MacBook Pro M4 Teardown: What’s Inside and What’s Fixable?

[@모댕-k7u]

i really dont think we should call m4 mac mini upgradeable storage, think we should call it a swappable storage

[@KellyWu04]

Tomato tomato. “Apple Storage” maybe is the apt term like what they did to “AI”.

[@khoifoto]

Upgradable it is if you have the right PCB and the right chip in there. There are other people who are doing this.

[@tanmay4703]

​@@khoifoto other people mean you and me can't upgrade the ssd why not everyone is talking about upgrading the ram ?

[@justinliu7788]

@@tanmay4703upgrading the ram is pretty much impossible on any m series mac

[@segundacuenta726]

Yep. And until they start selling the chip in the card already soldered so regular people can easily swap them, then it's very very few who are going to do the "upgrade" soldering the memory after sourcing the chips, and the whole ordeal. I doubt it's gonna be competent in price compared to just going external storage via thunderbolt and leaving the internal alone. Also for those who want to keep it under warranty. I think external can be fast enough, 3000MBs read and write is not slow. And there are 4tb and 8tb nvmes on offer. Going with a thunderbolt enclosure that is, not all in one product.

[@je5terc0re]

Imagine hitting the screen in this exact moment 5:54

[@stevenrast4261]

100%

[@pooriakhosravi9415]

I KNOW. RIGHT?

[@NicleT]

I was totally trigged

[@tomabs8974]

Could see it happening no way I would do it

[@funkymoine821]

those 4 rubber thingies you removed and did not put back in. they absorb vibrations from the fans. it's a noise thing. If someone put something somewhere, and you don't know why, don't assume you know better.

[@fayenotfaye]

yeah not going to lie, billions in R&D. Apple doesn't have perfect design but at least everything is *intentional*

[@jltplease]

No one knows the schematics to the MacBook pro. Guy is taking an educated wild guess.

[@harrysmbdgs]

FYI, that’s not how you use pull-tabs, hence why most of them snapped. If you keep whatever is pulling it as close as possible to the battery end, they will come out as designed in one piece.

[@fVNzO]

in other words, twist it around the tweezer. It should be quite obvious why doing it the other way usually cause them to snap.

[@harrysmbdgs]

@fVNzO Yes exactly! I tend to start off with tweezers and then alternate between two fingers every inch or so for the most part, which avoids any sharp edges from ripping them apart. I’ve never had a single one snap since using this method.

[@ElysionArg]

@@harrysmbdgs The fact that the batteries are glued and not screwed is a design flaw in itself and a bane to repairability

[@harrysmbdgs]

@ElysionArg 100%. You’d think with all the thousands of different shapes and sizes of screws they sprinkle into each machine they’d have some which could be used to attach the batteries!

[@harrysmbdgs]

For some annoying reason KZbin won’t let me tag users in replies, as soon as I post the comment the username disappears!

[@floogulinc]

Why does everyone keep calling the mini’s storage “upgradable”? Until Apple actually starts selling upgrade modules it’s just removable. They’re entirely proprietary down to the chips themselves so it’s not really feasible or perhaps not even possible for third parties to mass produce them.

[@FrozenHaxor]

This.

[@logirex]

unless you start soldering they are not upgradeable and even then there are issues. it is criminal the lack of free m.2 slots are seen as ok 🤷‍♂ Apple always gets rated on a curve. imagine a mini pc without a m.2 slot 😂

[@RinoAP]

China manufacturers will make the SSDs and will definitely reverse engineer the connector

[@SahilP2648]

​​@@logirex you can move your home folder to an external thunderbolt drive and you don't need the internal storage other than OS updates. Not ideal but gets the job done.

[@SahilP2648]

​@@RinoAP connector is the standard Mac Nvme type connector but the hard part is the Apple SSD. It won't be possible as far as I can tell.

[@bocao4498]

Those foam nubbins are to prevent the screws from contacting the bottom panel. This is to avoid indentation in the bottom panel and the unlikely short circuit in the event that paints from those screws are damaged.

[@Vendigo6666]

Why you don't show M4 Pro chip itself? I would love to see it.

6:49 You don't need to unscrew the display hinge cowling and display hinge to get to remove the TouchID. You can completely unscrew the right side of the Y-shaped cowling and unscrew/loosen the left side just a little bit to make the cowling free. And you can now pull the cowling out. Because the left part of the cowling doesn't go all the way around the screw.👍

[@billkormas3460]

I love the angry owl face

[@davidschaub7965]

I'm still scouring youtube for shots of the M4 Pro and M4 Max packages under the heatsinks. Not really a repairable part mind you, so ifixit not digging deeper makes sense.

[@alphaLONE]

Absolutely agree, though I don't think ifixit not digging deeper makes sense. I remember the parts analysis they did on the site years ago where every IC was highlighted and its role explained. Even with the M2 Pro they went above and beyond and decapped the chip to show package technology improvements. Sad that they don't do it anymore.

[@NicleT]

Yeah! That video ended too soon

[@juleslauve1736]

Glad you keep alcohol on hand for when things like the stretch-release adhesive doesn't release as planned. That alcohol can also be useful for celebrating when things do go well.

[@Zahoodo]

Does M1 Pro MacBook battery health stay when replacing battery

[@Onion_Knights]

it will probably show 100%

[@leCram2101]

You can think what you like about Apple, but at Apple, design doesn't stop at the outer shell. Apart from a few hi-fi manufacturers, I don't know of any other company that designs the inside of its devices in such a sexy way.

[@DonAle_97]

The Lid-Angle Sensor and TPS62180 were the reasons that made me switch from MacBooks to ThinkPads, also the lack of repairability and ease to upgrade, things than in Macs are IMPOSSIBLE for a normal user.

[@ducktails1695]

Nice downgrade....

[@DonAle_97]

@ I can upgrade everything there, while in the Mac I can’t upgrade or repair anything. ThinkPads are built to last while actual Macs are disposable devices with a timebomb in their guts (when the TPS62180 buck converter “dies” it kills the SSD NANDs and the USB C controllers, making them unusable).

[@ducktails1695]

@@DonAle_97 Macs are built to last too and you don't need to replace anything. They'll easily last 6-10yrs without any issues. Stop with the BS made up issues.

[@DonAle_97]

@ old Macs were were built to last, in fact, the last “good” lineup was the 2015 one. In the last 7 years I’ve had two “modern” Mac: The 2017 13” which suffered FlexGate and Butterfly keyboard issues, and the 2019 16”, which has the DustGate and the TPS62180 buck converter design flaw issue, which literally FRIES the SSD NAND, and the Lid-Angle Sensor which fails with normal use and you can’t replace it with another one because it has an special calibration, so you have to replace the entire screen. My actual 2020 27” iMac 5K has also its SSD soldered to the motherboard and there’s no nvme or M2 slot available, so I can only upgrade the RAM and that’s all. It’s not BS but reality itself.

[@ducktails1695]

@@DonAle_97 Okay well enjoy your inferior POS with Windows just because you can change RAM which 99.9% of people never do. Enjoy a far slower laptop with far less battery life, a worse screen, heavier, etc, etc. And all the BS you mentioned above is just that, BS! It's only reality in your head.

[@datareplay]

I would love to see how the 16" version is laid out inside

[@dinckelman]

It is only fair to call it upgradeable storage, if i can open the device, take out the storage, put in my own, and immediately have it work. Requiring someone with micro-soldering skills for this job isn't quite that

[@haigha-qb4kf]

Where is a battery that can be disconnected using electricity an advantage for any end customer (iPhone 16)?

[@Meisekina_]

Can you please show us how to put hall effect sticks on a elite controller

[@BalkansWay]

Still can’t get used to see the snap tabs in a Mac

[@jawadhadi]

Does the base model with M4 chip has single fan like last time or two fans like M4 Pro one?

[@taifulahmed2170]

follow

[@AmpdLSU]

4:19 I think those foam pads on the screws are so the bottom cover has some support in the middle where it flexes.

[@semtex6412]

is the storage upgradeable?

[@maxwakelin-o2u]

do a pro xdd display teardown pls and an amazing video btw :)

[@ArnoldAntonio]

Yeah, there no teardown of it anywhere, only the studio display

[@serhiirudenko6183]

"calibrating" components is so b-#hit. They did it only to prevent independent repairs.

[@card_craft]

New ifixit vid! Lets see what apple has in store this year...

[@MikhailAdutskevich]

Is it possible to replace/upgrade ssd with the help of microsoldering?

[@DerNetteFette]

what's that big ring in the middle on the Lumascan? It didn't show up anymore after

[@Hxlyvlviextff]

You guys actually have the worst method for removing pull tabs and blame the company, you do it completely wrong 😂😂

[@Derpalerpa]

Admittedly, it could be better, but I swear the iFixit team can also try better XD

[@khoifoto]

My buddy run a repair shop and told me the same thing when I show him the pull tabs. haha.

[@json_n]

Looks like they are showing what happens when an average person does it, all pull tabs I ever did on my iPhone gets torn apart.

[@ArnoldAntonio]

What's that ring in the middle of the board on the ct scan

[@dannykim1462]

Does the m1 backplate not fit the new one ? I damage mine pretty m4 bad and try to swap the bottom plate and it refuses to sit flush

[@sirsquirrel6176]

0:30 Someone make that face an emoji 😂

[@964cuplove]

To bad no swapable ssd

[@Lloyd-Franklin]

I wanted to replace the SSD in my Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360, but there's a metal cover over the SSD. Do you know how to remove the cover without damaging the motherboard?

[@samtherat6]

5:29 I, also, keep alcohol on hand for some of Apple’s design decisions.

[@wastrapped410]

Why do you put same clip 3 times in the video? What does it achieve?

[@JohnSmith-pn2vl]

this comment, traffic, money, basically

[@ExtremelyRandomStuff]

I’ve noticed that a lot of ifixit battery replacement guides make you remove parts that don’t actually need removing and would still let you remove the battery safely

[@iBoffRCC]

Despite all the bitter comments here, we wanna say thank you iFixit Team for making this teardown video 💪🙏

[@dellenrules]

So… can I put a nano-texture display in a M3?

[@vinhnguyen2002]

Yes, but it will remain screen issue like 7:54 because of screen ID isn't matched with your Macbook

[@suryathesoldier555]

sir can you teardown macbook pro 16 inch with m4 max and the highest variant which cost around 800k or just 16 inch macbook pro with m4 max chip, please

why nobody shows the M4 Max scans? Is it forbidden by Apple?

[@Adri_BlackBeast]

I’m definitely sure that Apple’s guide to remove the battery was not followed. You have to remove the speakers first, otherwise you won’t be able to get any whole sticker...

[@BoomChockolaca]

It's a shame they didn't add replaceable SSD to MBP like they did to Mac Mini

[@connc]

I'd say it will come with the next redesign, hopefully with some easier repairability for the other components too. Apple do seem to be heading in that direction.

[@BoomChockolaca]

@ indeed, most likely will come next year. Typical apple “next year” strategy. Don’t think there would be swappable ssd on M4 MBA as well

[@a6am3mn0n]

Removable storage introduces two more potential points of failure, The SSD boar's pins and the logic board socket. On a desktop it's not that big of a deal, but on a portable that's being moved and carried around all day in a bag increases the odds of something going wrong. Same issue occurred with SO-DIMMs

[@lostnalive]

​@@a6am3mn0n Most current Windows laptops also have removable SSDs, but it is not common for the storage unit to fail because the laptop is moved around a lot. The sockets currently used can hold the drives in place quite stably. If Windows laptop manufacturers can do this, why can't Apple...?

[@NicleT]

I know there was kits like the iBoff where you can add a PCB with a NVMe connector on the logic board, which allows to put removable SSD. I don't think they made something for iMac and MacBook Pro after 2017. But it worth a look just for the concept. Those kits are available on Tindie.

[@Redir89]

Would replacing a battery on a MacBook Pro M1 Max give me a battery warning?

[@JohnSmith-pn2vl]

?? there are shops in every city that change your battery without issues since, forever

[@Redir89]

@ I’ve replaced every MacBook battery I’ve had in the past and never had any issues. You’re missing the point and understanding what my actual question was. Recent years apple has added chips to their components so that even if a computer shop does the repair it will give you a warning unless you also transplant the chip that’s coded to said model board. So my question is if I replace my battery myself would I get that warning so if the answer is yes then I could care less and just take it to the Apple Store and have them do it with their original part programmed into my motherboard. Don’t be an ignorant arrogant azjl. Your comment history shows you don’t have a life and go commenting unintelligent comments everywhere just trying drag everyone in with with wasting their life. Get a life so you don’t waste others lives

[@QsTechService1]

I guess they want customers to crack their screens while pulling the battery pole tabs towards the screen .. 2 also with the battery they should not have No adhesive why not bring back the old-school 13 inch just screws and remove the battery with screws nice tear down 👍

[@smidgeondutchrabbit]

next do the m4 imac

[@D.u.d.e.r]

Great! So much work and no repairability score?😉

[@jltplease]

Screw you Apple. I just want to be able to replace the things that are 1st to go bad: the battery, and the SSD. Why do they want to screw over the consumer so bad?

[@nothingtosee7718]

I really have issues with you saying this is either upgradable or replaceable. Where do you get the parts from? Have you tried to move a device from on Mac or the other, I’m pretty sure it’s coded and can’t be “swapped”. This is poor reporting. Or even worse, a poor understanding of how this actually works.

[@jer4rud0]

The audio jack will always be around since Macs are used for audio production.

[@XashA12Musk]

5:11 to 5:45 best Part of this video

[@SYİsauryalı]

Where's the M4 iMac ????

[@bunbohue369]

I am glad that it has 2 fans.

[@HasithaSamarakoon-w8o]

I can't understand why apple can't make those batteries like surface laptop. Surface laptop batteries can easily removable just unscrewing screws.

[@MrFluke039]

trackpad adhesive is gonna mess someone life up to the screen

[@bobbymoss6160]

There's an excessive amounts of cable overs and screws in this machine. I'm sure the consumers are paying for all of them, despite them having nothing to do with the performance of the machine.

[@jeffreyjeffrey007]

Thank you for the video. Why did you decide to go all ASMR on the disassembly? Not necessary IMO.

[@Luzgar]

Why would it ever need more than one strip per cell ? Why can't they glue the cells to a plastic frame and screw that to the chassis ?

[@AArch64_Gamer]

Like the 2017 MacBook Air? I really miss that system where you could just unscrew to take out a part.

[@Spiderjin]

Awesome teardown! 😄 Love seeing repairability taking big steps forward (finally!). But those snapping adhesive tabs? Classic. And now I need an angry owl for my desk, thanks for the inspo!

[@pupsique]

Why the video named MacBook Pro M4 Teardown, but it's MacBook Pro M4 Pro?

[@crisantogarcia6646]

Living my best life would be tearing down things too

[@GalaxyRestore]

ok, i like it

[@jedics1]

Turning complexity into simplicity is the highest expression of mastery which Apple fails at here, it is a marvel of progress yet still falls short of its potential, imagine the tens of thousands of hours and millions invested to ensure this level of complexity even though the cpu and ram are now one and the ssd is non replacable and the battery is one step away from being the same. You just know they have toyed with the idea and rubbing their hands together over having to throw the whole laptop away once the battery won't hold a charge anymore.

[@clivecottam1509]

When will we see the ifixit electric screw driver? It was a pain to see you using this screwdriver.

[@Mike111Chou]

The disassembly sounds cause physical pain

[@laserjay]

«It's not the end of the world though, I keep some alcohol on hand for moments just like this.» ^^

[@bolttracks]

If only they'd just screw in the batteries like so many other manufacturers....

[@Vegeta_ble441]

Beautiful

[@khoifoto]

I think one of the most important criteria for the Apple hardware design team is to make everything the same so the factory does not have to retool.

[@JohnSmith-pn2vl]

there are an infinite number of insanely important criteria

[@webluke]

Seeing all the replicable connectors and everything screwed or stuck down with extra hardware makes you feel better about the premium price. It's too bad we are not seeing modular RAM and Storage, the speed argument poor explanation of the fact they make nearly double the profit just so you can have usable amounts.

[@vinching926]

You teardown something aren't meant to be repaired DIY, if there aren't any hardware binding locks, buried modular batteries and sensors, it's not Apple.

[@joanyadhatan]

6:25 LOL after so much disassembly you can only get access to the notoriously often failing, wearing connectors... this kind of complexity is nauseating to me, completely unnecessary over-complication, which of course is shoved down the throats of fans without a problem. (even the narrator can't stop praising the cool people at Apple) framework laptops are for me. connector replacement: one super easy movement, no screws, no torx and glue madness, 2-3 seconds for the whole process! :) 1:35 thousands of engineering hours? good work takes time, bad work takes even more anyway I liked your video, only the laptop was disappointing

[@denvernaicker8250]

Apple designs Macbook to be secure like a tank while people treat it like a baby and then have trouble repairing and maintaining it because it is a layered screwed in like tank. All of these components should be hot swappable easy to detach and replace.

[@MrBaskins2010]

it's like a swiss watch inside

[@JohnSmith-pn2vl]

Apple Quality is WAY above Rolex & co

[@richardcarl3130]

Why don't you use a power screwdriver?

[@editoons15]

easier to risk overtightening or stripping screws

[@Luzgar]

They want to show off the one they make and sell.

[@richardcarl3130]

@editoons15 understand that

[@sklynexd]

@@editoons15 Not really, it will just jump from the screw when it's done

[@connc]

ASMR

[@craigmountfield36]

Wow apple doing repairability thats a first

[@Sniper5354]

Is it still using the cursed buck converter?

[@HifiCentret]

If they really wanted they could easily have made swappable storage and ram. But then they can't charge an exorbitant price for it. Beside they cheap out not having to have a few internal connectors.

[@tenninebt]

Should probably fix the title, it is an M4 Pro, not an M4. M4 have a single fan right?

[@bigbubba0439]

People keep saying "duhh you're removing the adhesive the wrong way!" but if Apple just didn't put adhesive in the first place, we wouldn't need to worry about this problem at all (and other companies HAVE shown it to be possible, so it's just laziness on Apple's end)

[@AmpdLSU]

How do you think it should be done without compromising on the volume of the battery?

[@blewis42002]

Bad take. You can hold it in either screws, but those can shake loose over time. Batteries should be held firmly in place.

[@andaroo79]

I've owned many many laptops and opened all of them up. None of the battery's are glued in. They are screwed into place making them easy to remove when they reach end of life. The only reason they are glued in place is to make it harder to swap out.

[@AmpdLSU]

@@andaroo79 I can't discount the possibility that the idea of making it tougher to replace could contribute to the design, but it's certainly not the ONLY reason. It's certainly a major consideration in the design of the unibody, the rigidity of the entire device, and the volume allotted to the battery alongside all the other componentry. The design is efficient and there is very little empty space. adding framing to the battery with extra screws and standoffs to secure it is a tradeoff for battery capacity and likely the torsional rigidity of the entire package, among other design considerations I can't even think of. Imagining that the only reason it is secured with adhesive tape is to make it difficult to replace is silly. Honestly, anyone that is deciding to replace their battery and going to iFixit to get a guide and do it themselves is not the kind of person that will see that the battery comes out with pull tab adhesives instead of screws and let that stop them from doing it themselves. Who is a DIYer that would see that as too hard of a challenge and give up? That's not the mindset of people who want to work on their own stuff. If you had that MacBook, would you not replace the battery because this video shows adhesive tabs? I understand the cynicism, but come on, it can't be the ONLY reason. Do you really think the folks that work on the design all have a primary agenda being "make it hard to get the battery out".

[@uhohwhy]

good to know m4 is more fixable than my life

[@Ethereal_Nex]

Most underaged comment

[@Onion_Knights]

if its the same, i think u can just end the video after the xray, then reuse the score from m3 macbook pro 😂

[@bagasyono1]

Those battery look small....

[@rhoderzau]

It's insane how well made they are compared to something like the Razer 16

[@rhoderzau]

@ ha it’s just what I’ve had experience with. It’s not that the Razer 16 is poorly built, just that this is on a whole other level. Things like the brackets keeping the antenna in place.

[@ranjitmandal1612]

Crazy mobo

[@jec_ecart]

E waste.

[@TheSpotify95]

So no upgradable RAM, no upgradable storage, no repairable screens, no replacement Touch ID (for the fingerprint) and a slew of other parts pairing? No thanks.

[@KellyWu04]

Gets 12 hours of battery with my use so I don’t need to charge it over my very long college day so it’s all worth it.

[@ratzlord3125]

even I expected a swappable storage at least, like the Mac Mini

[@KC-bi9jw]

You think you said something revealing lol, how are you just now realizing what we all figured out in 2016?

[@awwwtomotive]

0:29 🦉 🦉 🦉

[@raminpro9765]

REPAIRBLITY NUMBER= 7 OF 10

[@dominic7012]

The best laptop in the world, without a doubt. Nice job, Apple! 👍

[@joyjeetmohanty4321]

Anarc watch teardown

[@LOLMAN9538]

And still no way to upgrade the storage. Typical Apple.

[@iFixitYourself]

Typical Apple indeed.

[@Pleyer7575lol]

2:58 Memez

[@mohamedfayed8013]

increasing the number of screws just to screw with repair men and increase the cost of repair for the consumer to consider buying new . glue the battery to chassis is Apple way to screw with us without using screws . batteries were removable easily by a monkey in 1 second . then became built in fixed by 4 screws after 8 screws of the bottom panel can be repaired by anyone with a screw driver after watching a 5 minute repair guide video . now Apple glues it with 14 stretch-release adhesive because it used all the screws to secure the antenna.

[@Vendigo6666]

You are right. Thank's, Apple allows to open back cover😁

[@Geethepancake]

me watching on my m4 macbook pro: my mac

[@Argonsoft18]

❤

[@ZeroHourProductions407]

And just for opening it, this Mac will certainly be banned from updates, because Tim Cook said so. 🖕

[@buixote]

Denatured Alcohol works better than Isopropyl

[@AlbertoDiGiovanni]

I had to throw away an Apple keyboard because I cleaned it with denatured alcohol instead of isopropyl alcohol

[@yuyanjiu]

笑死，酒瓶装旧酒罢了，不如直接买m3的pro

[@PasirPrism]

Why can’t I simply remove some screws, exchange a ram card, ssd drive or even swap a better cpu from the same family…it’s not like it hasn’t been done before . Stop making tech disposable

[@ratzlord3125]

Framework laptop o7

[@arc8218]

that apple for ya, eco friendly bullshit

[@ducktails1695]

Because 99.9% of users don't care to do this? And it requires extra engineering and makes the laptop less reliable with moving parts. This isn't 1990 anymore. These laptops easily last 6-10yrs so IDK where you're getting these are disposable laptops. A lot of non-Apple laptops are the same way today for the same reasons.

[@curio78]

that 4000$ machine probably costs them

[@FaridAbbasbayli]

That could be an under $1600 version machine. And I would guess it actually costs more than $400 to produce. If you're considering only the bill of materials... maybe?

[@curio78]

@@FaridAbbasbayli Unlikley. There are laptops sold for 500$. And over time these laptops have fewer and fewer components. Almost everything is integrated into the APU. The motherboard is almost entirely empty. Inshort they are dirt cheap to produce. And so will cooling becomes cheap, These never had big batteries in them, So the only expensive parts compared to other laptops would be the screen and chassis. That's it. I was being generous when I said 400$.

[@FaridAbbasbayli]

@@curio78 Of course there are laptops that are cheap, but they usually consist of leftovers parts and cheap materials. Meanwhile, the bill of materials for iPhone is more than $400, a full laptop must be at least 1.5-2x that.

[@FaridAbbasbayli]

@@curio78 Even the bill of materials for iPhone is more than $400, a full laptop must be at least 1.5-2x that.

[@BlueHawk80]

sure, and R&D is nothing you ever heard of, right? noob.