Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

2016 MacBook just as impossible to repair as last year’s, iFixIt teardown shows

By

apple patent macbook cellular connectivity retinamacbook
Image used with permission by copyright holder
The 2016 MacBook is nearly impossible to repair. That’s according to iFixIt, whose teardown of Apple’s latest laptop resulted in a repairability rating for the device of one (out of ten) — as low as it gets.

One year after relaunching the Macbook line as a super light laptop, Apple is now selling an updated version with the latest processor and more battery life. The 2016 MacBook iFixIt teardown offers a photo tour through the internals of this laptop, complete with a guide identifying all of the major parts.

Recommended Videos

The team struggled to identify many visual differences between the 2016 MacBook and its predecessor, noting that the only way to identify which model you have is by a number on the case. The battery layout, logic board, and case are all going to look familiar to anyone who checked out last year’s tear-downs, which makes sense considering this is a minor update.

There are at least a few things anyone trying to fix a laptop can be happy about. A number of tri-wing screws, which made repair difficult on last year’s model, have now been replaced with standard Philips screws. That aside, however, this laptop is designed to keep people out. IfixIt’s list of built-in obstacles includes the following:

  • Many internal screws seem to be filled with a substance that disintegrates after being prodded with a screwdriver, suggesting Apple wants to know when people try to get inside their computers, possibly to enforce warranty terms.
  • The RAM and flash memory are soldered onto the motherboard, as was also true last year, making upgrades nearly impossible.
  • The retina display is impossible to replace piece-by-piece, meaning it will be expensive to fix if broken.
  • The batteries are glued to the case.

Also worth noting for anyone hoping to repair one of these laptops: the USB-C hardware is completely different from last year, meaning shops will need to stock different versions.

While the battery layout and size is identical to last year’s model, the battery does offer four percent more capacity this time around. This is probably due to better battery chemistry.

Overall, the teardown reveals what we’ve expected all along: this is a minor upgrade, not an overhaul or re-thinking of Apple’s lightest laptop. And it’s no easier to fix than last year.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Justin Pot
Justin Pot
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Justin's always had a passion for trying out new software, asking questions, and explaining things – tech journalism is the…
MacBook Pro OLED: Here’s everything we know so far
Halo running on a MacBook Pro.

While many of Apple’s laptop rivals have embraced OLED screens, Apple has stuck firmly with mini-LED in its MacBook Pro -- and the results have been spectacular. As we said when we reviewed the M3 Max MacBook Pro, it has the best display out of any laptop, bar none.

Yet, there whispers that Apple is working on something even better: its own brand of OLED display that could take the MacBook Pro to the next level. It’s still early days, and there are all sorts of different rumors flying about, but it seems that something big is definitely in the works.

Read more
Here’s everything we know about the M4 MacBook Pro so far
An open MacBook Pro on a table.

With the launch of the M4 iPad Pro, you might be wondering what’s in the cards for the MacBook Pro. Is it following hot on the heels of Apple’s flagship iPad, or will we have a significant wait before Apple’s laptop gets an upgrade?

We’ve scoured the rumor mill to find the answer, as well as worked out what sort of performance, features and designs we can expect. If you’re interested in learning more about the upcoming M4 MacBook Pro, you’re in the right place.
Price and release date

Read more
The new iPad Pro would be perfect, if only it were a Mac
A person gaming on the M4 iPad Pro and playing Diablo Immortal.

It’s no secret that I’ve been cheering on Apple’s gaming advances over the last year or so. Long-suffering Mac gamers have gone from being the forgotten also-rans of Apple’s ecosystem to feeling on top of the world, all in a very short period of time. But there’s one vital piece missing from the puzzle, and Apple’s new M4 iPad Pros have made it incredibly obvious.

I’ll admit, Mac gamers have been treated well in recent times. Not only have we had phenomenal hardware advancements in the form of the M3 Max chip -- which is a genuine gaming chip so cool and quiet that you’d be fooled into thinking it’s not -- but there’s also been a slate of top-tier games arriving on Apple’s platform, including my beloved Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s a good time to be a Mac gamer.

Read more