LOOK: iPad Mini 3 is a nightmare to repair, teardown shows

 

 

Apple's new TouchID-enabled iPad mini 3 may be a nightmare for those trying to repair its screen, an enthusiast site reported over the weekend.

 

Citing photos from tech site iFixit, 9to5mac.com said the home button bracket is being held only by hot glue.

 

"Yes — that is hot glue holding the home button bracket to the front panel. Good luck transferring that to your replacement glass. (Which you’re going to have to do, to keep the Touch ID functionality after a cracked screen repair)," 9to5mac.com said.

 

Also, it scored the "crummy cabling" of the new home button.

 

It said iFixit gave the mini 3 a 2/10 repairability score like its predecessor mini 2.

 

However, the teardown also showed a NFC chip that may support the new Apple Pay functionality.

 

The site said the iPad mini 3 runs on an Apple A7 chip, unlike the newer iPhones and iPads that run on the A8. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News