Apple released the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display on Tuesday, and in true iFixit fashion, the slim notebook has now been dissected to reveal what makes it tick and what it would take to repair one.
The good news is that the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display is slightly more repairable than the 15-inch version. Apple's latest MacBook Pro gets a 2 out of 10 repairability rating, versus the 1 that the 15-inch model scored.
Its battery, for example, while still glued to the top of the case, is easier to remove, taking only 15 minutes and not requiring a heat gun. The trackpad is also replaceable, a process that involves just five screws. Interestingly, the trackpad in both the 13-inch and 15-inch models include flash memory. iFixit doesn't know the reason, but perhaps future OSX updates could reveal its purpose.
Of course, because of the MacBook Pro's slim frame, other areas aren't as easy to fix should something need to be replaced down the line. The compact display assembly is "almost impossible to take apart," iFixit says, since the display is fused directly to the glass.
iFixit says the most notable internal layout change from the 15-inch to the 13-inch size MacBoook Pros is the new battery cell arrangement, which utilizes asymmetric lithium ion battery technology to maximize space, according to Apple. "This allowed Apple's designers to cleverly tuck the SSD away underneath the trackpad assembly," iFixit says. It also means that the maximum amount of space possible was dedicated to this battery.
Although Apple seems to be limiting its use of Samsung-supplied components, the 13-inch Pro carries a Samsung SSD and flash. It uses Hynix-brand SDRAM, though.
I highly recommend heading over to iFixit for the full teardown, if only for the adorable photos of a 21 day old kitten they included this time around.
