iFixit Teardown Gives Apple’s New MacBook Neo a 6/10 Repairability Score, Best in 14 Years

Apple’s recently launched MacBook Neo, positioned as the company’s most affordable laptop starting at $599, has received praise from repair experts at iFixit for significant improvements in repairability. In their detailed teardown, iFixit highlights the MacBook Neo as the most repairable MacBook in approximately 14 years. Key positive changes include a battery secured in a tray with 18 screws instead of strong adhesives common in prior models, making battery replacement much simpler and earning cheers from the iFixit team. Additional repair-friendly features encompass a straightforward, flat disassembly process, compatibility of replacement parts with Apple’s Repair Assistant without issues, and easier access for swapping the display and keyboard. Despite these advances, iFixit notes ongoing limitations typical of Apple devices, such as soldered RAM and storage that prevent user upgrades. These factors contributed to a final repairability score of 6 out of 10—a solid rating for a MacBook, though not perfect. The MacBook Neo, powered by the A18 Pro chip and featuring a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, aims to combine accessibility, performance, and better longevity through improved serviceability, aligning with growing right-to-repair demands.