Microsoft Surface SE Teardown

Microsoft introduced the Surface SE in November, targeting the education market and the company emphasized that the laptop was specifically designed for ease of repair.

"Vital components like the display, battery, keyboard—even the motherboard—can be easily repaired onsite, saving time and money for IT admins and schools," the company stated in its announcement.

Now Microsoft is backing that up with its own teardown video showing exactly how easy it is to disassemble a Surface SE for parts replacement. Microsoft senior DFX engineer Branden Cole leads viewers through the process, making it seem like a reasonable challenge to take on.

The Surface SE starts at just $249 and runs Windows 11 SE and Microsoft 365 for Education. It relies on the Intel Celeron N4020 or N4120 processor, an Intel UHD Graphics 600 processor, and will run for as long as 16 hours on a battery charge, according to Microsoft.

It includes both IEEE 802.11ac wi-fi and Bluetooth 5.0 LE wireless connectivity, plus USB-A, USB-C, and 3.5-mm headphone ports. The 40-watt external power supply connects via a barrel-type DC connector and can bring the Surface to an 80 percent battery charge in less than 90 minutes.

"Educators need products that are cloud-ready, but not cloud-dependent, especially for students who don't have persistent access to the internet outside of school," explained Paige Johnson, vice president of Microsoft Education. "IT needs devices that are easy to manage, repair, and secure," she added. For a look at the Surface SE's ease of repair, click through our slide show for a quick synopsis of the teardown video, which concludes with a view of the computer's bare chassis.

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