HDX Kindle Fire HDX 7 Teardown

[tubemonkey]

The good folks at iFixit have done a teardown of the HDX 7. The specs were already known, but repairability wasn't. Unfortunately, it gets a very poor 3 out of 10.

• Kindle Fire HDX 7" Repairability: 3 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair)
• Several modular components can be replaced individually.
• The rear case is secured with screws and clips, so it can be removed (albeit difficult) without heat.
• The battery is glued in place with strong adhesive, and requires motherboard removal to replace.
• The motherboard is very difficult to replace—the midframe must be separated from the display assembly in order to reinstall it.
• The LCD is fused to the front glass, so you'll need to replace both components in the event of a cracked screen.

[wizwor]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

The battery is glued in place with strong adhesive, and requires motherboard removal to replace.

With all the rules we endure in the name of sustainability, how can there not be laws requiring that a battery be easily removed for replacement/recycling?

[Jessica Lares]

Well, batteries aren't what they used to be. They were packed in plastic casing for one thing. Now they're in stuff similar to black electrical tape.



The problem is that consumers will always opt for the cheapest fix. And the hazard comes when they're buying batteries which are basically the rejects that didn't pass the manufacturing requirements and have higher or lower levels of the stuff that makes batteries what they are.



Apple has always provided replacement batteries. For about $100 of course, but you know, it's something that will last you another three years. Still, they have so many customers who just won't buy them.



And so they buy the cheaper version, and they get too hot, and they destroy the MacBook/iPod/iPhone/iPad after expanding, or put whatever is near it in flames or just leak and put chemicals into the air.



The official batteries can do stuff like that too, but it's most likely that the first time that happens, they'll recall every single one of them (like they have) and replace the entire machine too.



Not so much luck with the guy who sells you the alternative - Probably wouldn't be able to find them if it happens.



So most of the tech coming out now has the non-removable battery because companies would rather have the replacements done by their technicians than leave it to consumers who don't know any better.

[sirmaru]

The units go obsolete long before the battery fails. My oldest Kindle is only 2 years old and will be gifted next year.

They are like PC batteries. The units get replaced every 3 to 4 years. No one ever needs to replace the battery.

[Jessica Lares]

Yeah, batteries usually fail for a few reasons:

1) Just an overlooked problem (which is what happened to my 2006 MacBook Pro's battery within 3 months of owning it),

2) Because you're using it far too little and make the battery last for a whole month (you need to use your device at least 30 minutes a day), and

3) Because you're just not using the device and have let the battery literally die.

4) Laptop batteries die easily when you're using them as a desktop. Literally the single most common issue with them. Should you have two computers though? No, it's just better to read up on how your battery tech works and cycle through them properly.

And yeah, the *majority* of the time, the battery dies after you've moved onto a new device. Otherwise it's usually because of #2 or #4.

[robertc88]

Well not a tear down and I was not in the market to tell the truth but first impressions at Best Buy on their demo display has me steering clear even more.

I will discuss what concerned me after some folks get their device in case the demo was not up to par.

[SampleAndy]

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

Yeah, batteries usually fail for a few reasons:

1) Just an overlooked problem (which is what happened to my 2006 MacBook Pro's battery within 3 months of owning it),

2) Because you're using it far too little and make the battery last for a whole month (you need to use your device at least 30 minutes a day), and

3) Because you're just not using the device and have let the battery literally die.

4) Laptop batteries die easily when you're using them as a desktop. Literally the single most common issue with them. Should you have two computers though? No, it's just better to read up on how your battery tech works and cycle through them properly.

And yeah, the *majority* of the time, the battery dies after you've moved onto a new device. Otherwise it's usually because of #2 or #4.

So you're saying with 13 of them, I should be expecting battery problems? (sigh)

[Jessica Lares]

Originally Posted by SampleAndy

So you're saying with 13 of them, I should be expecting battery problems? (sigh)

Well, I was talking about the typical 5-7 hour long batteries. After like 5 years those end up being 2-3 hours max. I don't know the wear and tear of a battery that lasts a full month. My K3 seems to be okay.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Jessica Lares

So most of the tech coming out now has the non-removable battery because companies would rather have the replacements done by their technicians than leave it to consumers who don't know any better.

It doesn't have to be that way. It's only that way because companies deliberately design their products to be that way. My old-school flip-phone phone has a removable back cover and battery. It doesn't take rocket science to design smartphones and tablets to do the same thing.

Why have user replaceable batteries? To have a spare when not near a power source.

[Jessica Lares]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

It doesn't have to be that way. It's only that way because companies deliberately design their products to be that way. My old-school flip-phone phone has a removable back cover and battery. It doesn't take rocket science to design smartphones and tablets to do the same thing.

Why have user replaceable batteries? To have a spare when not near a power source.

Of course, I have no problem with that. Companies don't have an issue with that.

But the general public seems to have an issue with buying authentic hardware, when they can buy knockoffs which are "just as good" for half the price on eBay, etc. And that's where the problem comes in.

Because when a battery blows up, who gets the blame for it? The company that made the device. And every time an iPhone has blown up, it's because the person installed a third-party battery themselves. Same thing happened with Samsung's Galaxy S3 recently.

[sirmaru]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

It doesn't have to be that way. It's only that way because companies deliberately design their products to be that way. My old-school flip-phone phone has a removable back cover and battery. It doesn't take rocket science to design smartphones and tablets to do the same thing.

Why have user replaceable batteries? To have a spare when not near a power source.

You can carry a backup battery one of which is offered here:

http://www.amazon.com/Photive-2600mA...backup+battery

You do not have to remove the device battery.

[mnha]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

My old-school flip-phone phone has a removable back cover and battery. It doesn't take rocket science to design smartphones and tablets to do the same thing.

Why have user replaceable batteries? To have a spare when not near a power source.

Bad idea from a company perspective. NiMH still has lowish density and a fairly high self-discharge, while most consumers don't have a clue about lithium cells. They're not as care-free as other batteries.

If Li-Io cells are used/stored/transported in a closed container when one of them decides it is having a very bad day -- impromptu pipe bomb. Won't exactly level a city block, but it'll leave scars. Vented dielectric a potential health hazard, fires that react violently to water; in case of IMR cells rapid discharges with potentially lethal currents. Doesn't happen often, but once is enough for a PR nightmare.

Hard wired into a device, it doesn't matter as much. The casing provides some protection from physical abuse and people are worried about their fragile plaything anyway. Loose batteries have no such protection and they get dropped or spilled upon all the time, because -- hey, it's just a battery, right?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by mnha

Bad idea from a company perspective. NiMH still has lowish density and a fairly high self-discharge, while most consumers don't have a clue about lithium cells. They're not as care-free as other batteries.

If Li-Io cells are used/stored/transported in a closed container when one of them decides it is having a very bad day -- impromptu pipe bomb. Won't exactly level a city block, but it'll leave scars. Vented dielectric a potential health hazard, fires that react violently to water; in case of IMR cells rapid discharges with potentially lethal currents. Doesn't happen often, but once is enough for a PR nightmare.

Hard wired into a device, it doesn't matter as much. The casing provides some protection from physical abuse and people are worried about their fragile plaything anyway. Loose batteries have no such protection and they get dropped or spilled upon all the time, because -- hey, it's just a battery, right?

I'm carrying a pipe bomb around with me?