New 13-inch MacBook Pro has bigger battery but SSD can't be swapped
While it's never been simple to upgrade a 13-inch MacBook Pro's SSD, it is now no longer possible, according to a teardown of the latest model.
Tearing down the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, photo courtesy iFixit
Mac repair firm iFixit has taken the new 13-inch MacBook Pro apart and found that Apple has made only small, but also significant, changes to the previous model. The changes in design and engineering mean that certain key components are smaller in the new 13-inch MacBook Pro and also the SSD can no longer be replaced or upgraded.
"Where the 2016 model's modular SSD used to live," notes iFixit, "we peel back a sticker -- only to find a soldered-down shield."
"Unsurprising, perhaps," continues iFixit, "but still disappointing -- one of the last upgradeable components on the MacBook Pro line is totally gone."
Butterfly keyboard in the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, photo courtesy iFixit
Amongst other changes since the last model, there is a slightly larger battery, and there are some that affect cooling on the machine.
"To make room for the Touch ID sensor alongside the Touch Bar," notes iFixit, "Apple appears to have trimmed a little mass off the heat pipe. Should we be worried? Cooling already seemed like it was getting short shrift on these ultra-thin Pro laptops."
The company also notes that one of the speakers "looks emaciated compared to its 2016 predecessor." However, in the case of the speakers, repair and replacement is actually straightforward and "almost couldn't be easier."
The addition of Touch ID also gets praised by the company, which says the 13-inch MacBook Pro contains a "modular masterpiece."
"It includes the headphone jack, microphone, and Touch ID connector, and can be easily replaced without dragging along an expensive logic board."
Overrall, iFixit again ranks the MacBook Pro with a score of 2 out of 10 for independent repairability. In regards to iFixit's concerns about the thermal condition, AppleInsider will be examining that in the days to come.
Tearing down the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, photo courtesy iFixit
Mac repair firm iFixit has taken the new 13-inch MacBook Pro apart and found that Apple has made only small, but also significant, changes to the previous model. The changes in design and engineering mean that certain key components are smaller in the new 13-inch MacBook Pro and also the SSD can no longer be replaced or upgraded.
"Where the 2016 model's modular SSD used to live," notes iFixit, "we peel back a sticker -- only to find a soldered-down shield."
"Unsurprising, perhaps," continues iFixit, "but still disappointing -- one of the last upgradeable components on the MacBook Pro line is totally gone."
Butterfly keyboard in the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, photo courtesy iFixit
Amongst other changes since the last model, there is a slightly larger battery, and there are some that affect cooling on the machine.
"To make room for the Touch ID sensor alongside the Touch Bar," notes iFixit, "Apple appears to have trimmed a little mass off the heat pipe. Should we be worried? Cooling already seemed like it was getting short shrift on these ultra-thin Pro laptops."
The company also notes that one of the speakers "looks emaciated compared to its 2016 predecessor." However, in the case of the speakers, repair and replacement is actually straightforward and "almost couldn't be easier."
The addition of Touch ID also gets praised by the company, which says the 13-inch MacBook Pro contains a "modular masterpiece."
"It includes the headphone jack, microphone, and Touch ID connector, and can be easily replaced without dragging along an expensive logic board."
Overrall, iFixit again ranks the MacBook Pro with a score of 2 out of 10 for independent repairability. In regards to iFixit's concerns about the thermal condition, AppleInsider will be examining that in the days to come.
Comments
Don't get it. How can I upgrade my 13" MBP from 2016? I always thought the components were soldered to the motherboard. TIA! Cheers, Jo
Extending the useable life of these will not be what Macs were once known for. (Speaking as a Mac owner since 1992).
If one’s expectation is to replace your laptop every 3-4 years, I guess that is ok, but a distinctive of the Macs of the past was their usable life.
Banging away furiously at your keyboard on forums won't change anything. If you don't like, there's always the plastic Windows alternatives from Dell et al.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7mR6tLvbpc
Yeah carrying 100s of gigs of non system data on an internal drive isn’t smart either. If you want total mobility with the base storage you have iCloud storage, Google drive & other solutions as well.External hdds are the cheapest & expandable .
Why not derail to iPad Pro (or fully network-operated netbooks) when MacBook Pro upgradeability doesn’t work (...the typical Cupertino way to deal with crtiticism)
In the 27 years since 1992 that's two maybe three units.
I can understand why they aren't making it a card any more - that would be one way to bypass the security of the T2 chip.
T2: can't boot to single user mode? Can't use target disk mode (unless it's for a migration via another T2 Mac? Blargh! Ok, that's a rant for a different article…
If Apple released a desktop touchbar keyboard to span all macs would it sell ? Would a touchbar & fixed T2 security drive sell if buyers had a MBP BTO choices vs a proportionate cost savings ? Is it easier to click 'I do' in a free survey than pony up for who knows how much for 'upgrades' essentially forced on customers with debatable efficacy ?