iFixit Tearing Down 16-Inch MacBook Pro Live

[GtrDude]

Apple releases yet another throwable device.
As in throw it in your trashcan in a few years.
No chance to upgrade anything or replace the battery once it stops holding a charge unless you're ready to pay close to the price of a new one anyway.
Nice going Apple.

 

[alpi123]

this logic doesn't make sense as their other machines allow this.

By other you mean those 7 years ago? Times have changed.

 

[Westside guy]

There are no excuses for soldering ram and ssd.

I would have no problems with a thicker MacBook Pro case that allowed for replaceable RAM - and preferably a replaceable SSD. It's not like the older models which had both were all that thick.

Apple would have to increase certain clearances to accomplish this, but it's not like they'd have to add significant weight. I'd be fine with a 3.5 pound 13" laptop which had the overall dimensions of a 2010-era MBP.

 

[cmaier]

There are no excuses for soldering ram and ssd.

Sure there are. Reliability, performance, security, among others.

 

[Bandaman]

She's the only reason I was able to watch this.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Maybe it'd be higher if Apple had respect for consumers and the right to repair bill?

That's not what any of the right to repair bills are about at all. Have you actually read any of them?

It's about third-party access to repair guides, proprietary tools, and proprietary diagnostic software. There is nothing in there about building devices to be more repairable. Companies would still be able to build fully-sealed, soldered, and glued devices, as long is they make all the repair manuals, tools, and software available. If there are no internal repair manuals, tools, or software, then so be it.

 

[Dovydas]

Sure there are. Reliability, performance, security, among others.

Is this sarcasm because I can’t tell?

how soldered ram and sad increase reliability?

 

[0837990]

Sure there are. Reliability, performance, security, among others.

Yes, soldered ssd's prevents that thief that wants to remove the bottom cover of your laptop and steal the ssd specifically ... If you want true security, there are far better measures that can be taken. SSD chips won't be more reliable if they are soldered. And recent NVMe SSD's that can be slotted in and taken out are just as fast as Apple's soldered-in SSD's.

And there's truly no performance boost or security advantage to having soldered ram versus slotted ram. I'm sorry, but your arguments are completely flawed.

 

[osx86]

Saying there is no reason to solder components really shows how little you know about this. You have a case of SBS im afraid.

 

[Rogifan]

What is the point.. the repairability score will be less than 2.. As always!

Clicks/views.

 

[bsolar]

Mentioning the repair programs is fact, and that's good, but comments like "it's garbage" are not fact and should be omitted.

Every review (and in fact this video is a review) is a mix of factual information and personal opinion of whoever is doing the review, otherwise reviews would devolve in mere listings of technical specs.

I agree his evaluation for the previous keyboard is pretty harsh, but the reasons for his evaluation are clearly explained and if one begs to differ it's perfectly fine: it's the reason a product might have a glowing review and still not be appreciated by some users or vice-versa.

 

[HappyIntro]

I would have no problems with a thicker MacBook Pro case that allowed for replaceable RAM - and preferably a replaceable SSD. It's not like the older models which had both were all that thick.

Apple would have to increase certain clearances to accomplish this, but it's not like they'd have to add significant weight. I'd be fine with a 3.5 pound 13" laptop which had the overall dimensions of a 2010-era MBP.

I think Apple is just stuck on their current path of no after purchase upgrades. I wish it weren't so. I think they could keep their current MBP as they are, but at least offer one laptop line that is easily upgradable - they could target it at their corporate market and perhaps offer it to the general public in a quiet way such as to emphasize their current models for consumers...thereby satisfying the market segment that is insulted by the lack of access. I think they'd be surprised at how popular the user-servicable laptop would be. Alas, not very likely.

 

[itsmilo]

The EU should make soldering of replaceable parts such as SSDs or batteries illegal. Sustainability and all that.
What if I want a bigger ssd down the line? Throw away the laptop and buy a new one? How very environmental of high and mighty Apple

 

[unQuestionable]

Who in the world says they didn’t like the large left/right arrow keys? Dumb.

 

[brofkand]

If you listen closely, and you know what to look for, you can see how much bias is present in that video.

One example, the man describes the butterfly keyboard as:

"it's garbage"

This is an opinion, his opinion. I have a MacBook Air 2019, my first ever MacBook Air, and I quite like the keyboard. So, it is clear that a derogatory opinion should not have been allowed in the video because it isn't actually fact and that bias has the potential to inaccurately shape the overall video. Of course, that's my opinion.. but I'm not making a video meant to be viewed by the masses.

Being that bias is present in this section of the video, what guarantee do I have that the same bias isn't present in the rest of the video? (don't answer that.. it's rhetorical)

If you don't like something then don't buy it. But, don't go around saying "it's crap".. someone else may find it valuable. One man's trash is another man's treasure.

This isn't a neutral journalism outlet, this is a company that evangelizes end user repairability - they make no apologies for that - everything they say should be run through that filter.

 

[nvmls]

Saying there is no reason to solder components really shows how little you know about this. You have a case of SBS im afraid.

Share the knowledge please and sorry for our ignorance. Thanks.

 

[NickName99]

The guy in the video seems like a socially challenged man child who lives in his mom's basement. I had to stop the video after a short time, it was too depressing.

 

[bsolar]

This isn't a neutral journalism outlet, this is a company that evangelizes end user repairability - they make no apologies for that - everything they say should be run through that filter.

The complaint for the old keyboard is also about key travel distance, reliability etc... not only repairability.

The review is of course negative in terms of repairability, especially due to the soldered RAM/SSD and the fact that there is actually relatively much empty space inside the case which could have been used to provide upgradable components, but very positive for other aspects, like the speakers or the new keyboard compared to the old one.

 

[genovelle]

Is there a valid technical reason for Apple to solder on their SSD in their MacBooks?

Answer (1 of 11): Space is an important reason. I also know when the RAM was not soldered on a lot of repairs were due to it coming unseated. These were frequently quick easy repairs, but they were frequently traumatic for customers (“I needed to finish my homework!” “I couldn’t do the report fo...

www.quora.com

Apple know the few moving or movable parts in a device the fewer points of failure. This makes the device more dependable, meaning it requires less repairs which is the opposite of what drives ifixit

 

[xmlninja]

Anyone submit
geekbench performance tests on this machine please!

 

[cmaier]

Yes, soldered ssd's prevents that thief that wants to remove the bottom cover of your laptop and steal the ssd specifically ... If you want true security, there are far better measures that can be taken. SSD chips won't be more reliable if they are soldered. And recent NVMe SSD's that can be slotted in and taken out are just as fast as Apple's soldered-in SSD's.

And there's truly no performance boost or security advantage to having soldered ram versus slotted ram. I'm sorry, but your arguments are completely flawed.

Actually they will be more reliable if they are soldered. Socketed parts fall out of their sockets. Socketed parts have more points of failure.

Sockets also increase inductance and impedance, thus increasing power consumption at a given frequency, or reducing frequency at a given power consumption.

Sorry, but my electrical engineering ph.d and years of experience designing CPUs tell me that your claim that my arguments are completely flawed is flawed.
[automerge]1573846890[/automerge]

Is this sarcasm because I can’t tell?

how soldered ram and sad increase reliability?

Because socketed parts fall out. Historically a large percentage of support calls for mobile devices involved parts that have come loose.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Share the knowledge please and sorry for our ignorance. Thanks.

There was one model of MBPs where one of the RAM slots was basically guaranteed to go bad. Once it did, the RAM in that slot wasn’t recognized. This issue hasn’t happened again since Apple switched to soldering RAM directly time the logic board.

I’m going to guess the real reason Apple did it was to reduce laptop thickness, but there are reliability improvements to be had, as well as possible new problems (can’t replace parts that fail as easily as machines with slotted parts).

 

[waquzy]

The EU should make soldering of replaceable parts such as SSDs or batteries illegal. Sustainability and all that.
What if I want a bigger ssd down the line? Throw away the laptop and buy a new one? How very environmental of high and mighty Apple

And while we at it, the EU should make wives to refuse sex also illegal. What if I want to have sex, but my wife says no. I have needs and all that.

But in all seriousness, the worst post of the month goes to - You!

 

[Yr Blues]

She's the only reason I was able to watch this.

I'm a huge fan of the other IFIXIT girl. 😚

 

[AnakinMac]

If you want true security, there are far better measures that can be taken. SSD chips won't be more reliable if they are soldered. And recent NVMe SSD's that can be slotted in and taken out are just as fast as Apple's soldered-in SSD's.

No there is no better measure without dramatically increase the cost.

Also soldered chips are still repairable, no one is trying to stop you using a heat gun or bga rework station to swap the chip.