Thursday, March 14th 2024
Apple M3 MacBook Air Repairability Deemed Average Following iFixit Teardown
Earlier teardowns of 13-inch Apple M3 MacBook Air models revealed a pleasing storage performance upgrade. Popular American e-commerce watchdog, iFixit, has joined in on the fun—CEO Kyle Wiens has confirmed that the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air 256 GB base model also houses two 128 GB flash storage chips. A provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10 has been awarded—this verdict could change once iFixit staffers finish up in-depth investigations into Apple's latest thirteen and fifteen inch ultraslim notebooks. A revised figure might appear online once the site publishes its full how-to-guides.
iFixit's video teardown demonstrates that not much has changed when comparing the new models to Apple's M2 MacBook Air family of products. Tinkerers will face the usual obstacles, mainly dreaded pentalobe screw designs. The team discovered plastic pull-tabs during the removal of M3 MacBook Air batteries—a pleasing alternative to older (headache inducing) adhesive-fastened methods of securing power cells in place. The iFixit team had to deal with many fiddly screws and brackets during excavation efforts—they noted that Apple's interior design does not include any labelling, and the screws are not numbered. Framework's Laptop 16 was cited as a shining example of doing things correctly.
iFixit: "the MacBook Air occupies a bit of a strange place in the MacBook lineup—It offers two sizes, just like the Pro, and unless you're getting the powerhouse 16", they weigh about the same too. For the layperson, it's a matter of a couple extra ports—and even then all that USB-A tech will need dongles. But surely there are more differences below the surface? Let's dive into the 13" M3 MacBook Air."
Their "how-to website" is often updated with articles dedicated to each product teardown (days after YouTube coverage). Keep an eye on their blog list.
Sources:
iFixit YouTube Channel, Mac Rumors, 9 to 5 Mac, Wccftech
iFixit's video teardown demonstrates that not much has changed when comparing the new models to Apple's M2 MacBook Air family of products. Tinkerers will face the usual obstacles, mainly dreaded pentalobe screw designs. The team discovered plastic pull-tabs during the removal of M3 MacBook Air batteries—a pleasing alternative to older (headache inducing) adhesive-fastened methods of securing power cells in place. The iFixit team had to deal with many fiddly screws and brackets during excavation efforts—they noted that Apple's interior design does not include any labelling, and the screws are not numbered. Framework's Laptop 16 was cited as a shining example of doing things correctly.
Their "how-to website" is often updated with articles dedicated to each product teardown (days after YouTube coverage). Keep an eye on their blog list.
11 Comments on Apple M3 MacBook Air Repairability Deemed Average Following iFixit Teardown
www.tomshardware.com/laptops/macbooks/m3-macbook-air-hits-eye-popping-114-degrees-celsius-in-stress-test-and-didnt-melt
No because it's difficult to fix or swap out a battery in the first place, without having to watch a Ifixit video. It would be easier to simply return the macbook and have a professional do all that work.
Side note - I did buy my son the base M1 Air the next day for $699.Seems like a nice machine, congratz!Ain't nearly as sexy is it? Lol just kidding.
I once seen a temp of 180C!!! I had to literally put an ice back under it to prevent it from cooking a coffee table. I had to get data off it and I didn't have a drive dock at the time... so I had to transfer over network and hole ee fook it was so hot! JUST TRANSFERRING FILES!
I didn't bother repasting cuz I didn't plan on using it much after that