Moto X Makes a Stop at iFixit for For a Full Disassembly

[dgstorm]

Now it is the Moto X' turn to get the teardown treatment. The new superphone from Motorola just made it's way through the gauntlet of surgeons at iFixit. The phone came out mostly unscathed and with a very good repairability score of 7/10. The primary difficulty they had was with a few spots of glue and that the vibration motor is soldered onto the motherboard. Other than that it wasn't too tough.

The guys at iFixit favorably compared the innovative designs within the device to some of Apple's design choices, which is probably complimentary depending on how you take that. Heres a quote below, with some of their final thoughts,

• Motorola Moto X Repairability Score: 7 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair)
• Pressure contacts and cable connectors make the modular components (cameras, buttons, headphone jack and speakers) easy to replace.
• The Moto X uses a single kind of screw, although it's a fairly uncommon size (T3).
• The taped-in battery is less accessible than we'd like, but at least it's near the top of the stack once you get the rear cover off (as opposed to the HTC One).
• The digitizer is fused to the display, increasing repair costs for a cracked screen. But the display midframe can be separated, potentially lowering the cost of the replacement part.
• Sticky adhesive on the back cover is annoying and will slow opening the phone.

Source: iFixit via MotoXForums

 

[kodiak799]

A repairability score on a smartphone seems kind of pointless.

 

[Asgard]

A repairability score on a smartphone seems kind of pointless.

Not entirely, I had a problem with the connector on my GNex because it got wet and then it burned out, and I realized (too late sadly because I've already paid) that it was easier and cheaper for me to get the spare part and replace it compared to what the insurance charged me for a replacement.

But not everyone likes to open their phones and mess with them

 

[jspradling7]

lol
I could put four or five of those together in a day... maybe. : )
I wonder how many folks it takes to assemble millions upon millions of them in just a few weeks?