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iFixit Tears Down M5 MacBook Pro

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Repair site iFixit today did one of its device teardowns on Apple's new M5 MacBook Pro model, which Apple released on Wednesday.


Unsurprisingly, there are few changes to the device because the only new features are a new M5 chip and a faster SSD, but iFixit did find some subtle tweaks related to repairability.

The MacBook Pro's casing is still secured with P5 screws, and battery replacement is more difficult than it needs to be because Apple only sells the battery as part of the main chassis that also includes the keyboard. Getting to the fan, ports, and other components inside the ‌MacBook Pro‌ requires removing the logic board, and iFixit says that essentially every component in the ‌MacBook Pro‌ has to come out to perform a battery replacement following Apple's official repair steps.

On the plus side, iFixit found that the trackpad no longer needs to be removed to access the pull tabs on the central battery cells, a small but useful update. There is a new 72.6 Wh battery in the ‌MacBook Pro‌, which is a little bit higher capacity than the 72.4 Wh battery in the prior-generation M4 MacBook Pro. The battery finding is a bit odd, since Apple's own specifications page still lists a 72.4 Wh battery.

Since little has changed with ‌MacBook Pro‌ repair, iFixit gave the device a repairability score of 4 out of 10.

Tag: iFixit

Top Rated Comments

H
hgfjhbvytjdnb
24 weeks ago

It is replaceable. Just not by morons.
That means you wouldn't be able to replace it, clearly.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
J
jicon
24 weeks ago
It wasn't that long ago a Macbook had a little latch would drop the battery out so a different one could be used. Elegant and convenient. I get it... the compromise is a thicker machine. But these are pro machines. Leave the non replaceable batteries to the Air.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H
hagar
24 weeks ago
Still have a 20 year old PowerBook G4 that has a removable battery (with lights indicating how full it is) and user accessible ram. Apple could bring these features back if it wanted to.

At least it would lend some more credibility to their “Mother Nature” act.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Slo Pesci Avatar
Slo Pesci
24 weeks ago
Yup, that's a Macbook alright.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Hajj.david Avatar
Hajj.david
24 weeks ago

Still have a 20 year old PowerBook G4 that has a removable battery (with lights indicating how full it is) and user accessible ram. Apple could bring these features back if it wanted to.

At least it would lend some more credibility to their “Mother Nature” act.
You cannot have removable ram, and the power that comes with unified ram at the same time it’s a one or the other type of thing. There is a reason why Apple computers are being used for LLM’s. They’re the only ones that provide huge amounts of unified memory.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
switz Avatar
switz
24 weeks ago
So tired of the cheapskates.

Folks want speed and more speed. The faster speeds required soldered connections on printed circuit boards to reduce signal and power losses. The fastest laptops cost many thousands of dollars. A 1 to 2% repair program seems to tip their scales financially. That is a cost of ownership like an extended warranty on a car.

If someone needs to ask how much a product costs to operate, perhaps they need a cheaper product or no product as they seemingly can not afford the true costs of ownership.

My M4 MacBook Pro Max (128GB memory, 8TB SSD and nano display) cost over $6,600 before taxes and Apple care.
It is now on the Apple One or whatever it is called for $19/month along with other multi thousand dollars Apple gear. Damn cheap insurance to cover the repairs in an Apple authorized repair facility.

Buy a low cost loss leader computer and then just throw it in the trash when it quilts.

I want reliability and speed. The old equipment that was so called repairable lacks both the speed and reliability that we have today.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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