One of the selling points of Rakuten's latest generation of Kobo eReaders is their reparability, enabling you to swap out the battery, screen and other components. The Japanese company has made a big deal out of their collaboration with iFixit, a company most people perhaps know from its YouTube partner JayzTwoCents.
What Rakuten didn't tell you was how easy it would be for the end user, however.
Having the option to swap out the battery, screen and even the plastic casing and other components yourself is a compelling offer, extending the device's lifespan by many, many years. This is the right thing to do, especially since the EU legislation forcing manufacturers to make batteries user-replaceable by 2027.
Upon the launch of Rakuten's new line of user-repairable eReaders, including the Kobo Clara Colour, Kobo Clara BW, and Kobo Libra Colour, there were no further details on the repairability. No one knew what the parts would cost, nor how hard they would be to replace, until a few months later, when iFixit eventually started listing parts and repair guides on its website. By that time the biggest hype around the new devices had petered out for a bit, and the big reviews on YouTube and tech websites had already been made.
What You Need to Replace the Battery
Personally, I'm not too keen on swapping out displays or fixing circuit boards, I'm mainly concerned about the battery, which is the only part you know for certain will deteriorate over time.
On iFixit's partner page for Kobo devices, you can find repair guides and buy the parts needed. So I checked the guide for replacing the battery in the Kobo Clara BW. Here's what you need:
| Parts | |
|---|---|
| Kobo Clara Colour and BW Battery ‑ Genuine | €39.99 |
| Stretch Release Battery Adhesive | €3.95 |
| Required Tools | |
| iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) | €4.95 |
| Spudger | €3.95 |
| Optional Tools | |
| Precision Tweezers (Pointed) | €4.95 |
| Plastic Cards | €2.95 |
| Precision Tweezers (Blunt Nose) | €4.95 |
| Isopropyl Alcohol (90% or Greater) | |
| Coffee Filters or a lint-free cloth | |
| Hair Dryer | |
| Heat Gun | €34.95 |
Source: iFixit (as of July, 2024)
Seriously, are you blooming kidding me, Rakuten?
Don't get me wrong. Of course, having the option to repair your device is great. But a battery replacement is no repair, it's regular maintenance.
Calling your device user-repairable is a bold claim. However, the fact that you need TEN TOOLS just to replace a battery makes it glaringly obvious that the device doesn't live up to its claims. Simply offering spare parts and toolkits is not enough to be repairable for a layman, and is by no means what you have in mind when something is called "user repairable".
Everything Is Still Glued
What it all comes down to, is that the devices are waterproof. Instead of just having some protective rubber lip inside the case, Rakuten has covered all the internal components covered in adhesive, including the battery and its connector. So whatever you need to replace inside your eReader, you better have a heat gun (or hairdryer) ready. Removing this adhesive also takes away the water resistance, so if you want to keep that, you'll have to buy and apply a new layer of sticky goo as well.
Considering the price of the replacement battery and all the tools you need, plus the shipping costs, who will even bother with this? I would guess the average consumer would just sell the device and buy a new one, rather than buy a bunch of repair equipment, risk messing something up and have to throw it all in the bin. For a normal user, the hassle and risks involved with servicing electronics aren't worth it, unless it's just a battery door you can easily open to plop batteries in and out.
Harder to Repair Than a Kindle
Ironically, the base model of the Amazon Kindle isn't officially "repairable," but actually happens to be easier to swap the battery on, than these "repairable" Kobos. Unlike the Kobos, the Kindle Basic at least doesn't have its internal components glued, since it doesn't claim to be waterproof in the first place. That said, Amazon didn't sweat themselves to make it easy for a soccer mom to pry open, either. Higher Kindle models like the Paperwhite are waterproof and glued, however, making them significantly harder to work with for the average John.
Check out a teardown of the 2022 Kindle in this Reddit post.
Outsourcing Parts Doesn't Improve Devices' Repairability
Seemingly, the only thing Rakuten has done to claim "user-repairability" is to sell spare parts online. This should be taken for granted, to begin with, to let third-party repair shops repair the devices. Simply selling parts has nothing to do with making devices user-repairable, or even user-serviceable, however. And it's annoying to see companies still not taking steps towards increasing the lifespan of tech devices, as the EU legislation tries to achieve.
Rakuten holds its head high when it comes to using recycled plastic in its devices, but still has a long way to go to make grounds for its claims of user-repairable e-readers.
The Reason Why We Still Don't Have Removable Batteries
Maybe I/we were expecting too much, but with the new EU legislation on removable batteries taking effect in just a few years, we need a frontrunner taking those first steps.
Simple devices like eReaders seem like a good place to start. Unlike a high-end smartphone, an eReader is less of a luxury item and doesn't need to have the slimmest bezels, be wafer thin or look sleek.
The only thing stopping it from having a back and a battery you can remove easily seems to be water protection. And do we really need to read on our e-readers while swimming? Think of cameras for a second. They all have removable batteries, and they can typically take a bit of drizzle at least. Wouldn't that be enough water resistance for an eReader as well?
Repairable e-Readers – Recommendations
If you fancy a "somewhat repairable" eReader, meaning one that at least has spare parts available, check out the Kobo devices below. Those are the Kobo eReaders designed to be repaired (according to Rakuten as of July, 2024).
The Kindle Basic is also a good option, since it isn't glued. Amazon themselves don't sell any spare parts, but they can be found through third parties, like the various Chinese markets online.
Kobo Libra Colour
7-inch Colour eReader
Kobo Clara Colour
6-inch Colour eReader
Kobo Clara BW
6-inch Black and White eReader
Amazon Kindle
6-inch Black and White eReader
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