Apple’s MacBook Neo isn’t just cheap – it’s also the most repairable MacBook yet

Apple’s new MacBook Neo was already shaping up to be the cheapest way into macOS in a very long time. Now it looks like it could also be the easiest MacBook to repair in years – yet another reason to consider it for our list of the best laptops.

A teardown from Australian YouTube repair channel Tech Re-Nu (via MacRumors)  shows Apple’s £599 laptop coming apart in around six minutes, with standard Torx screws used throughout, and a surprisingly uncluttered internal layout. 

According to the teardown, the MacBook Neo uses modular USB-C ports, removable speakers, and a separate headphone jack board, which means those parts can be swapped individually rather than forcing a much bigger repair.

The biggest surprise, though, is the battery. Instead of being glued into place, it’s held in with 18 screws and lifts straight out once they’re removed. Tech Re-Nu reportedly found virtually no tape anywhere during the teardown either, aside from a small bit of adhesive on the trackpad cable – something that’s practically unheard of for a modern MacBook

That repair-friendly approach seems to go beyond the obvious bits, too. Apple’s own MacBook Neo repair manual, published on 11 March, includes procedures for parts such as the USB-C boards, battery, display, trackpad, and even the keyboard and top case. The keyboard can also be replaced individually rather than requiring a full top-case swap, which is a pretty big deal for long-term repair costs.

None of this means the MacBook Neo is suddenly a tinkerer’s dream, mind. Core components like memory and storage still aren’t user-upgradeable, and Apple’s Self Service Repair programme remains aimed at people comfortable working on electronics rather than casual first-timers. But by Apple laptop standards, this is a noticeable shift.

• Read more: Apple’s folding iPhone may have just leaked. Here’s what it might look like

Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.