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iFixit Teardown: MacBook Neo Has Most Accessible Mac Battery in Over a Decade

2026-03-14 01:58:55

Repair site iFixit did its traditional teardown on the MacBook Neo, and was pleasantly surprised with the laptop's repairability. "We haven't been as happy about a MacBook since 2012," says iFixit.


iFixit took apart the more expensive $699 version of the ‌MacBook Neo‌ that comes with a Touch ID keyboard, but both models are "suspiciously easy" to get into. The lower case is still held together with pentalobe screws, which are less common than standard screws and require a special screwdriver. The cover can be unclipped by hand, and inside, there's a "shockingly sensible" internal layout.

The battery, speakers, ports, and trackpad are easy to get to and not buried under another component like most Apple laptops. Rather than being attached with adhesive, the battery is screwed in, so it's simple to remove it for repair or replacement. There are 18 screws to undo, but iFixit says the lack of battery adhesive is the biggest ‌MacBook Neo‌ repair win.

iFixit believes Apple is preparing for an upcoming EU law that will require many portable devices to have user replaceable batteries by early 2027. Because of the regulation, we could see similar setups for batteries in future MacBook Air and Pro models.

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There are a lot of cables to unplug to get to other components like the logic board, but it's all "pretty accessible" and not buried "just for the sake of being buried." RAM and storage are soldered to the A18 Pro chip, which is expected, but not a repairability win because it diminishes repairability and upgradeability. RAM and the SSD cannot be upgraded after purchase.

The USB-C ports are their own module instead of connected to the logic board, so damaged ports are able to be replaced without logic board repairs, and the same goes for the headphone jack. Antenna assembly removal is straightforward, which iFixit says will make screen replacements "significantly easier." With the antenna removed and the hinge screws off, the display "pops away as if it were a Framework laptop."

Apple used side-firing speakers in the ‌MacBook Neo‌, which is a simplified setup with less chassis machining that probably let it save money, and a mechanical trackpad. It's the first MacBook to have a mechanical trackpad since 2015 because the mechanical setup is cheaper to produce. The keyboard was the last piece to come out in iFixit's teardown, and it was held in with 41 screws. It is possible to remove the keyboard separately from the top case by undoing all of those screws, which makes for more affordable repairs.

iFixit said that while the ‌MacBook Neo‌ isn't perfect because of the soldered storage and RAM, there's a "lot to like." It has the most accessible battery in a Mac since 2012, a display that's easy to swap out, and modular components like the USB-C ports and headphone jack. iFixit gave the ‌MacBook Neo‌ a repairability score of 6 out of 10. For comparison, the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro earned a 4/10 and the M4 ‌MacBook Air‌ got a 5/10.
Related Roundup: MacBook Neo
Tag: iFixit
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Neo (Buy Now)
Related Forum: MacBook Neo

This article, "iFixit Teardown: MacBook Neo Has Most Accessible Mac Battery in Over a Decade" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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MacRumors Giveaway: Win an iPhone 17 Pro and 25W Qi Charger From Lululook

2026-03-14 01:40:48

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Lululook to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an iPhone 17 Pro and a 25W Qi2.2 3-in-1 Charger from Lululook to go along with it.


Priced at $79, Lululook's 3-in-1 Charging Station is able to charge an iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch at the same time. It features Qi 2.2 support and certification, so it is able to charge the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 models at up to 25W, the same as Apple's latest MagSafe specification. With 25W Qi charging, an ‌iPhone 17‌ can wirelessly charge to 50 percent battery in 30 minutes.


The stand can be used in either portrait or landscape mode, with the iPhone charging platform located at the top, plus the viewing angle can be adjusted thanks to several included hinges. The Apple Watch charger folds out from the middle, and the AirPods charge at the bottom. The whole 3-in-1 charger collapses down into a square puck when not in use, making it ideal for travel. The charger weighs just 6.2 ounces and it's less than an inch thick when folded up.


Lululook made the stand out of aluminum that matches Apple's ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models, and it comes in orange, desert gold, or titanium. The orange shade is the same color as the orange ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ Max. The aluminum resists fingerprints and smudges, and there are soft silicone pads on the bottom and the charging area to keep the charger stable and devices scratch free.

In addition to charging an iPhone at 25W, the charger provides 5W for the Apple Watch and 5W for the AirPods. The 3-in-1 Charging Station is powered via USB-C, and Lululook includes a 45W power adapter and a 3.28-foot USB cable. There's also a portable organizer to hold the cables and the charger during travel.


We have a Lululook 3-in-1 Charging Station and ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ to give away to one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (March 13) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on March 20. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after March 20 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
Related Roundup: iPhone 17 Pro
Tag: Giveaway
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 17 Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPhone

This article, "MacRumors Giveaway: Win an iPhone 17 Pro and 25W Qi Charger From Lululook" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iPhone 17 Pro is Now Part of MLB History

2026-03-14 00:40:56

Back in September, the Apple TV streaming service's broadcast of the pivotal Boston Red Sox vs. Detroit Tigers game at Fenway Park incorporated live footage captured with the iPhone 17 Pro, and now the device has been enshrined in MLB history.


Apple this week announced that the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has added one of the four iPhone 17 Pro devices that captured the Red Sox clinching a postseason berth with a thrilling walk-off win over the Tigers to its permanent collection in Cooperstown, New York. More details are available on the Hall of Fame's website.


A weekly "Friday Night Baseball" doubleheader of MLB games returns to Apple TV for the 2026 season starting Friday, March 27. The games are included with an Apple TV subscription, at no additional cost. In the U.S., Apple TV costs $12.99 per month.

Throughout the 2026 season, Apple said iPhones will be further integrated into the lineup of cameras used for select "Friday Night Baseball" broadcasts.

Related Roundup: iPhone 17 Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 17 Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPhone

This article, "iPhone 17 Pro is Now Part of MLB History" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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MacBook Neo's Keyboard Can Be Replaced Individually

2026-03-14 00:23:20

Apple has published its MacBook Neo repair manual, and it reveals some big repairability news: the keyboard can be replaced individually.


For many years, replacing the keyboard in a MacBook has required replacing the entire Top Case, which refers to the top half of the aluminum shell surrounding the keyboard. For example, the latest MacBook Air has a "Top Case with Keyboard" part, and the latest MacBook Pro models have a "Top Case with Battery and Keyboard" part.

For the MacBook Neo, there are separate Keyboard, Keyboard with Touch ID, and Top Case parts, and Apple shows how to replace the keyboard individually. While there are still more than 40 screws involved to replace the keyboard on its own, the process is much easier than replacing an entire Top Case, which requires lots of disassembly.

More importantly for customers, the MacBook Neo's individual keyboard parts will likely be much more affordable when they become available on Apple's self-service store. In the U.S., Top Case parts for recent MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models cost around $400 to $600. The standalone Keyboard and Keyboard with Touch ID parts for the MacBook Neo will likely be hundreds of dollars cheaper by comparison, but exact pricing remains to be seen.

MacBook Neo launched on Wednesday, and it has been praised for its value and performance. Now, improved repairability is another positive.

Related Roundup: MacBook Neo
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Neo (Buy Now)
Related Forum: MacBook Neo

This article, "MacBook Neo's Keyboard Can Be Replaced Individually" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The MacRumors Show: MacBook Neo First Impressions

2026-03-14 00:13:38

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss first impressions of the MacBook Neo, Studio Display XDR, and iPhone 17e.


Following its announcement last week, the ‌MacBook Neo‌ arrived this week. Unlike every other Apple silicon Mac, the ‌MacBook Neo‌ is powered by the A18 Pro chip originally developed for the iPhone 16 Pro, making it the first Mac to use an iPhone-class processor instead of an M-series chip.

To reach its substantially lower price point, the ‌MacBook Neo‌ makes some compromises. Unlike the MacBook Air, it does not feature keyboard backlighting, a haptic trackpad, P3 wide color, True Tone, ambient light sensing, a camera indicator LED, MagSafe charging, Thunderbolt connectivity, or a 12-megapixel camera with Center Stage, nor does it come with Touch ID as standard. It is also thicker with a slightly reduced battery life, and has larger borders around the slightly smaller display.



That being said, it is $500 cheaper than a ‌MacBook Air‌ and is designed to compete with lower-cost Windows laptops and Chromebooks, while expanding the Mac lineup with a substantially more affordable option. We talk through the real-world impact of some of these compromises, including performance with the A18 Pro chip and 8GB of memory.

The ‌iPhone 17e‌ retains the same design and price as the iPhone 16e but adds the A19 chip, ‌MagSafe‌ support, Apple's second-generation C1X modem, and 256GB of base storage. Apple also introduced a new ‌Studio Display‌ XDR model, replacing the Pro Display XDR. The new model offers a 27-inch 5K mini-LED panel with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR brightness up to 2,000 nits, and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. We compare both of these new products to their predecessors, as well as the ‌iPhone 17e‌ and the ‌iPhone 16‌ as the two lowest-cost iPhones on sale today.



The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.



You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or other podcast apps. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your player.



If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about Apple's concentrated week of announcements that saw the introduction of 10 new products.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also email us at [email protected] or head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
Related Roundup: MacBook Neo
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Neo (Buy Now)
Related Forum: MacBook Neo

This article, "The MacRumors Show: MacBook Neo First Impressions" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Best Apple Deals of the Week: Launch Deals Hit Brand New M4 iPad Air, M5 MacBook Air, and More

2026-03-14 00:03:09

This week was Apple launch week, and we're already seeing solid markdowns on the new M4 iPad Air, M5 MacBook Air, and more. Additionally, below you'll find deals on AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and Apple Watch Series 11.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

AirPods 4



  • What's the deal? Take $59 off AirPods 4 with ANC

  • Where can I get it? Amazon

  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here



Amazon this week came back with a notable discount on the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, available for $119.99, down from $179.00. This is a solid second-best price on the AirPods 4.

M4 iPad Air



  • What's the deal? Take up to $100 off M4 iPad Air

  • Where can I get it? Amazon

  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here




This week was the launch week for all of Apple's new products, and Amazon is already offering solid discounts on many models of the M4 iPad Air. This includes up to $80 off the 11-inch model and up to $100 off the 13-inch model.

MacBook Air and MacBook Pro



  • What's the deal? Take $49 off M5 MacBook Air and M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro

  • Where can I get it? Amazon

  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here






Similar to the M4 iPad Air, Amazon is offering multiple discounts across the new M5 MacBook Air and M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro this week. You'll find $49 off select models right now, without the need of a coupon code.

Apple: The First 50 Years



  • What's the deal? Take $10 off the new book Apple: The First 50 Years

  • Where can I get it? Amazon



Tech columnist David Pogue released a new book Apple: The First 50 Years earlier this week, and Amazon has it for 21 percent off right now. The 608-page book explores the first five decades of the company's history.

Samsung Monitors



  • What's the deal? Save on Samsung monitors

  • Where can I get it? Amazon

  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here




This week, there were two sales on Samsung monitors, split between Amazon and Samsung's own website. On Amazon, there was a big accessory sale this week, and the highlights of the event included big savings on monitors from Samsung, LG, Dell, and more. Samsung's newest Smart Monitor M9 hit the all-time low price of $1,299.99 during the sale, and it's still available now.

On Samsung, you can get a free copy of Resident Evil Requiem with the purchase of select monitors. You'll also find big discounts on TVs and Galaxy products this week.

Apple Watch Series 11



  • What's the deal? Take $100 off Apple Watch Series 11

  • Where can I get it? Amazon

  • Where can I find the original deal? Right here




Amazon this week has all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 11, with $100 discounts across numerous models of the smartwatch. We first started tracking the return of these deals last month, but this sale has now expanded with many more options on both 42mm and 46mm GPS models.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.




Deals Newsletter


Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2026? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!




Related Roundup: Apple Deals

This article, "Best Apple Deals of the Week: Launch Deals Hit Brand New M4 iPad Air, M5 MacBook Air, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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