Laptops and the right to repair: Why is this feature of the Lenovo ThinkPad T16 so rare?

Repairing devices not only helps to keep the environment clean, it also saves money. The "right to repair" movement has been one of the big topics in the tech scene in recent years, with new companies like Framework pushing this topic into the spotlight.

One of the parts of a laptop that can break most easily is the keyboard. This mechanical part can easily be damaged, be it with a liquid spill or via a ripped out key. This fact creates a strong case for making this part an easily replaceable one.

Historically, laptop keyboards were often simple to repair. Sadly, this is no longer the case, as many manufacturers deeply integrate the keyboard into their construction. With thinner laptops, having the keyboard replaceable could make the design mechanically weaker - but then again, what is more important, a thin chassis or a repairable laptop?

Some laptops still defy this trend. One example is the Lenovo ThinkPad T16 Gen 3 that we recently reviewed. This big screen business laptop from the well-known ThinkPad line has a keyboard that can be replaced within minutes: The user just has to loosen two screws at the bottom of the system, and the keyboard slides right out. This is due to the keyboard not being integrated into the top cover of the base. Instead, it is its own separate part.

Even among business laptops for work, this feature is rare now - but why? If the manufacturer can not deliver such simple and effective features to make laptops more repairable, they make themselves a target for the right to repair campaign, rightfully so.