Apple's MacBook Neo makes repairs easier and cheaper than other MacBooks

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/03/more-modular-design-makes-macbook-neo-easier-to-fix-than-other-apple-laptops/

81•GeekyBear•2h ago

Comments

0xDEFACED•1h ago

i sure hope so if apple intends to sell these things to school divisions. the levels of abuse i witnessed students dishing out to their chromebooks when i was a teacher was shocking to say the least

entropicdrifter•1h ago

I feel like "most repairable macbook" is a bit like saying "most edible dirt". While it's good that there's progress, it's pretty telling that they need to only compare it within the same company's products.

Someone1234•1h ago

I'd suggest you watch a teardown video. The Neo is absurdly repairable compared to just about anything in its category. It is extremely modular, and uses screws.

0_____0•1h ago

I've replaced a battery, screen, hinges on a macbook (2015). Did they get considerably worse at repairability after that? Because while there were a fair number of steps, it's not like they required exotic techniques to pull off.

shrubble•1h ago

Yes they did. Reminder: your experience is 11 years ago and several Intel and ARM generations old. Also it’s more than $3 Trillion in revenue ago.

ceejayoz•1h ago

They’ve gotten largely more repairable since then, including adhesives you can electrically debond.

malmeloo•41m ago

That's a relatively recent development. Repairability has been very poor for quite a while, but now they're finally starting to improve the situation somewhat.

the_biot•40m ago

...electrically debond, are you serious? More details please, this sounds very interesting.

05•20m ago

Video (use SponsorBlock): https://youtu.be/M6jBXI6CR9s?t=156

Article: https://www.ifixit.com/News/100352/we-hot-wired-the-iphone-1...

Discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41623251

Rebelgecko•1h ago

Yes

lallysingh•31m ago

Yeah, I mean I'm looking at frameworks/thinkpads on one side and chromebooks on the other. Not charging up to $440 (!) for a keyboard isn't a great act of engineering or generosity. This has been ridiculous for a very, very long time. Being less ridiculous isn't worth celebrating. The goal markers have moved so damned much.

Compare to a thinkpad keyboard FRU. They have fluid drains and still cost $99 for a top-end laptop. My daughter's chromebook keyboard replacement at school was $16.

Someone1234•1h ago

I just want to link this teardown; it is a suitable companion to this article:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k7Lv7f-5CQ

On a rational level it isn't surprising that the "compute" part is so small, given its origins, but for some reason it still caught me by surprised seeing something barely larger than a Raspberry Pi.

But, yeah, this thing is crazy modular. I particularly want to call out how trivial it is to replace the ports, given how common of a failure point they are. With the keyboard/monitor being more involved, but absolutely still approachable.

I believe he finds just a single piece of light adhesive keeping a cable in place, everything else (inc. the battery) is screws only.

ggreer•49m ago

It looks like it's still bigger than the logic board on the 12" MacBook from 2015.[1]

I really wish Apple would resurrect that form factor, as every other MacBook since has seemed bulky in comparison. Thanks to OpenCore Legacy Patcher[2], I still haven't gotten a newer mac. With a modern M series chip, it wouldn't have such rough tradeoffs in battery life and performance. I'd definitely buy it.

1. See step 11 on https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Retina+MacBook+2015+Teardown...

2. https://github.com/dortania/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher

46493168•10m ago

What version of MacOS are you running on yours? I have a 2017, 16GB, 1.7ghz and it's DOG slow on Ventura, even with reduce motion and reduce transparency. I have considered downgrading just to see if there's improvement.

simonh•8m ago

The Neo actually has similar dimensions to the 12” overall, though not as tapered. That’s possible because it has a much slimmer bezel. The Neo is about a third heavier though.

jeffbee•10m ago

It seems like a normal-sized motherboard? For comparison here is the ifixit teardown of a PixelBook Go (happens to be the laptop I am using right now). https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/LT6YEIeE1Svh4WCk.hug...

drooopy•53m ago

This is probably going to be my new laptop next year if it gets the A19 Pro with 12 GB of RAM.

etchalon•49m ago

I'd bet these things are going to be on a two-year upgrade cycle, instead of yearly. Will be super happy to be proven wrong.

ErneX•5m ago

They released the 17e a year after 16e so there’s hope.

intrasight•5m ago

This one will be my new laptop this year, and I'll then see what happens next year.

oybng•52m ago

Just 20 steps and 18 screws to replace a battery, easy!

SoKamil•39m ago

But no adhesive under the battery. That’s huge.

butILoveLife•36m ago

Only if you are in Apple's Walled Prison. (Or I guess iOS dev)

ryandrake•25m ago

I'll take it over the plastic pieces of garbage that flex and bend and creek, and feel like they were taped together by a 6 year old, which is most other PC laptops in this price range.

butILoveLife•14m ago

Yeah but then you dont get Nvidia, 16gb ram, and 512 gb ssd.

Form over function I guess.

crooked-v•31m ago

As it turns out, once battery life hits a certain baseline, people prefer devices where the battery is harder to replace but larger over devices where the battery is hot-swappable but smaller.

Clamchop•22m ago

I mean, yes, it is easy. No adhesive and just a couple of clips on the case. You could replace the battery in 20 minutes with little anxiety that you're going to cause damage getting to it.

throw737458t8t8•16m ago

And xray, microscope and soldering station to replace ssd.

newsclues•52m ago

I'm not sure if it's possible, but an aftermarket battery with closer to the MB Airs KW/h specs would be a very interesting modification.

The repairability seems to be interesting especially if it leads to framework style upgradability (logic boards, not the ports).

needSomeCoffee•48m ago

Wow. Beautiful engineering. Please, please Apple use this ethos for all future major laptop re-designs e.g. MBA & MBP.

cwoolfe•32m ago

Repairability and cost are key for the education market. Apple sold iPads into this space for awhile but there's been pushback and talk of going to chromebooks. Seems like they are positioning Neo for this segment as well.

intrasight•7m ago

I am WAY out of school and I still care about repairability and cost ;)

euroderf•4m ago

Is the Neo in a price range where it could be attached to a robot chassis as its processsor and UI ? Connectivity, video, audio, status display, even a Max Headroom. USB-C plug-n-go.

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