Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

First teardowns reveal new MacBook Pro’s improved approach to repairability

The first MacBook Pros are slowly making their way out into the wild, and one teardown is revealing some details on the internals of these new laptops.

The photo comes from a Reddit user posting in the r/Apple subreddit, who was eager to pull apart their shiny new 14-inch MacBook Pro. As reported by MacRumors, these photos give us our first unofficial look at what is different internally this time around.

A look at the internals of the new MacBook Pro.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In addition to the photos, the Reddit user provided some insight into what they were seeing. They stated that opening up the back lid to get inside is identical to on previous MacBook Pros released from 2016-2021. It uses the same “pentalobe” screws and clips that need to be manually popped before you pull the lid toward the front of the machine.

Once you have the lid off, you’ll see a familiar sight. However, there are some subtle changes that should drastically improve repairability and long-term sustainability for the MacBook Pro. The biggest difference is the battery, which is no longer glued to the frame. They now use pull tabs as used on the iPhone, which allows for easy access to swapping it out.

The Reddit user notes how big of an impact this could have on the overall sustainability of the product as it pertains to e-waste. No more throwing out the entire laptop to service a dead battery!

A top down view of the internal layout of the new MacBook Pro.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Another improvement is that the ports (including MagSafe) seem to be “modular and easy to place,” as the user notes. Again, the more features of the laptop that can be replaced the better.

The Reddit user also confirmed that the black keyboard deck “is still part of the unibody,” meaning that it can’t be easily replaced. While Apple made an improvement in this regard when switching from its butterfly switches back to the more conventional Magic Keyboard, it could be better.

We’ll have to wait for the inevitable full breakdown by iFixit to learn more, but it certainly seems like Apple made some small but meaningful changes to improve the repairability of this device.

Laptops that let you replace components like storage and memory do far better, and a fully modular device like the Framework Laptop takes it even further. MacBook Pros have long since been known for poor upgradability and repairability, especially in the generation of designs from 2016 until now.

Editors' Recommendations

Luke Larsen
Senior Editor, Computing
Luke Larsen is the Senior editor of computing, managing all content covering laptops, monitors, PC hardware, Macs, and more.
The easy way to decide between the MacBook Air 15 and MacBook Pro 14

Picking out a new MacBook isn't as easy as it used to be. While Apple finally dropped the 13-inch MacBook Pro that didn't match the line's modern design, it introduced a new 14-inch MacBook Pro with an entry-level M3 processor. If you prefer a larger screen or more performance, you might be left considering two compelling options: the 15-inch MacBook Air and the 14-inch MacBook Pro.

Having reviewed and used both laptops extensively, I'm here to lay it all out for you. Here's the difference between the two machines and how to easily determine which is right for you.
The easy way to know which to buy

Read more
These are the best games to play on your new M3 Mac
Lies of P being played on an iMac.

It’s an exciting time to be a Mac gamer. The latest MacBooks are genuine gaming machines thanks to the addition of ray tracing, mesh shading, and some impressive GPU performance. Even more, Apple is courting more developers to port their games to Apple’s computers with features like Game Mode and the Game Porting Toolkit.

In short, Mac gaming has never been in a better place. If you’ve bought a new Mac loaded with a chip from the M3 family, you might want to test out its power with a few demanding games to see what it can do. There’s no need to stick to mild indie games that won’t cause your Mac to break a sweat -- we’re talking AAA titles that will run natively on Apple hardware. And, of course, you can always use an app like CrossOver to run any Windows games you can imagine. But here are the best games that run natively on an M3 Mac to try out, ranging from incredibly deep fantasy RPGs to exhilarating battle royales.
Baldur's Gate 3

Read more
A major era in MacBook history is finally over
A MacBook Pro 13-inch on a table.

We're living in a golden age for MacBooks.

The MacBook Airs are faster, thinner, and more accessible laptops than ever, while the Pro models have the best display, speakers, keyboard, trackpad, and battery life of any competitive laptop. They're on their A game.

Read more