we rate the devices :

What to expect when disassembling your smartphone ? SOSav technicians have listed all positive and negative sides for each phone model in order to know if they're easy to disassemble or not. The repairability grade is based on technical criteria like replaceable components, the difficulty to open and manipulate, for a grade going from 1 to 10.

Mobile Phones Tablets
  • Nexus 4 repairability
    LG Nexus 4 2012
    8 /10
    • The standard tool kit is enough to disassemble the whole phone
    • Many components repleacable
    • Difficult to remove the battery (lot of glue)
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
  • Galaxy Ace repairability
    Samsung Galaxy Ace 2011
    8 /10
    • The battery is removable and easy to replace.
    • Easy disassembly
    • Phone only uses cruciform screws
  • Galaxy S3 mini repairability
    Samsung Galaxy S3 mini 2013
    8 /10
    • Phone easy to disassemble
    • The battery is removable.
    • Only use cruciform screws
    • SIM card reader welded to the logic board
  • Wiko Darkmoon repairability
    Wiko Wiko Darkmoon 2013
    8 /10
    • The battery is removable.
    • SIM and MicroSD card reader can easily be replaced
    • Many components repleacable
    • The LCD screen and the touch screen can be separated.
  • Lumia 520 repairability
    Nokia Lumia 520 2013
    8 /10
    • Easy construction and disassembly
    • Modular phone
    • The LCD screen and the touch screen can be separated.
    • SIM card reader welded to the logic board
  • Nexus 5 repairability
    LG Nexus 5 2013
    8 /10
    • Disassembly is easy and simple
    • Battery not glued to the rear panel, easy disassembly.
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
  • G3 repairability
    LG G3 2014
    8 /10
    • Phone disassembly is easy and simple
    • The battery is removable and easy to replace.
    • SIM and Micro SD card reader welded to the logic board
    • Earpiece speaker difficult to remove
  • Wiko Stairway repairability
    Wiko Wiko Stairway 2013
    8 /10
    • Many removable components
    • The battery is removable.
    • The LCD screen and the touch screen can be separated.
  • 3310 repairability
    Nokia 3310 2000
    8 /10
    • Modular construction : many removable components
    • Solid and lasting construction
    • The battery is removable and easy to replace.
    • The ON/OFF button is welded to the logic board
  • Wildfire S repairability
    HTC Wildfire S 2011
    8 /10
    • The screen and LCD can be separated
    • Phone easy to disassemble
    • Many components welded to the logic board
  • Galaxy Core 4G repairability
    Samsung Galaxy Core 4G 2014
    8 /10
    • Disassembly is easy
    • Many components repleacable
  • iPhone 6S Plus repairability
    Apple iPhone 6S Plus 2015
    8 /10
    • Disassembly is easy
    • Many components repleacable
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
    • Specific tool needed
  • Galaxy S3 repairability
    Samsung Galaxy S3 2012
    8 /10
    • Disassembly is easy and simple
    • The battery is removable and easy to replace.
    • To separate the LCD screen from the touch screen requires patience
  • Galaxy S4 repairability
    Samsung Galaxy S4 2013
    8 /10
    • Many removable components
    • The battery is removable and easy to replace.
    • Easy disassembly
    • The LCD screen and the touch screen can be separated.
  • Lumia 820 repairability
    Nokia Lumia 820 2012
    7 /10
    • The battery is removable and easy to replace.
    • Easy disassembly
    • Many components welded to the logic board
    • SIM and Micro SD card reader welded to the logic board, cannot be replaced
  • Wiko Darkside repairability
    Wiko Wiko Darkside 2013
    7 /10
    • Phone easy to disassemble (except for the battery)
    • Battery glued to the rear panel.
    • Fragile interconnect cables
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
  • Wiko Ozzy repairability
    Wiko Wiko Ozzy 2013
    7 /10
    • The easiest Wiko phone to disassemble
    • Many components welded to the logic board
    • LCD screen is welded and difficult to replace in case of breakage
  • Wiko Sublim repairability
    Wiko Wiko Sublim 2013
    7 /10
    • The battery is removable and easy to replace.
    • You cannot remove the touch screen without removing the LCD screen
    • You cannot remove the touch screen without removing the LCD screen
    • Touch screen cable is fragile
  • Galaxy S4 mini repairability
    Samsung Galaxy S4 mini 2013
    7 /10
    • Phone disassembly is easy
    • Modular phone
  • iPhone 6 Plus repairability
    Apple iPhone 6 Plus 2014
    7 /10
    • LCD screen is easy and quick to replace
    • Battery a little bit easier to remove than previous generations.
    • By replacing the home button, you lose the touch ID feature
    • By replacing the home button, you lose the touch ID feature
  • Xperia Z1 repairability
    Sony Xperia Z1 2013
    7 /10
    • Battery not glued to the rear panel.
    • good manufacture quality product
    • Logic board difficult to remove and put back
    • Fragile jack plug
  • Wiko Cink Peax 2 repairability
    Wiko Wiko Cink Peax 2 2013
    7 /10
    • The battery is removable.
    • The screen and LCD can be separated
    • Phone's plastic parts are fragile
    • SIM and Micro SD card reader welded to the logic board
  • iPhone 3G repairability
    Apple iPhone 3G 2008
    7 /10
    • The LCD screen and the touch screen can be separated
    • Construction allowing the disassembly of many elements
    • SIM card reader welded to the logic board
    • To replace the battery you have to disassembled the whole phone
  • iPhone 3GS repairability
    Apple iPhone 3GS 2009
    7 /10
    • The LCD screen and the touch screen can be separated.
    • Construction allowing the disassembly of many elements
    • SIM card reader welded to the logic board
    • To replace the battery you have to disassembled the whole phone
  • iPhone 4 repairability
    Apple iPhone 4 2010
    7 /10
    • The battery replacement is rather easy.
    • Modular construction allowing the disassembly of many elements
    • SIM card reader welded to the logic board
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
  • iPhone 4S repairability
    Apple iPhone 4S 2011
    7 /10
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
    • Modular construction allowing the disassembly of many elements
    • SIM card reader welded to the logic board
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
  • Titan repairability
    HTC Titan 2011
    7 /10
    • The battery is removable and easy to replace.
    • Many components repleacable
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
    • Jack plug weled to the logic board
  • iPhone 6S repairability
    Apple iPhone 6S 2015
    7 /10
    • Disassembly is easy
    • Many components repleacable
    • Specific tool needed
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
  • Galaxy Note 2 repairability
    Samsung Galaxy Note 2 2012
    7 /10
    • 10 screws secure the inside frame. They are cruciform.
    • The battery is removable and easy to replace.
    • Many components repleacable
    • Many components repleacable
  • Galaxy Note 3 repairability
    Samsung Galaxy Note 3 2013
    6 /10
    • Many removable components
    • The battery is removable and easy to replace.
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
  • Wiko Darkmoon repairability
    Wiko Wiko Darkmoon 2013
    6 /10
    • Easy disassembly with only cruciform screws.
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
    • SIM card reader welded to the logic board
    • Battery is difficult to remove.
  • iPhone 6 repairability
    Apple iPhone 6 2014
    6 /10
    • LCD screen is easy and quick to replace
    • Battery a little bit easier to remove than previous generations.
    • By replacing the home button, you lose the touch ID feature
    • By replacing the home button, you lose the touch ID feature
  • Lumia 1520 repairability
    Nokia Lumia 1520 2013
    6 /10
    • Many removable components
    • Battery glued to the rear panel.
    • Fragile cables during the disassembly
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
  • iPhone 1st generation repairability
    Apple iPhone 1st generation 2007
    6 /10
    • The phone construction is rather solid.
    • The camera can be disassembled
    • The battery is welded to the logic bard making it difficult to replace
    • Phone is difficult to disassemble
  • iPhone 5 repairability
    Apple iPhone 5 2012
    6 /10
    • The battery and LCD screen replacement is rather easy.
    • Modular construction allowing the disassembly of many elements
    • SIM card reader welded to the logic board
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
  • MI3 repairability
    Xiaomi MI3 2013
    6 /10
    • Phone's construction is of good quality
    • The battery is easy to replace.
    • Many components welded to the logic board
    • Cables are fragile
  • Galaxy S2 repairability
    Samsung Galaxy S2 2011
    6 /10
    • The battery is removable.
    • Phone disassembly is easy
    • Tablet only uses cruciform screws
    • The volume and on/off buttons are welded to the logic board
  • iPhone 5S repairability
    Apple iPhone 5S 2013
    6 /10
    • Modular construction allowing the disassembly of many elements
    • Replacing the LCD screen is rather simple
    • By replacing the home button, you lose the touch ID feature
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
  • iPhone 5C repairability
    Apple iPhone 5C 2013
    5 /10
    • The LCD screen replacement is rather simple.
    • Modular construction allowing the disassembly of many elements
    • SIM card reader welded to the logic board
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
  • Lumia 925 repairability
    Nokia Lumia 925 2013
    5 /10
    • The battery is removable and easy to replace.
    • Fixing strap for certain cables can be difficult to remove
    • SIM card reader welded to the logic board
    • Logic board disassembly difficult
  • Lumia 800 repairability
    Nokia Lumia 800 2011
    5 /10
    • Screen easy to replace
    • Phone disassembly is rather complex
    • Risk of damaging the case when opening it
    • Many components welded to the logic board
  • Firephone repairability
    Amazon Firephone 2014
    5 /10
    • Many removable components
    • Regular screws
    • Proximity sensor glued to the screen, difficult to replace
    • Battery glued to the rear panel.
  • Galaxy Note 4 repairability
    Samsung Galaxy Note 4 2014
    5 /10
    • good manufacture quality product
    • Phone disassembly requires to remove the LCD screen (difficult)
    • Inside frame clipped to the rest of the phone
    • The speaker is glued to the inside frame
  • G2 repairability
    LG G2 2013
    5 /10
    • Battery glued to the rear panel.
    • Many connectors and cables making the front panel disassembly complicated
    • Cables are fragile
  • Xperia T repairability
    Sony Xperia T 2012
    5 /10
    • The battery is easy to remove.
    • Many fragile cables
    • Logic board difficult to remove
    • Rather fragile phone
  • Galaxy S5 repairability
    Samsung Galaxy S5 2014
    4 /10
    • The battery is removable.
    • You have to remove the screen to disassemble the phone
    • Logic board is well fixed but difficult to remove
    • Fragile dock connector
  • Lumia 920 repairability
    Nokia Lumia 920 2012
    4 /10
    • The battery is easy to replace.
    • Many adhesives and metalic brackets making the disassembly complex
    • Fragile cables
    • SIM card reader welded to the logic board
  • Xperia Z repairability
    Sony Xperia Z 2013
    4 /10
    • Simple and solid construction
    • Diagnose a broken screen can sometimes be difficult because of its black color
    • Battery is difficult to remove.
    • Putting back the logic board after a disassembly can be delicate
  • Galaxy Alpha repairability
    Samsung Galaxy Alpha 2014
    4 /10
    • The battery is removable and easy to replace.
    • SIM card reader welded to the logic board
    • Proximity/light sensor welded to the logic board
    • To disassemble the phone, you have to remove the LCD screen.
  • HD2 repairability
    HTC HD2 2009
    3 /10
    • Regular screws
    • The battery is removable.
    • Many components welded to the cables
    • Many adhesives making the repair complex
  • One M7 repairability
    HTC One M7 2013
    3 /10
    • Complex disassembly
    • Many adhesives and glue used in the phone
    • Fragile cables during the disassembly
    • Battery glued to the rear panel.
  • 8X repairability
    HTC 8X 2012
    2 /10
    • Frame difficult to disassemble
    • Many interconnect cables
    • Battery glued to the rear panel.
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
  • Galaxy S6 Edge repairability
    Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge 2015
    2 /10
    • Cannot removed the battery compared to the Galaxy S5
    • Disassembling the phone without damaging the rear glass can be complex
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
    • NFC cable very fragile during the disassembly
  • Galaxy S6 repairability
    Samsung Galaxy S6 2015
    2 /10
    • Cannot removed the battery compared to the Galaxy S5
    • Disassembling the phone without damaging the rear glass can be complex
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
    • NFC cable very fragile during the disassembly
  • Galaxy S6 Edge + repairability
    Samung Galaxy S6 Edge + 2015
    2 /10
    • Difficult disassembly
    • Disassembling the phone without damaging the rear glass can be complex
    • Cannot removed the battery compared to the Galaxy S5
    • The LCD screen is merged with the touch screen
  • one M8 repairability
    HTC one M8 2014
    1 /10
    • Phone's construction is of good quality
    • Many components repleacable
    • Many components welded to the logic board
    • Many adhesives making the repair complex

They're talking about us

SOSav in the press

  • SOSav on tf1
  • SOSav on france 2
  • SOSav on france 3
  • SOSav on m6
  • SOSav on france info
  • SOSav on 01 net
  • SOSav on l express

All rights reserved to SOSav