iFixit Teardown: MacBook Neo Has Most Accessible Mac Battery in Over a Decade

[MacRumors]

Repair site iFixit did its traditional teardown on the MacBook Neo, and was pleasantly surprised with the laptop's repairability. "We haven't been as happy about a MacBook since 2012," says iFixit.

iFixit took apart the more expensive $699 version of the MacBook Neo that comes with a Touch ID keyboard, but both models are "suspiciously easy" to get into. The lower case is still held together with pentalobe screws, which are less common than standard screws and require a special screwdriver. The cover can be unclipped by hand, and inside, there's a "shockingly sensible" internal layout.

The battery, speakers, ports, and trackpad are easy to get to and not buried under another component like most Apple laptops. Rather than being attached with adhesive, the battery is screwed in, so it's simple to remove it for repair or replacement. There are 18 screws to undo, but iFixit says the lack of battery adhesive is the biggest MacBook Neo repair win.

iFixit believes Apple is preparing for an upcoming EU law that will require many portable devices to have user replaceable batteries by early 2027. Because of the regulation, we could see similar setups for batteries in future MacBook Air and Pro models.

There are a lot of cables to unplug to get to other components like the logic board, but it's all "pretty accessible" and not buried "just for the sake of being buried." RAM and storage are soldered to the A18 Pro chip, which is expected, but not a repairability win because it diminishes repairability and upgradeability. RAM and the SSD cannot be upgraded after purchase.

The USB-C ports are their own module instead of connected to the logic board, so damaged ports are able to be replaced without logic board repairs, and the same goes for the headphone jack. Antenna assembly removal is straightforward, which iFixit says will make screen replacements "significantly easier." With the antenna removed and the hinge screws off, the display "pops away as if it were a Framework laptop."

Apple used side-firing speakers in the MacBook Neo, which is a simplified setup with less chassis machining that probably let it save money, and a mechanical trackpad. It's the first MacBook to have a mechanical trackpad since 2015 because the mechanical setup is cheaper to produce. The keyboard was the last piece to come out in iFixit's teardown, and it was held in with 41 screws. It is possible to remove the keyboard separately from the top case by undoing all of those screws, which makes for more affordable repairs.

iFixit said that while the MacBook Neo isn't perfect because of the soldered storage and RAM, there's a "lot to like." It has the most accessible battery in a Mac since 2012, a display that's easy to swap out, and modular components like the USB-C ports and headphone jack. iFixit gave the MacBook Neo a repairability score of 6 out of 10. For comparison, the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro earned a 4/10 and the M4 MacBook Air got a 5/10.

Article Link: iFixit Teardown: MacBook Neo Has Most Accessible Mac Battery in Over a Decade

 

[KPOM]

Another possibility is that repairability makes this attractive in the education market. There’s a reason this is thicker than the MacBook Air and weighs the same despite the smaller battery. Making it easier to repair requires more space.

 

[madrag]

This is fantastic! and I hope it becomes a standard for the other laptops as stated at the article.
[Now cue the people always complaining about EU regulations]

 

[mr.steevo]

Louis Rossmann will be pleased.

 

[keksikuningas]

Another possibility is that repairability makes this attractive in the education market. There’s a reason this is thicker than the MacBook Air and weighs the same despite the smaller battery. Making it easier to repair requires more space.

kids will start destroying these as soon as they get rolled into schools, good to see Apple is preparing for that 😀

 

[fant0mas]

Could also have given 7/10 imo

 

[frozentoast]

Apple could include a repair kit inside the box and iFixit would still claim a 6/10 score.

 

[b0fh666]

this is good news. I might even buy a new mac (air or pro) if these enhancements make their way upstream.
for now I'm stuck with ancient unibodies.

 

[deevey]

7/10 seems fair

I don't think that any manufacturer should be docked points for using the only real solution to the drawbacks of socketed memory.

Not the same thing as MacBooks of yester year when they soldered the memory for the sake of "thinness" without any benefit.

 

[Velli]

Does any of this confirm or deny my somewhat crazy theory that the USB2 port is a “daughterboard” to the USB3, running both on the same single USB3 controller on the chip?

 

[casjohnr]

I bought AppleCare for mine which is slightly oddly priced in comparison to the battery replacement cost

£50 a year but the battery is covered 'free' under that, a battery replacement alone is £150

So if my battery wears out within the 3 years I'm at the same price but have had the bonus peace of mind being covered for all other potential accidental damage or failures within that period (an additional charge but only £39 in all but the most extreme cases by the looks)

Of course I may never need to make a claim or replace the battery but I'm not losing any sleep over less than £5 a month!

 

[wyliej]

This is progress. I hope that they continue and extend this design philosophy to their other products.

 

[wyliej]

7/10 seems fair

I don't think that any manufacturer should be docked points for using the only real solution to the drawbacks of socketed memory.

Not the same thing as MacBooks of yester year where soldered the memory for the sake of "thinness" without any benefit.

Ifixit is rating how repairable a product is. It is not making judgments about whether the manufacturer made good or bad compromises in other areas. Laptops with SODIMM or LPCAMM2 RAM exist inthe market and are more repairable than laptops with soldered RAM. It makes sense that a more easily repairable device would get a higher score, even if it makes other compromises that are unacceptable for certain types of users or use cases.

 

[xnu]

The peoples Mac. Steve would be proud. Reminds me of the original Mac's goals combined with Tim's custom silicone and supply chain. If Steve and Tim would have had a computer baby... this would have been the result.

 

[SamRyouji]

I sincerely hope that this repairability will trickle up to the Air and Pro as well. It still felt fresh as if it was yesterday how painfully pricey it was to replace the battery on my MacBook 12". Not to mention other people that have to replace the entire top case for the "much beloved" butterfly keyboard.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The peoples Mac. Steve would be proud. Reminds me of the original Mac's goals combined with Tim's custom silicone and supply chain. If Steve and Tim would have had a computer baby... this would have been the result.

I think Steve would have insisted on more color perhaps though.

 

[Spock]

7/10 seems fair

I don't think that any manufacturer should be docked points for using the only real solution to the drawbacks of socketed memory.

Not the same thing as MacBooks of yester year where soldered the memory for the sake of "thinness" without any benefit.

I read an edu IT article a while back about loose ram being one of the main causes for laptop issues. Working with a lot of vintage Apple laptops, I have experienced it myself.

 

[flottenheimer]

This is seriously great news. Finally.
Thank you Apple. This is the way. ヽ(´ー｀)ノ

 

[diego.caraballo]

Something really curious that I found on the repair manual of Neo.
The trackpad replacement (after the baseplate -the "h" looking part- has been placed) must be completed within 5 minutes.
The baseplate doesn't seem to have any kind of adhesive. There's no lining to peel or any mention of it. In the videos, it looks like the baseplate can be moved freely.

The timed action starts at step 8 and you are done at step 27.
Quite a challenge until you have some practice. If more than 5 minutes past, you need a new baseplate + screws.
But...the baseplate is only sold together with the trackpad.

 

[theluggage]

Another possibility is that repairability makes this attractive in the education market.

The replaceable USB ports and headphone jack will *definitely* get a "tick VG" from education...

 

[mlayer]

That trackpad baseplate is becoming the most intriguing thing about the Neo. Consider its contribution to the total weight.

7% of 1220 g is 85 g or 3 ounces (0.18 lbs.) for the plate alone.

 

[kaspurr]

Can you buy legit OEM replacement batteries as a consumer to replace any Macbook with, or only 3rd party batteries from places like iFixit, unless directly repaired by Apple?

 

[MysteriousStain]

Something really curious that I found on the repair manual of Neo.
The trackpad replacement (after the baseplate -the "h" looking part- has been placed) must be completed within 5 minutes.

And then it goes POOF like a Mission Impossible message? It runs out of oxygen? It catastrophically takes out half the city? Very intriguing.

 

[TFrank2]

kids will start destroying these as soon as they get rolled into schools, good to see Apple is preparing for that 😀

My thoughts exactly. My daughter’s Chromebook takes a hell of a beating and she is gentle compared to some of her peers 😂

 

[erikkfi]

Tough day for people who continue to say Apple should simply leave the EU market (hahaha) rather than comply with their regulations.