iFixit Teardown: MacBook Neo Has the Best Mac Battery in Over a Decade
Repair site iFixit performed its traditional teardown on the MacBook Neo, and was surprised by the laptop’s repairability. “We haven’t been this excited about a MacBook since 2012,” says iFixit.
iFixit has taken 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 small case is still held together with pentalobe screws, which are more unusual than standard screws and require a special screwdriver. The cover can be unzipped by hand, and inside, there is a “shockingly sensible” internal structure.
The battery, speakers, ports, and trackpad are easy to get to and not buried under another part like most Apple laptops. Rather than being attached with an adhesive, the battery is installed with a screw, so it’s easy to remove for maintenance or replacement. There are 18 screws to undo, but iFixit says the lack of battery adhesion is the biggest win for repairing the MacBook Neo.
iFixit believes that Apple is preparing for an upcoming EU law that will require most portable devices to have user-replaceable batteries by early 2027. Due to the regulation, we may see the same battery setup in the upcoming MacBook Air and Pro models.
There are a lot of wires you have to pull out to get to other parts like the logic board, but it’s all “well accessible” and not buried “just for the sake of being buried.” RAM and storage are sold on the A18 Pro chip, which is expected, but not a victory for adjustability because it reduces adjustability and upgradeability. RAM and SSD cannot be upgraded after purchase.
The USB-C ports are their own module instead of being connected to the logic board, so damaged ports can be replaced without modifying the logic board, and the same goes for the headphone jack. Removing the antenna assembly is straightforward, which iFixit says will make screen replacement “very easy.” With the antenna removed and the hinge screws closed, the display “just looks like a Framework laptop.”
Apple used side-firing speakers in the MacBook Neo, which is a simple setup with a smaller chassis that probably saves money, and a mechanical trackpad. It’s the first MacBook to have a mechanical trackpad since 2015 because mechanical setups are cheaper to manufacture. The keyboard was the last piece to come out of iFixit’s teardown, and it was held on by 41 screws. It is possible to remove the keyboard separately from the upper case by undoing all those screws, making for an affordable repair.
iFixit said that while the MacBook Neo isn’t perfect because of the sold-out storage and RAM, there’s “a lot to like.” It has the most accessible battery for a Mac since 2012, an easy-to-replace display, and modular components like USB-C ports and a headphone jack. iFixit gave the MacBook Neo a repairability score of 6 out of 10. In comparison, the M5 MacBook Pro 14-inch got 4/10 and the M4 MacBook Air got 5/10.
