iFixit Tears Down the New 13-inch MacBook Pro [Photos]

iFixit has posted its teardown of the new 13-inch MacBook Pro. Apple refreshed the 13-inch MacBook Pro with 8th generation quad-core processors, Touch Bar and Touch ID, a True Tone Retina display, and the T2 Security Chip earlier this week.

The 13” model still comes in two flavors, but they’re harder to tell apart—the only clue being the number of ports. Did Apple keep the entry-level model and find room for a Touch Bar somehow, or is this new model a stripped-down version of the existing (expensive) Touch Bar design? Or is it something entirely new? Let’s shake all the parts loose and see what falls out.

Highlights:
● The headphone jack is back
● New 58.2 Wh battery capacity
● SSD is not upgradeable
● Smaller speaker
● Modular Thunderbolt breakout board
● Modular headphone jack module that includes headphone jack, microphone, and Touch ID connector
● Same 3.5G butterfly switch keyboard from the earlier MacBook Pro refresh in May.


Repairability Score: 2 out of 10
The MacBook Pro 13" with Two Thunderbolt Ports earns a 2 out of 10 on our repairability scale (10 is the easiest to repair):
● The trackpad can be removed without disturbing the battery.
● Proprietary pentalobe screws continue to be hostile to repair.
● The battery assembly is still very solidly glued into the case, complicating replacement of a consumable.
● Soldered-down RAM limits upgradability and longevity.
● The SSD is no longer replaceable—but as it was previously a proprietary drive, the newly soldered storage has about the same effect for the average fixer.

Take a look at a few images below and hit the link for the full teardown.

Read More