iFixit: iPad mini 3 difficult to fix due to glue

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Research by iFixit shows that the new iPad mini 3 is difficult to repair because the TouchID fingerprint sensor is glued to the screen. Replacing the screen could cause TouchID to stop working.

The findings are contained in a report that iFixit has posted on its site. There are hardly any differences in the construction of the iPad mini 3 compared to its predecessor, the iPad mini 2. During the presentation it appeared that Apple has hardly made any changes to the small tablet; only the TouchID fingerprint sensor is new and in addition the iPad mini 3 can be bought in gold color. In the case, iFixit only discovered some differences in the cabling.

Apple has glued the TouchID fingerprint sensor to the front panel. That makes replacing the screen difficult, according to iFixit. Users who want to replace the screen must therefore remove the home button and re-glue it to the new panel. Incidentally, several other parts are also glued to the housing, which makes repair difficult.

Unlike the iPad Air 2, Apple has opted for a separate LCD and glass layer. This also ensures that they can be replaced separately from each other. Laminating the screen in the iPad Air 2 should ensure that it reflects less, but with the iPad mini 3 Apple has made a different choice.

In the end, iFixit arrives at a score of 2 out of 10 for the repairability of the iPad mini 3. Incidentally, the repair company also gave the iPad mini 2 a low score. Last week, iFixit ruled that the new Mac Mini is more difficult to repair than its predecessor.

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