Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra Scores Double the Repairability of Apple MacBook Pro

iFixit specialists recently opened Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Ultra, the company’s priciest laptop to date, and assigned it a repairability score of 8 out of 10. That result doubles the 4 points awarded to the M5 MacBook Pro and shows how design choices affect long-term ownership of high-end machines.⁠

Getting inside is straightforward because you just need a few basic tools to access the screws that keep the bottom cover in place. There are four clip-on feet disguising those screws; snap them out, and the panel just pulls off, no trouble. Inside, there’s a typical configuration with two fans and a removable solid-state drive that only requires one screw to be removed.

The battery is large, rated at 92 watt-hours, and fastened in place with screws rather than glue, which is a good touch. If you need to change it, simply go to Microsoft’s official repair manual, which includes a QR code on the battery. Similarly, the 3.5mm headphone connector, magUSB-C port, and stereo speakers are all easily replaceable.

Some parts are more difficult to access, such as the extra USB-C ports on the motherboard, which require some precision work to replace, and that’s only the beginning. If the motherboard, display, or trackpad fail, you’ll need to be prepared to disassemble and fix them. Of course, the keyboard is in the same situation; if it’s the one that’s broken, the entire upper chassis cover must be removed. Memory, on the other hand, is a lost cause because it is factory installed and cannot be removed, unlike almost every other laptop on the market.

Microsoft did, however, throw some goodwill our way at launch, publishing a detailed service guide (or manual) for anyone who wants to dig in and try their hand at fixing things themselves, as well as plans to sell spare parts through places like the iFixit store. When you’re carrying about a laptop with such a wonderful screen and strong graphics from the Nvidia RTX Spark platform, having a simple way to get to the parts that need to be repaired, as well as some official guidance, is a huge benefit.