Apple not too long ago launched a brand new model of its MacBook Professional laptop computer, which is supercharged with the corporate’s highly effective M3 processor. The patron electronics restore web site iFixit took aside the laptop computer and made some attention-grabbing observations, in addition to examined repairability and servicing ease.
For one, there’s no Thunderbolt port anymore that permits customers to increase the scale of their show display utilizing an exterior monitor. Additionally, the brand new laptop has an anodized end in an area black coloration as a substitute of the acquainted grey. It additionally does away with the spacebar.
The pc examined has 8 Gbytes of RAM, which the reviewer mentioned fills up shortly. When he began taking the pc aside, he seen the tabs holding some elements in place may very well be liable to metallic fatigue and if bent an excessive amount of, may simply break after just a few teardowns.
Fortuitously, the brand new MacBook has a modular design, which makes elements such because the logic board fairly straightforward to take away as soon as some ZIF and press connectors are disconnected. Nonetheless, as a result of elements such because the lid angle sensor and contact ID sensor are paired with a logic board, servicing can’t be carried out until the consumer goes by means of Apple’s authorised restore channels.
The reviewer famous that when the 8 Gbytes of RAM fills up, the pc then should interact in reminiscence swapping, which slows down general efficiency and will increase put on and tear on the pc’s solid-state drive. Furthermore, as a result of the drive is soldered to the PC board, upgrading reminiscence shouldn’t be potential.
The difficulty of elements being paired with the logic board additionally reared its ugly head when the consumer tried to interchange the display. He instantly obtained a warning message.
Whereas the reviewer was fairly impressed with the MacBook Professional’s efficiency, the stranglehold Apple has positioned on proscribing servicing to Apple-approved elements (a standard concern with Apple merchandise) finally led him to not advocate the pc. Though Apple is now making restore manuals obtainable, that’s of little comfort for house owners left with no self-repair choices aside from Apple’s channels.
The reviewer gave the brand new MacBook Professional a 4 out of 10 for repairability.
You may view the teardown right here.
