iFixit announced today that it will partner with Microsoft to manufacture and sell official repair tools for some Surface models. The partnership starts with a display debonder, a display rebonder and a battery cover.
The models these Microsoft-approved tools are designed for aren’t the friendliest for home crafting. Many – like the Surface Laptop Go and the Surface Pro 7+ – have neither instructions nor repairability values from the iFixit. This could explain why these professional tools are not being offered to consumers, at least for the time being.
According to iFixit, “iFixit Pro Independent Repairs, Microsoft Authorized Service Providers, Microsoft Experience Centers and Microsoft Commercial Customers” are the only companies allowed to use these new devices. “While these new tools are not required for a do-it-yourselfer repair, they are designed to prevent damage and help technicians perform high volume repairs, and help improve accuracy and achieve factory-level adhesion.”
According to The Verge, it was Microsoft that turned to iFixit to join forces, despite (and because of) iFixit’s vocal criticism of the poor repairability of the Surface range. The wider availability of official repair tools and the development of new ones could emerge if both companies achieve positive results.
Microsoft is the newest company to partner with iFixit. Previously, the right to repair advocate worked with HTC and Motorola as the official parts supplier for Vive headsets and smartphones, respectively.
