iFixit has done another of its excellent teardowns, this time on the new 13-inch Retina Display MacBook Pro. iFixit says while there have been some improvements in accessibility, there will still be challenges to face if you want to try to repair it yourself.
One of the most interesting changes relative to the larger model is a battery layout that leaves the area underneath the trackpad free of battery cells. In place of battery cells in that location, Apple has elected to mount the 13-inch model’s flash storage, a move that allows access to the trackpad for replacement if necessary.
Apple has improved the battery removal issue a bit, with two of the six battery cells in the 13-inch model housed in a metal try, with no adhesive present. However, the four remaining battery cells still required 15 minutes of careful prying to work loose from the case.
No big surprises here compared to the 15-inch model. iFixit wound up giving the 13-inch Retina Display MacBook Pro a repairability score of 2 out of 10, one point higher than its 15-inch big brother.
For more details, visit the iFixit website.
