Apple and Lenovo have the least repairable laptops, analysis finds

Apple and Lenovo earn the lowest repairability scores among major laptop brands, according to a new analysis that exposes soldered RAM, glued batteries, and proprietary screws as deliberate barriers to repair. The study assigns Apple a dismal 2 out of 10 and Lenovo a 3 out of 10, marking them as the worst offenders in an industry where the average repairability rating now sits at 5.5. For example, Apple’s MacBook Air requires heating pads and specialized tools to remove its battery, a process that takes 45% longer than replacing a battery on a Framework laptop, which ranks #2 on this list for ease of repair. Similarly, Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon uses tamper-proof screws that force users to buy a $25 proprietary kit, whereas Dell’s comparable Latitude models allow standard screwdrivers. This intentional lockout inflates repair costs by an average of 30% compared to more open designs, punishing consumers and the environment alike.