Apple has often been criticized for releasing devices that are difficult to repair. However, a recent website analysis shows that the new MacBook Neo could mark an important change in this trend.
According to the well-known teardown published by iFixit, this model is the Most Repairable Apple Laptop in About 14 Yearssomething unusual in the company's recent history.
A more modular approach
Table of Contents
Technical analysis revealed that the MacBook Neo was designed with a simpler and more modular internal structure than most Apple laptops released in the last decade.
Among the most relevant changes are:
- Battery secured with screws instead of glue, making replacement easier
- USB-C ports, speakers and other modular components, which can be swapped individually
- More organized internal layout, allowing quick access to parts
- Official repair manual available from day one
The drums are one of the clearest examples of this change. Instead of being glued to the chassis, is attached to a structure with 18 screwswhich greatly simplifies replacement when the battery degrades over time.
Apple now indicates all types of screws used on the device: Torx Plus (IP, or “internal plus”) 8, 5, 3 and 1.
Additionally, disassembling the equipment reveals less tape and fewer overlapping layers of components, something that has historically made repairing MacBooks more complex.
Still far from ideal repair
Despite the improvements, the MacBook Neo is still not considered a truly easy-to-repair laptop. The device received 6 points out of 10 in the index iFixit repairability solution.
The main problems highlighted are:
- RAM memory soldered to the logic board, preventing upgrades
- Storage also welded, making replacements difficult
- Use of proprietary screws on the chassis
- Still complex keyboard repair
These limitations remain in line with Apple's recent strategy, which favors compact and integrated designs over modularity.
A laptop designed for education
The MacBook Neo was introduced in March 2026 as Apple's most affordable laptop, ranking below the MacBook Air.
O equipment uses an A series processorsimilar to those used in the iPhone, and was designed mainly for the educational market.
After removing the covers and flexible cables, the board lifts up easily. However, the RAM and storage are soldered together, with the memory integrated into the A18 Pro's package. Apple gets cost savings, scalability, a compact board, and the performance benefits that come with it. The user is left with equipment that cannot keep up with the growth of their needs and that does not allow them to easily recover data in the event of a card failure.
In this segment, the quick and cheap repair is essentialas thousands of pieces of equipment are used daily in schools and universities.
Therefore, making the laptop easier to repair could be a strategy to compete with Chromebooks, which dominate this market and are known for their ease of maintenance.
A sign of change?
While the score of 6 out of 10 isn't extraordinary by Apple standards represents a significant advance.
For years, many MacBooks have been criticized for using gluesintegrated components and designs that made repairs outside of official assistance practically impossible.
Or MacBook Neo shows that a Apple may be taking small steps towards more sustainable devices and repairable, although far from a true modular model.
If this trend continues in the coming generations, it could represent a relevant change in an industry increasingly pressured by the right to repair movement.
