Apple shocked the laptop world with its budget-friendly MacBook Neo, but it may also be the most unique laptop in the company’s lineup. One of the first teardowns we’ve seen, courtesy of Australian YouTubers Tech Re-Nu, reveals one of the most modular and repairable MacBooks we’ve ever seen.
In their video, Tech Nu-Ru was able to take most of the laptop apart in just about six minutes. The Neo is held together by Torx screws and features a clean cable layout showcasing a surprisingly simple design ethos.
Like the MacBook Air and Pro eight screws hold the bottom lid on. Where it differs is the amazing lack of tape or glue in the entire laptop, a first for a modern MacBook. The battery is held in place by 18 screws and lifts straight suggesting it’s possible for even the less repair-inclined to relatively quickly swap in a new battery.
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Additionally, the two USB-C ports, speakers and the headphone jack are all modular, meaning they can be swapped out or replaced as needed.
Tech Nu-Ru didn’t take the entire Neo apart but earlier this week Apple released a MacBook Neo repair manual that revealed it’s possible to remove the keyboard for repair without replacing the entire top case.
All of these individual replaceable parts make the MacBook Neo one of, if not the most, repairable MacBook. It makes replacing parts for the company’s own “Genius Bar” employees faster and easier, but also enables the average user to fix their computer if they need to.
Apple has been hit or miss with right to repair. Since 2024, the company has expanded its Self-repair program to include a plethora of devices and the iPhone 16 is the most repairable iPhone to date. However, the company still wants you locked in their systems and heavily lobbied against a right to repair bill in Oregon.
Still, at $599, the MacBook Neo is already a bargain, but its repairability makes it one of the best budget laptops available.
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