Microsoft
Tablets · Last assessed 6/9/2026
Score breakdown
Why this grade
Most improved tablet maker: iFixit documents a 'U-turn' from Surface Pro 5/6 = 1/10 (glued battery, soldered RAM/SSD) to Surface Pro 9 = 7/10 (later 8/10) and Surface Pro 11 = 8/10, the highest Surface score ever, with screwed-in (not glued) battery and accessible SSD. Microsoft publishes official service guides and sells genuine spare parts through the Microsoft Store and iFixit, with iFixit Fix Kits and tools. Minimal parts-pairing. Parts pricing is the main drag and the legacy lineup was terrible, holding it to a C rather than B.
Methodology & version
Five dimensions — parts availability, schematic access, repairability, OEM pricing, and software freedom — are scored 0–100 and weighted equally; the letter grade is the average (A 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69, F below 60). This assessment is current as of 6/9/2026 and cites its sources below. It covers the Tablets category and is not a claim about every device the maker ships.