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Repair, teardowns & right to repair: videos Hacker News recommends
Repair and teardowns: electronics repair, soldering, board-level repair, Louis Rossmann, right to repair, product teardowns, how things are made, planned obsolescence, Apple hardware failures. Below: every video in this topic that at least three HN users linked with real commentary, in at least three different months (27 demos, 22 commentarys, 12 explainers), best-scored first, with the comments on each video page.
- 6 HN recommenders 6 months 2017–2026HN treats it as the classic teardown and the go-to example of over-engineered hardware built without real-world constraints.
- 9 HN recommenders 7 months 2023–2026HN's go-to link for correcting the lightbulb conspiracy myth, giving an engineer's view of the lifespan versus efficiency tradeoff.
- 8 HN recommenders 6 months 2021–2025J Johnny Harris · explainerHN links it in right-to-repair and McFlurry-machine threads as the go-to in-depth explainer of the franchisee and Taylor arrangement.
- 6 HN recommenders 5 months 2023–2026Linked whenever people ask why a Thunderbolt cable costs so much; the CT scans show the construction difference clearly.
- 4 HN recommenders 5 months 2017–2023HN points to it as a favorite teardown, usually when discussing Dyson or how products are engineered and built, with some noting the host was impressed by the engineering.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2021–2026HN points to it as proof that efficient, long-lived LED bulbs can be built and as an example of well-designed lamps.
- 6 HN recommenders 4 months 2015–2018HN recommends it as a fascinating look at the i3's revolutionary materials and production methods, and as a contrast point for Tesla.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2021–2024Commenters link it as the engaging go-to explainer on planned obsolescence and the lightbulb cartel.
- 5 HN recommenders 3 months 2018–2026Commenters link it in Tesla threads as an informed, hands-on engineering view of the Model 3 and its manufacturing.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2024Recommended as the accessible explanation to share with non-techies, family and politicians.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2021HN commenters recommend it as an insider account from a repair shop owner of why Apple's repair program falls short of real right to repair.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2012–2020Recommended as a good introduction to SMD soldering techniques for beginners.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2018–2021HN people recommend it for its vivid look at Shenzhen's repair culture and for the flash chip upgrade, and cite it in discussions of hardware modding.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2016–2024Cited in threads about cheap chargers as proof of why proper certified and isolated power supplies are worth paying for.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2019–2022T The Signal Path · demoRecommended as part of a channel with deep teardowns of extreme test equipment, valuable for anyone interested in electronics or RF.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2017–2021Cited in right-to-repair and Apple threads as an insider's view of Apple hardware design and repairability.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2017–2022HN commenters point to it as an entertaining teardown and as evidence that KitchenAid mixers are stoutly built.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2018–2019HN people cite it to debunk oven-reflow and reballing repair folklore, and as part of Rossmann's critiques of Apple hardware quality.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2018–2019Cited in MacBook keyboard and repairability threads for its clear teardown of what a replacement involves.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2016–2023J John Gammell · tutorialHN points to it as proof that SMD soldering is simpler than people fear.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2018–2023Mostly cited by critics of Apple hardware quality, and as a rabbit hole for people curious about laptop repair.
- 3 HN recommenders 2 months 2018Offered as a concrete, human example in right-to-repair discussions of how software lock-in affects expensive equipment.
- 4 HN recommenders 2 months 2023–2024HN commenters point people dealing with concussions or brain injuries to it as a hopeful first-hand story of recovery.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2024HN recommends it as a hands-on introduction to XRF and a fascinating teardown showing the x-ray tube and beryllium windows.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2019–2020HN commenters point to this restoration series as a thorough explanation of how teletypes work at every level.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2023It is linked in laptop thermal threads for a layman's overview of why Apple limits surface temperature and why the mod is not simple.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2016–2017Pointed to when people want to see the cams and gears inside a mechanical navigation computer.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2017–2023HN cites it as proof that a full iPhone can be assembled from sourced parts, in right-to-repair and Shenzhen hardware ecosystem discussions.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2018–2021Passed around in computing-history threads as a charming example of vintage hardware being coaxed into running FORTRAN.
- 1 HN recommenders 2 months 2016–2024HN points to it in battery-fire threads as a rare look at what is inside a Li-ion cell and how dangerous disassembly really is.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2017–2021Cited as a teardown of a well-made, safe USB charger, and as evidence for why quality chargers matter.
- 2 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2022Many HN commenters say this review convinced them to consider Framework as an alternative to Apple and Lenovo laptops.
- 3 HN recommenders 1 months 2016–2017HN calls it a famous, hilarious teardown and a go-to example of terrible hardware quality.
- 2 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2023HN praises its openness and respect for the customer, and cites it as a precedent for manufacturers showing internals.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2020–2024HN cites Rossmann for documentation of Apple's repair barriers, and some commenters credit him with changing their view of Apple. Others criticize the design choices he describes.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2018–2024HN points to BigClive as a source for how cheap UVC lamps actually work and what they emit.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2024HN cites it as evidence of Apple's serialized parts and repair restrictions in threads about right to repair and Face ID disabling.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2018–2020HN commenters cite it as a concrete example of Apple's hostility to repair and weak support for 'pro' hardware, mostly in right-to-repair debates.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2016–2020Cited in repair and recycling threads as Apple's showcase of its iPhone disassembly robot, and sometimes mocked as marketing for what is really shredding.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2020–2024Pointed to as a clear look at what is inside a smart meter, including anti-tamper switches and the cellular module.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2022HN cites it as Linus's own explanation of why he invested in Framework and why outside investment suits a hardware company.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2020–2024Commenters cite it as a well-made, practical example of USB-C conversion when they discuss hacking USB-C into devices.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021HN recommends it as a fair, technical comparison and cites it when discussing why legacy automakers have more boxes and complexity than Tesla.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2019–2024HN commenters cite it as a teardown from a YouTuber who dissects appliances, showing live wires in contact with water.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2024Cited in caliper threads as a teardown showing how cheap digital calipers work and that they are better than expected.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2026T The Signal Path · explainerRecommended as the deep, expert RF analysis behind Starlink's hardware.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2024–2025HN commenters cite it as a concrete teardown-style explanation of how BYD builds a cheap EV and why Western automakers are worried.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2023Cited as engineering evidence that Tesla's integrated thermal design is far simpler than Ford's, in EV and quality debates.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2018–2023Used repeatedly in right-to-repair threads as a concrete example of Apple overcharging for repairs that independent shops fix cheaply.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2016–2022E element14 presents · demoHN uses it to show what the Nintendo PlayStation prototype hardware actually looked like, essentially an SNES with a CD-ROM drive.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2016–2019HN points to it as an engineer's evidence of why cheap counterfeit chargers are dangerous.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2022Cited in threads on chip packaging and cooling as a vivid look at vintage IBM mainframe module construction.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2024H Hand Tool Rescue · demoHN shares it as a fun curiosity about early IBM history, with time stamps for the nameplate and the explanation.
- cited 4× 0 months 2024–2026HN mostly cites it in critiques of Apple's hardware choices and base-model storage and memory, as an example of a design flaw.
- cited 4× 0 months 2023–2025HN mentions are mostly critical or incidental, using it in discussions of Apple hardware design and repairability rather than recommending it.
- cited 4× 0 months 2018–2021Cited in repair threads as evidence of Apple working with customs to restrict third-party repair parts.
- cited 5× 0 months 2020–2021HN cites it as evidence of Apple's parts-pairing restrictions in right-to-repair discussions.
- cited 3× 0 months 2022HN cites it as evidence of Apple's parts pairing and in right-to-repair discussions.
- cited 8× 0 months 2020–2021Cited in Apple thermal-design debates as evidence the Intel-era MacBook cooling was poor.
- cited 3× 0 months 2019–2023HN cites it as a detailed teardown of a Dyson vacuum showing little substance beneath the branding.
- cited 3× 0 months 2020–2021HN cites it in right-to-repair and EV battery discussions as an example of independent Tesla repair.
- cited 3× 0 months 2023–2025C Chris Asipyan · tutorialLinked in printer DRM threads as proof that workarounds exist for Brother's cartridge restrictions.
- cited 3× 0 months 2018–2021Cited in right-to-repair discussions to show that authorized repair centers mostly swap units rather than repair them.
- cited 4× 0 months 2018–2021Cited as an early expert critique of Model 3 fit, finish and manufacturing quality, and for its note on hard-to-find emergency door releases.
- cited 3× 0 months 2014–2026HN cites it as the introductory talk from the Open Source Ecology founder in threads on tractors, repair rights and self-sufficiency.
- cited 4× 0 months 2019–2023Cited in threads about Apple repair and refurbishment as evidence of poor refurbishing, with a warning that Rossmann uses colorful language.
- cited 3× 0 months 2024–2025HN cites it as the key account of train DRM being broken, in threads on right to repair, reverse engineering and vendor lockouts.
- cited 3× 0 months 2019–2020C CBC News: The National · news clipCited in threads on Apple repair and battery policies as evidence of questionable repair practices, rather than recommended as a must-watch.
- cited 5× 0 months 2018–2025Cited as evidence that ThinkPads survive spills thanks to their drainage design, often with timestamps for the spill test.
- cited 8× 0 months 2019–2025Cited mostly critically in Apple thermal design threads, with some commenters disputing his claim.
- cited 3× 0 months 2020–2021Mostly used as an example in repair debates, with commenters calling the design an oversight or an anti-repair tactic.
- cited 3× 0 months 2019–2026Linked whenever someone reports a monitor blacking out from static electricity, as prior art on the same problem.
- cited 3× 0 months 2020–2024Cited in right-to-repair threads as a repair-shop view of why Apple's program is impractical.
- cited 17× 0 months 2017–2024Cited as proof that space existed for a headphone jack in the iPhone.
- cited 4× 0 months 2021–2026HN cites it as a concrete example of bureaucrats not knowing the rules they enforce on small businesses.
- cited 3× 0 months 2017–2021HN cites it as evidence that the Surface line is among the least repairable laptops, countering the idea that he only attacks Apple.
Questions
What is the most recommended repair, teardowns & right to repair video on Hacker News?
BOLTR: Juicero, Cold Press Juicer for Rich Weirdos by AvE: HN treats it as the classic teardown and the go-to example of over-engineered hardware built without real-world constraints.
How is this repair, teardowns & right to repair list ranked?
By HackerTube's score: the number of distinct months in which an HN comment recommended the video, plus half a point for every month with a strong recommendation. One viral thread counts less than steady recommendations over years.
Where do the videos come from?
From every Hacker News comment between 2007 and 2026 that linked a YouTube video, labeled by an AI model as a recommendation, a citation, a joke or a criticism. The list is published by HackerTube under ODC-By 1.0; this edition adds indexable pages and the comment context.
Video list and Hacker News comment labels from HackerTube (prompted by @karpathy), released under ODC-By 1.0, built on the open-index/hacker-news archive. Hacker News data is provided by Y Combinator; comments remain the work of their authors. Video titles, channel names and thumbnails belong to their creators and are shown via YouTube. HackerTube Watch is an unofficial edition. Data export of 2026-10-31.