Expectations had been running high regarding what iFixit would find when it opened up the MacBook Neo. Here’s what it revealed.
’We haven’t been as happy about a MacBook since 2012’
Over the past few days, there have been multiple reports that the MacBook Neo is supposedly easier to fix, partly due to what the do-it-yourself and right-to-repair communities found in Apple’s official repair manuals.
Today, iFixit published its own teardown and repairability analysis of the MacBook Neo, and found that it is “the most repairable MacBook in fourteen years.”
Right from the start, iFixit notes that the lower case can be opened by hand (after removing eight pentalobe screws), with no picks or prying required.
Once that’s done, they note that most of the components of the MacBook Neo are easily visible and accessible:
We’ve got easy access to the battery, the speakers, the USB-C ports, and even the trackpad. On most modern laptops, at least one of those parts is buried under something else. Here, Apple actually lets us see the stuff we need to.
And speaking of the battery, iFixit notes that, unlike other MacBooks, where the component is either glued to the case or held in place by adhesive release strips, the battery is simply screwed down to a tray. Granted, there are 18 screws, but that is still good news, even if it’s due to the EU’s upcoming battery regulation.
As the teardown progresses and components such as USB-C connectors, speakers, and the logic board are unplugged, iFixit seems pleased with the modularity and straightforwardness of most of the disassembly process.
A few notable tidbits from the video include the similarities between the MacBook Neo and the iPhone 16 Pro logic boards, the fact that Apple’s disassembly manual mentions an ambient light sensor cable when the MacBook Neo doesn’t have one, and the mechanical design of the trackpad.
Finally, during the disassembly of the keyboard, iFixit states that users need to remove 41 screws to set it free, “but at least it’s possible to get the keyboard out” and replace it rather easily.
When all is said and done, the MacBook Neo gets a 6 out of 10 on iFixit’s repairability scale, being “the most repairable MacBook in fourteen years” on one hand, while losing a few points due to soldered elements such as storage and RAM.
As a final takeaway, they note:
For a machine aimed at schools and students, that all makes a lot of sense. If Apple wants a shot at the education market, it can’t just build a cheaper MacBook. It has to build one that can survive student life and come back from it. Cracked screens, tired batteries, damaged ports, sticky keys, these aren’t edge cases in a classroom. They’re the job description, and Apple seems to understand that.
Watch iFixit’s full teardown of the MacBook Neo below:
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