The new MacBook Pro 2016 with Touch Bar is out, and everyone is talking about it. It's probably the best MacBook Apple has ever released, but when it comes down to the Touch Bar, many reviewers do not feel quite pleased with it.
Still, one of the most important things about the release of a new Apple product is knowing if it can be repaired easily or not at all. Seeing as these devices are usually expensive, knowing the reparability score is very important, especially for those who lack the cash to purchase a new one in quick succession.
Just recently, the folks at iFixit dug into the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar to see what's inside and how it all stacks up. If we've learned anything over the years, it should be quite easy to determine how this teardown will end. Yes, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar is not easily repairable, but at least it can be repaired.
Let's Lay It Down For You
The screws, for some strange reason, are proprietary. The SSD, RAM and processor are all soldered to the logic board, so right away it's almost impossible to replace these components should they go bad. Owners of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar will likely need to see professional help to repair the system should something goes awry.
Now, it doesn't end there because the battery is glued to the case for some odd reason. There was a time when folks could replace their MacBook batteries without fuss, but such is no longer the case, as Apple moves to make the device smaller and more compact.
The Touch Bar, on the other hand, further complicate matters. As it stands, regular users have little reason to open this device because they won't get too far. It would seem the only thing that can be removed is the Touchpad, as it's the same as the one found on the MacBook Pro 2016 that lacks the Touch Bar.
This is a real kick in the gut for DYI folks who would rather not have to pay someone to fix something they should be able to do themselves.
With computer devices getting smaller each year, there might come a time where users will not have the option to repair or replace broken components by themselves, and that's a real shame.
Apple made another questionable decision with the design. You see, the speaker grills located on both ends are cosmetic because there are no speakers under them. The speakers are located at the lower portion of the case, so we're not certain what's the point of the speaker grills being on the side when sound does not project through them.
