Expectations were quite high for what iFixit would find when they opened the MacBook Neo. Here’s what emerged.

‘We haven't been this happy with a MacBook since 2012’

In the last few days, many reports have been published stating that the MacBook Neo is easier to repair, partly due to what they found in Apple’s official repair guides.

Today, iFixit published their teardown and repair analysis of the MacBook Neo, stating that it is “the most repairable MacBook in the last fourteen years.”

From the outset, iFixit notes that the bottom cover can be opened by hand (after removing eight pentalobe screws) and does not require any tools or prying.

Once this process is complete, they indicate that most components of the MacBook Neo are easily visible and accessible:

We have easy access to the battery, speakers, USB-C ports, and even the trackpad. In most modern laptops, at least one of these parts is hidden under something else. Here, Apple really allows us to see what we need.

And speaking of the battery, iFixit highlights that, unlike other MacBooks, this component is simply screwed into a tray, while noting that in other MacBooks, this component is either glued to the case or held in place with adhesive strips. Of course, there are 18 screws, but this is still good news, even depending on the upcoming battery regulations from the European Union.

As the disassembly process progresses, iFixit seems pleased with the modularity of most parts and the simplicity of the disassembly process as components like USB-C ports, speakers, and the motherboard are removed.

Some notable information from the video includes the similarities between the motherboards of the MacBook Neo and the iPhone 16 Pro, the mention of a light sensor cable that is not present in the MacBook Neo in Apple’s teardown guide, and the mechanical design of the trackpad.

Finally, during the keyboard disassembly, iFixit notes that users need to remove 41 screws to free the keyboard, “but at least it’s possible to remove the keyboard,” and expresses that this is quite easy.

When all is said and done, the MacBook Neo receives a score of 6 out of 10 on iFixit’s repairability scale; while being “the most repairable MacBook in the last fourteen years,” it loses a few points due to soldered components like storage and RAM.

As a final note, they state:

For a machine aimed at schools and students, this makes perfect sense. If Apple wants to have a chance in the education market, it cannot just settle for making a cheaper MacBook. It must build a machine that can withstand student life and bounce back from it. Broken screens, worn-out batteries, damaged ports, sticky keys, these are not edge cases in a classroom. These are job descriptions, and Apple seems to be aware of this.

Below you can watch iFixit’s full teardown of the MacBook Neo:

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