[NewsPoster]

A teardown of the latest version of MacBook reveals Apple has made relatively few changes to how the notebook is put together, with some refreshed hardware being the main differentiator between this and the previous version. Just as with the last attempt at a MacBook teardown by iFixit, it is shown Apple is continuing to make it very difficult for its users to make repairs to the device, giving it an extremely low "repairability" score.

The teardown reveals that inside the MacBook is a visibly similar battery system used in the first MacBook, though Apple has increased the capacity by four percent. Surrounded by the battery is a small logic board in the center near the hinge, the same as previously seen, but it is noted that Apple's main changes to the inside makeup effectively consists of a new permanently-fixed USB-C cable, and the replacement of security screws on internal components for standard Phillips and Torx screws, albeit with a tamper-evident substance applied to them.

The logic board uncovered by the team includes an Intel Core m3-6Y30 processor, NAND flash memory from Toshiba, RAM modules from both Samsung and Micron, a Universal Scientific Industrial Wi-Fi module, and other items from Broadcom, Intersil, and a large number of components from Texas Instruments. Apple supplies its own TSMC-created SSD controller, which is thought to be an iteration of a similar SSD controller used in the 2015 MacBook.

Just as with the previous model, iFixit gives the 2016 MacBook a score of one out of a possible ten on the "repairability" scale, where ten represents an easily repairable device. Contributing factors for the low score include the soldering of the processor, RAM, and flash memory to the logic board, the heavy amounts of glue used to attach the battery to the case, and the fused and expensive to replace Retina display panel.

[Inkling]

This 1 out of 10 unfixability is why a school system would have to be nuts to buy MacBooks. Teens are rough on laptops, so schools need to be able to make repairs and, several years out, keep them operational by parting out some to fix others. More and more, I'm coming to believe that Apple's Curpertino employees are so well paid that they have no sense for how the rest of this country lives—particularly the executives and decison-makers.

[coffeetime]

My son's school has zero Apple computers. Apple is long done with the educational market. Even if they can make it 100% repairable it would be 2 to 3x the cost of PC counterpart. On top of that, educational applications for the Mac OS is still lacking and a joke comparing to PC software. Apple knows that and they are targeting the niche market where people (including designers) are willing to spend money to get the coolest gadget in this planet. And Apple succeeds in doing so.