iFixit Shares M4 MacBook Pro Teardown

Repair site iFixit today shared a teardown video of the M4 Pro MacBook Pro, giving us a look inside of the machine. Apple didn't make any external design changes to the ‌MacBook Pro‌ models, but iFixit was hopeful for repairability improvements.


Unfortunately, the M4 Pro ‌MacBook Pro‌ that iFixit took apart was almost identical to the M3 ‌MacBook Pro‌, which means Apple kept almost the same internal design as well.

The M4 Pro ‌MacBook Pro‌ has a larger heatsink than the M3 ‌MacBook Pro‌ for improved heat dissipation, but the battery build and size are the same. Removing the battery still requires removing the trackpad because the battery's adhesive tabs are under the trackpad hardware. Getting to the logic board is "incredibly complex and tedious" due to all the screws and the cables that are in the way.

Overall, repairing and replacing parts in the ‌MacBook Pro‌ has not changed. Apple provides repair information, parts details, tools, and guides on its website.

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Top Rated Comments

c84216 Avatar
4 weeks ago
Why is it “unfortunate” that this is similar to the M3 model and Apple kept the internals the same? Nothing is wrong and nobody was complaining!
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nathan_reilly Avatar
4 weeks ago
watching on my completely useless M3 Max MacBook pro ?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Duncan-UK Avatar
4 weeks ago
Although I can appreciate their frustration with the lack of improved repairability, I have to admire the sheer achievements of the modern consumer electronics manufacturing process. I'm continually dazzled by how they manage to pack so much in and have the production facilities to churn these out by the multiple millions. The sheer scale is dizzying.

The "Inside the Factory" nerd in me would love to see the manufacturing process in full of modern laptops, tablets and phones!
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nathan_reilly Avatar
4 weeks ago

Why is it “unfortunate” that this is similar to the M3 model and Apple kept the internals the same? Nothing is wrong and nobody was complaining!
I think they're saying it's "unfortunate" bc the narrative of the video starts out with repairability upgrades to other Apple products that have come out recently. so the narrator rhetorically asks if there is more of the same in the M4 MBP. And ofc ifixit has a horse in the repairability race, so I guess you could be cynical and say it's really most "unfortunate" for them. But I happen to like fixing my macs too so I am always hoping for more improvements in this area. So it is a bit unforunate for me as well that nothing as improved in that regard. But then again, I have the previous generation ?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JPack Avatar
4 weeks ago
Yes, it's an SoC and display upgrade. The fact that it has the same box art wallpaper hinted at this already. But it's a fairly large jump in processing power and base memory.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
switz Avatar
4 weeks ago
Back in the day when we could swap memory, graphics cards and drives, the iFixit tear downs enables the casual owner the ability to do these simple jobs (like swapping the disc drives in the Mac mini could be a challenge).

Since the done and welded machines became the norm, I have not had issues with Apple Displays, computers, phones or iPads. However, I did have two failures of lithium batteries in the last two iPods I had and took them to Apple to dispose of them (became very pregnant and lifted the glass of the display off the case).

At my age (80 next spring), manual dexterity has declined and a steady hand for tiny parts is no longer an option. Lots of the things I used to do twenty years ago are but fond memories now.

I have no interest in working on the car engines anymore and let the youth do the maintenance. Same goes for electronics today. They just work. The new Apple gear we just acquired may out live me.

If it is not broke, don't fix it :)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)