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Apple’s new MacBook Pro with the M5 processor looks, feels, and performs almost identically to last year’s model. In the blink of an eye, you might miss this upgrade. In the blink of an eye, you might also miss the minimal marketing resources Apple has invested in this new model. But open it up, and you’ll find that Apple is taking a small step towards a truly repairable future for the MacBook.
Yes, performance has indeed improved. The M5 architecture doubles the maximum storage capacity to 4TB and improves SSD speeds and memory bandwidth. But for most M-series users, this is hardly a reason to upgrade to hardware from last year, the year before, or even earlier. I’m still using my M1 Pro MacBook Pro, and I certainly won’t be upgrading this time.
We didn’t have high expectations to begin with. Last year, when we disassembled the M4 MacBook Pro, we were already annoyed by the cumbersome process of replacing broken screens or ports. What we particularly hated was the maddening battery replacement process: first, remove the trackpad, then pull a stretchable strip out from a small window on the bezel (although the design was indeed ingenious).
Major (or moderate?) news: Battery removal is much easier as long as you don’t follow Apple’s official procedures. The trackpad doesn’t need to be removed, and there are no more hidden openings on the bezel. Don’t get me wrong, this update is still not particularly easy to repair, but at least we see a glimmer of hope and take a small step in the right direction.
Familiar exterior, with a few clever changes.
Opening the 14-inch MacBook Pro is the same as always: P5 screws, a snap-on bottom cover, and a familiar feel. But a significant change occurs before you even pick up your tools. Apple now provides a repair guide on day one. According to Apple, the first step is to disconnect the Battery Management System (BMS) cable to safely cut off power. This is a thoughtful design to prevent accidental short circuits when you’re removing screws and cables and finally physically disconnecting the battery. We’ve done this before, but Apple didn’t explicitly state it. This step-by-step instruction is incredibly useful, especially if you’re attempting a repair for the first time.
This is a small but real improvement in Apple’s repairability design and a strong addition to its ongoing program of parts and tools. However, a deeper look reveals that Apple still has a long way to go in its MacBook repair philosophy.
What? You don’t want to spend $500 on a new battery?
The 72.6Wh six-cell battery is the core of this teardown. On paper, it’s only a minor upgrade compared to the 72.4Wh battery pack in the M4 model, but in actual use, it shows both improvement and some shortcomings.
Apple’s official replacement process requires replacing the entire top cover, including the keyboard, just for this one consumable component. And this has been going on for a long time. This is an extremely tedious and unreasonable task, requiring complete disassembly and reassembly of the entire device. We’re talking about screws, shielding, logic boards, displays, Touch ID, trackpads—everything. In fact, the only parts that don’t need replacing are the keyboard and speakers. The keyboard is almost permanently fixed to the top cover, and the speakers are glued on—I guess, according to Apple, this means this kind of repair is beyond the scope of DIY (which we don’t agree with).
Although the updated parts haven’t been released yet, self-service repair shops currently only sell the “top cover with battery and keyboard” assembly for the M4 MacBook Pro (priced at a hefty $527). The “Important Information” message states: “The top cover replacement includes the battery. A separate battery replacement will be available in the future.” However, for now, this cumbersome and expensive replacement method is their only option for changing the battery. Is this simply a legacy issue of a design that has been used for nearly five years, and will only change with the next redesign? We don’t know.
The good news? For the first time, the MacBook Pro allows you to pull out the central battery unit without removing the trackpad. This is similar to the improvement we saw in the iPhone 17 Air design, prioritizing the ease of use of components that need immediate replacement. The pull tab under the battery is still a bit difficult to pull out (and will become even more difficult over time), but at least it’s easy to pull out now. Removing the trackpad on a MacBook has never been difficult, but we welcome this simplification.
Please compare the trackpad openings of the M4 MacBook Pro and M5 in the image below:
This raises the question: why doesn’t Apple sell batteries separately? We’ve proven that batteries can be removed and replaced without touching other parts of the machine. With some advanced electro-adhesive, battery replacement becomes incredibly easy. Hopefully, Apple will eventually adopt this suggestion. Apple used a tray-style battery design in recent MacBook Air models, and even so, it’s still a worthwhile improvement for that product.
Of course, you can rest assured that we will equip the MacBook Pro M5 with a separate battery as soon as possible.
Ports: Modular but concealed
Next, we began further disassembly. The speakers were glued on and could be removed with just a small amount of isopropyl alcohol and a steady hand. The top cover angle sensor was easy to remove, and the trackpad was easy to replace, just remember the small shims on each screw post.
Beyond that, things quickly get complicated. The fans and ports are fully modular, which is great… until you realize some ports are hidden beneath the logic board. This means you need to spend a lot of time unscrewing, disconnecting cables, and carefully moving expensive components to access them. For components like fans that require regular cleaning or replacement, this layout is simply redundant. It’s obvious Apple could at least place the fan bracket above the logic board, but they still haven’t, which is frustrating. I wouldn’t even attempt this without FixMat or some similar organization tool.
If Apple could design these ports to be individually replaceable (in which case, Apple is ahead of the curve), then they could certainly make them easily accessible.
Screen size barrier
Replacing the display also requires patience. The antenna bracket (covered with tiny pentagonal P2 screws) must be removed first to access the hinge bracket. Only then can the hinge screws be removed and the display taken off. This step is crucial if you’re replacing the battery according to Apple’s official procedure.
Just when you think everything is ready, the Touch ID sensor still needs recalibration. It slides out easily, but must be recalibrated after reinstallation. Fortunately, Apple’s new Repair Assistant tool can now handle most calibration problems automatically, a significant improvement for both DIY users and professionals. Note: The Repair Assistant could not calibrate our Touch ID module, but we are continuing to test it. Calibration of other components is normal.
Overall situation
So what does this mean? The M5 MacBook Pro isn’t a revolutionary innovation, but rather a cautious and gradual improvement on Apple’s already excellent hardware. We appreciate its improved battery pull tab design, the first-release repair manual, and software-assisted calibration. But its fundamental architecture remains unchanged: core components such as the battery, fan, and ports are still hidden beneath a beautiful but not user-friendly design.
Apple is moving in the right direction, but slowly. With each new model, we see signs that the repairability of the MacBook is improving. Currently, the initiative remains with Apple—and this has been the case for quite some time.