iFixit's Full 16-Inch MacBook Pro Video Teardown Highlights Internal Design Changes

[Westside guy]

I've got a 2014 MBP. What NVMe drive did you use, and in what way did the performance feel faster? Was it just on synthetic benchmarks, or did documents actually open faster?

Actually it was "disk" writes where it felt significantly faster - but benchmarks also did show a ridiculous jump in performance.

You might want to do some reading specifically about upgrading the 2014. I have a vague recollection that there might be something additional you need to do related to getting the new drive into a low power state (such as when your computer sleeps) - something that was an issue with the 2014 but not the 2015. I'll see if I can find an actual reference rather than my vague memories.

Anyway here's what I bought (drive plus adapter):

SABRENT 1TB Rocket NVMe PCIe M.2 2280 Internal SSD High Performance Solid State Drive (SB-ROCKET-1TB)

www.amazon.com

Sintech NGFF M.2 nVME SSD Adapter Card for Upgrade MacBook Air(2013-2016 Year) and MacBook PRO(Late 2013-2015 Year)

NOTICE:because too many customers can use it,I suggest you to try it again if your MAC can't detect nVME SSD. Pls notice to insert card fully into SSD slot and you must prepare bootable USB disk(see third point) with High Sierra to format M.2 SSD first, it can't support recover from internet. mai...

www.amazon.com

Follow-up: Here is the guide I followed (it's right here on MacRumors). Note the comments on sleep with 2013-2014 MBPs.

 

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Their 4/10 score is not of particular use to me because the likelihood that I would ever open up a MacBook and try to repair it myself is about 1/100,000. . .

Because it’s only about you. Mentality like that is what got us to where we are.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I originally didn't like that Apple did this as it seemed to me to be a way to prevent people from opening up their own devices. At this point, it's easy to get an appropriate screwdriver, and I assume pentalobe screws do not strip as easily, which is a big plus. I have to agree with you on this point.

And, it means that if you’re opening a Mac, you have ALREADY done a little bit of thinking to find out what pentalobe is and then get one. No mindlessly grabbing a phillips head and going at it! LOL

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Because it’s only about you. Mentality like that is what got us to where we are.

Not only the poster but the vast majority of folks that use computers, really. While there are technologies that prevent socketing, back when most products were socketed, it was understood by vendors that very few customers ever ACTUALLY went inside their systems. We got where we are because the public, in general, doesn’t upgrade their systems AND don’t see “upgradability” as a feature worth rejecting a purchase for.

 

[cult hero]

To be fair though, it seems like we get better thermals on Apple’s own PCIe gen 4 storage than any replaceable NVME chip. I haven’t seen a single review yet complaining of storage heating issues or any kind of throttling, like you see with some high end Samsung, WD, Adata, etc.

They may have a reason. I just remember the 2016 models where the non-TouchBar units had a removable SSD and the TB model was soldered (or was it glued?).

And storage has actually sorta plateaued for “average” users which is generally where second hand machines go.

Even memory has. I’ve been running on 16GB for seven years now. The fact is for people that aren’t specifically focused on demanding tasks… how much beefier does a machine need to be for office work, web browsing (with something other than Chrome), and keeping family photos?

 

[matram]

They may have a reason. I just remember the 2016 models where the non-TouchBar units had a removable SSD and the TB model was soldered (or was it glued?).

Today they just need to buy the nand-flash chips and then they have their own controller. Seems it gives better performance, lowe cost and likely better reliability. Given that you can easily add external storage for any overflow it seems like a good choice.

 

[altaic]

Today they just need to buy the nand-flash chips and then they have their own controller. Seems it gives better performance, lowe cost and likely better reliability. Given that you can easily add external storage for any overflow it seems like a good choice.

Yeah, though aggressive swapping plus memory leaks is a concern. Software solvable, so I'm not too worried in the long run. Just surprised.

 

[matram]

Yeah, though aggressive swapping plus memory leaks is a concern. Software solvable, so I'm not too worried in the long run. Just surprised.

Agree on the swapping, curious about the root cause? Anyhow SSD work best when they are not filled up.

I try to buy double what I currently use. Works for me, my diak usage only goes up very slowly with time.

 

[altaic]

Agree on the swapping, curious about the root cause? Anyhow SSD work best when they are not filled up.

I try to buy double what I currently use. Works for me, my diak usage only goes up very slowly with time.

Same here. I haven’t had the chance to delve into Monterey’s memory management yet, so ?‍♂️

 

[scotty321]

iFixit frustrate me sometimes. Clearly Apple has done a redesign inside for the better to some degree. And it’s easier to get into. But deducting points for pentolobe screws is plain dumb being Apple as used them for years now and it is a matter of switching a tool.

Totally agree. Anybody who has ever opened up a Mac has owned a pentolobe screwdriver for decades.

 

[Phil77354]

Because it’s only about you. Mentality like that is what got us to where we are.

That is actually not the point I was intending to make. My post was intended (obviously unsuccessfully, at least to some) to be a humorous comment to the article.

I eagerly repair anything that is within my own realistic capabilities, but I've seen enough of the ifixit teardowns to know my own limitations and would not embark on something I felt would likely result in damaging the device. Needing to purchase a pentalobe screwdriver would not be a hindrance.

I don't ever throw away old electronics, always recycle or pass them on to someone who can use them. Just had battery replaced in an older iPad in preparation for giving it to a relative for example.

(edited to correct spelling of 'pentalobe')

 

[joiwomcow]

How much more secure can you get than a drive that’s not readable unless you have the password OR the biometrics to decrypt it?

…and the Titanic was “unsinkable.” In an ideal world, users would have strong passwords, changed on a regular basis for extra security. And nobody would re-use their passwords across multiple systems.
Oh, I know, *your* users follow perfect password hygiene, being “real pros” and utterly beyond reproach. We’re not all as lucky.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

…and the Titanic was “unsinkable.” In an ideal world, users would have strong passwords, changed on a regular basis for extra security. And nobody would re-use their passwords across multiple systems.
Oh, I know, *your* users follow perfect password hygiene, being “real pros” and utterly beyond reproach. We’re not all as lucky.

You said

It’s about data recovery, and security when the laptop reaches end-of-life. “Pro,” remember?

which I took to meant you were referring specifically to Pro’s that are concerned with data recovery and security. And, in that vein, a “Pro” that is concerned about data recovery AND security would be just as secure with removable or non-removable storage.

Anyone not concerned about data recovery and security is not going to be materially more or less secure with non-removable storage. They’re going to use weak passwords, in several places, that they rarely change, if ever. Having non-removable storage can’t change those habits.

 

[Chrjy]

Forget how fixable it is for a sec but has anyone noticed just how precisely everything is placed in their hardware, it really is quite amazing. Look at any other machine that is not Apple and look at the internals, they always look like such a mess. Even though most people will never see the inside of Apple hardware they still give it as much attention to detail. If memory serves me right this is how Steve Jobs wanted it and it's good to see they have stuck to that level of precision and detail.

 

[SSDGUY]

What's the issue with pentalobe screws?

 

[Phil77354]

What's the issue with pentalobe screws?

I think that ifixit gives a lower 'repairability' score if pentalobe screws are used simply because they are not what most people might have in their regular toolbox.

To me it seems reasonable that someone taking apart something as specialized as a laptop computer will have a few specialized tools. There is more special stuff needed than simply the pentalobe screwdriver, after all.

 

[hybrid_x]

How can I ever trust them when they mix up embossed and debossed‽

And it's not even either of those. It's machined or stamped into the bottom cover.

 

[ams1117]

Why don't they take points off for not using thumbscrews on every single product? You would need tools to unscrew Philips or flathead screws.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Why don't they take points off for not using thumbscrews on every single product? You would need tools to unscrew Philips or flathead screws.

That is an awesome point! The devices that are easiest to repair and upgrade are the devices that don’t use screws that can’t be undone without a tool.

 

[larsvonhierblau]

This new MacBooks are so so. They look like the white plastic one I had with a G4 processor what was it 15 years ago. They too fat and chunky and not not because of pro. On the video it’s clear that there is hardly more room for air to move. And no they don’t have more battery capacity as before. In fact they have less. But the new chip extends the running time. The chip is an SOC and why is than the MacBook even thicker ? SOC’s are supposed to take less space. The battery - great you can remove it and so ? Who’s selling you batteries to replace them ? Alibaba 3rd party which might not be up to the saftest standards ? Oh yeah new ports - 2 in fact - hdmi and sd-card. The hdmi is useless hence most of the people have dongles already and it’s capped at 60 hz. Plus DP is smaller and a way more useful hence big pixel screens 5k etc. need more bandwidth which dp brings and not hdmi.