ReportWire

Tag: iFixit

  • Apple makes the M5 MacBook Pro’s battery ever so slightly easier to replace

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    Just like a minor upgrade in specs, Apple’s latest M5 MacBook Pro gets the slightest improvement when it comes to repairability. According to iFixit’s teardown, the M5 MacBook Pro is the first of its kind that lets you replace the battery without having to remove the trackpad. However, Apple’s official method of replacing the battery still requires navigating an arduous process that may steer most users away.

    For anyone willing to tackle the DIY repair, Apple’s Self Service Repair Store only offers a Top Case with Battery and Keyboard in its product parts catalog. Since the only option to replace the battery is buying this main chassis part with both the keyboard and battery pre-installed, MacBook Pro owners will also have to disassemble an irritating number of unrelated screws and hardware — except for the trackpad — just to replace a battery. However, iFixit confirmed that Apple included a slightly upgraded 72.6Wh battery with the latest MacBook Pro compared to its predecessor’s 72.4Wh battery.

    It’s minor progress for battery replacement, so iFixit still gave the M5 MacBook Pro a four out of 10 repairability score, meaning it’s possible to do yourself, but it’s “tougher than it needs to be.” The latest score is a bump down from the M1 MacBook Pro that earned a five out of 10, but Apple has made incremental steps towards making MacBook repairs more accessible.

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    Jackson Chen

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  • iFixit says the Pixel Watch 4 is the most repairable smartwatch around

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    When Google the Pixel Watch 4, it made a point to mention that the smartwatch was “designed with serviceability in mind.” Now that it’s out, the repair experts at iFixit have taken a look and can confirm Google’s claims. The how-to specialist site has called the Pixel Watch 4 the most repairable you can buy right now. That’s notable, as iFixit , because you’d probably expect a sustainability-oriented brand such as Fairphone or Framework to be getting this kind of recognition ahead of Google. (That said, the Fairphone 6 did recently receive a perfect 10/10 repairability .) But iFixit said it was “truly impressed” with what owners can do to fix Google’s latest wearable on their own.

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    The first thing it highlights is the presence of visible screws that don’t interfere with the watch’s IP68 water and dust resistance rating. Both the vibration motor and battery are also easy to remove, the latter being glue-free and requiring you only to unscrew from its enclosure. As for the display, that’s also secured by screws alone (spotting a pattern here yet?) and sealed using a replaceable O-ring gasket that you can easily purchase. iFixit notes that it’s harder for square watches to use the same solution, so Google’s decision to make the Pixel Watch 4 round boosts its repairability.

    At the end of its comprehensive video, iFixit awards Google a provisional rating of 9/10 for repairability, calling it “the most satisfying smartwatch teardown” it has performed to date. For transparency, the site points out that it does have an ongoing business partnership with Google, but insists it’s completely unrelated to the teardown treatment it gives the Pixel Watch 4.

    Its perhaps surprising level of repairability isn’t the only thing in the Pixel Watch 4’s favor. In Engadget’s 86/100 of the device, Cherlynn Low also praised its rapid charging speeds, excellent health and fitness tracking credentials and attractive display.

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    Matt Tate

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  • iFixit calls Meta’s Ray-Ban Display glasses ‘unrepairable’ but praises the tech

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    The how-to website iFixit augmented reality glasses and came away impressed by the tech but wary of repairability. As a matter of fact, one of the techs said in the accompanying video that it’s “very clear that the first iterations of these smartglasses are going to be unrepairable.”

    This repairability issue is relatively unsurprising, given this is a newish technology. The website says there are several factors that contribute to the problem, noting that users would have to split the arms and frame in half to do something as simple as replacing a battery and Meta doesn’t provide any way to do that. “Any repairs here are going to need specialized skills and specialized tools,” the tech concluded. This also applies to the speakers, as they are soldered in.

    The same goes when looking to replace the lenses, as they are specially-made and would be difficult to source. However, iFixit did come away impressed with the glassmaking skills used to manufacture these lenses.

    The lenses use a reflective geometric waveguide system that bounce light to the wearer’s eyes at specific angles using partially reflective mirrors. This not only creates an augmented reality experience but helps prevent other people from getting a glimpse of the screen when staring at you.

    There’s a mini-projector in the right arm, which would also be difficult to repair. This liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) device creates a 600×600-pixel grid image that should be free from artifacts and won’t flash the tell-tale “eye glow” at onlookers. Again, this is due to the lenses, as they differ from older diffractive systems.

    All of this advanced tech adds up and iFixit thinks Meta may be selling these glasses at a loss, as those lenses are particularly expensive to manufacture. Despite this, the website urges Meta to prioritize “replaceable batteries, modular arms and swappable lenses” in the future.

    The Meta Ray-Ban Display AR glasses are already on . We thoroughly enjoyed our time with them , calling them “discrete and intuitive.”

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    Lawrence Bonk

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  • iFixit’s teardown shows the iPhone Air doesn’t sacrifice repairability for thinness

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    Apple manages to hold onto its recent repairability record with the latest iPhone Air, which maintains a provisional 7 out of 10 in iFixit’s teardown. As seen in the teardown, the iPhone Air can easily swap batteries, has a modular USB-C port and offers day-one repair guides. Even though the iPhone Air represents Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever at 5.6mm, iFixit said the slim design makes repairs “more approachable, not less.”

    Apple kept the same battery design that was introduced with the iPhone 16 lineup, which switched to an electrically released battery adhesive for more consistent replacements. Similarly, you don’t have to ever risk damaging the OLED display when swapping an iPhone Air battery, since there’s still that dual-entry access allowing you to access it from the back glass.

    Being a smartphone that emphasizes thinness, Apple had to sacrifice some battery life with the iPhone Air. However, in our review, we found that the iPhone Air was comparable to other models in the iPhone 17 lineup and lasted nearly an entire day in real-world testing. iFixit also discovered that the battery is the same exact one found in the accompanying MagSafe Battery accessory that goes for $99, which iFixit likened to a “spare tire.” On top of that, the included battery is encased in metal, making it easier to replace and offering some protection against bending.

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    Jackson Chen

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