The MacBook Neo rolled out last week. The new laptop isn’t just the most affordable in the Apple catalog at just $600—it’s also clearly the most repairable, according to a teardown review from hardware site iFixit.
The MacBook Neo doesn’t appear to have restrictions on “parts pairing,” which have been enabled on previous MacBooks. Parts pairing is where Apple digitally links components to a specific Mac’s serial number, meaning functionality is often restricted if the consumer opts for a repair outside of one of Apple’s official repair stores, or if the replacement parts aren’t properly paired .
The practice has been immensely controversial with Apple users, and the states of Oregon, California, Minnesota, and New York have all passed right-to-repair laws in recent years.
This means Neo buyers should be able to conduct self-repairs without many of the issues that have plagued MacBook users who have opted for that route in the past. However, iFixit only tested switching with official Apple parts rather than those from third-party suppliers. Another big upgrade in terms of the Neo’s repairability compared to previous MacBooks, according to reviewers, is its screw-in battery. Recent MacBooks have included solely glued-in batteries, adding another serious level of complexity to the repair process. Though with 18 screws, removing the battery is still not the simplest task.
In addition, iFixit highlights how Apple appears to have “gotten officially on board” with the idea of users replacing their own keyboards without replacing the entire top case at the same time. Apple has included a repair manual that describes how to swap out the Neo’s keyboard, which may imply the company plans to start selling replacement keyboards as independent products via its Self Service Repair store (though this isn’t confirmed as of writing).
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Still, the reviewers over at iFixit only gave the Neo a 6 out of 10 score for repairability. It’s the best score for a MacBook, but still ranks far from the top picks for DIY laptop repair aficionados.
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I’ve been a PC gamer since you had to install games from multiple CD-ROMs by hand. As a reporter, I’m passionate about the intersection of tech and human lives. I’ve covered everything from crypto scandals to the art world, as well as conspiracy theories, UK politics, and Russia and foreign affairs.
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