Apple recently debuted its new Mac mini, which brings with it a much more compact design. Now iFixit has performed that teardown voodoo that they do so well on the smallest desktop Mac and has share details as to what they found inside.
In the video, iFixit praises the Mac mini for being easy to disassemble despite its more compact design. The mini is easy to open up, thanks to the bottom plate being held on by clips that can be easily detached. Replacing the CMOS battery, which is the first thing that was encountered when opening the mini, requires removing just two screws.
Removing a few other screws allow users to access the wireless module cables and then remove the inner plate that gives access to most of the internal components.
A large fan takes up half of the Macs internal space, as a part of the Mac mini’s revamped thermal management, draws air from the base and circulates it through the components.
The Mac mini’s SSD storage module is replaceable, although an upgrade won’t be easy, as the module is a proprietary design, but it can be done. iFixit was able to swap module between two Mac minis and everything worked fine.
The front-facing USB-C ports and the headphone jack can both be removed, although the ports on the back cannot be removed. The mini’s M4 chip has RAM soldered to it, and the logic board’s heat dissipation is handled by a copper layer.
iFixit gave the new Mac mini a repairability score of 7, which is impressive for a modern-day Apple device. The repair firm says the Mac’s easily replaceable main components will make it easier for users to keep their mini running in the years ahead.
