Repair experts at iFixit have released a teardown video of the MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro chip, offering a first look at its internal design. Although the exterior hasn’t changed a bit since 2021, iFixit was hoping for improvements in terms of repairability on the interior. Let’s see it all together.
An almost unchanged model
Not surprisingly, the MacBook Pro M4 Pro internal design is almost identical to the M3 model, with only a few minor changes. The most notable change is a slightly redesigned motherboard featuring a larger heatsink to improve airflow and therefore limit overheating during power-intensive tasks like gaming or video editing. Enough to calmly wait for Cyberpunk 2077.
However, accessing the motherboard remains as tedious as before due to numerous screws and cables standing in front of the DIYer. The battery’s construction and size are also unchanged, and replacing it still requires removing the touchpad because the adhesive tabs securing the battery are located under the trackpad.
On the good news side, most ports are individually replaceable, but components like the MagSafe connector and card reader still require advanced soldering skills to replace.
Unfortunately, part matching and calibration issues remain a significant obstacle, with Apple justifying serialization on the grounds of security. So while the battery and ports are relatively easy to change, replacing displays or logic boards can trigger software hangs, making independent repairs much more complicated.
To prevent this, Apple offers official resources, including parts, guides, and tools for people who want to repair their devices themselves.
- 00:30: X-ray of the MacBook Pro M4 Pro
- 00:45: Inside the MacBook Pro M4 Pro
- 01:19: A side-by-side comparison of the MacBook Pro M4 Pro and M3 Pro
- 02:38: Removing the MacBook Pro M4 Pro motherboard
- 04:57: Removing the MacBook Pro M4 Pro battery
- 06:23: The MacBook Pro M4 Pro’s mostly modular ports are great for repairability
- 06:44: A closer look at the Touch ID sensor using X-rays
- 07:28: A closer look at the MagSafe port through the eyes of a CT scanner
- 07:43: Part matching and calibration issues
- 08:21: Final thoughts on MacBook Pro M4 Pro repairability
Conclusion
All in all, the MacBook Pro M4 is somewhat disappointing in a year filled with major repairability improvements on other Apple devices. The Mac mini M4 introduced upgradeable pseudo storage and a replaceable CMOS battery, and the iPhone 16 introduced electrically releasable adhesive to make battery replacement easier.
