{"id":6112,"date":"2024-11-26T08:02:08","date_gmt":"2024-11-26T08:02:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.newat9.com\/index.php\/2024\/11\/26\/m4-macbook-pro-features-soldered-storage-and-battery-glue-the-register\/"},"modified":"2024-11-26T08:02:08","modified_gmt":"2024-11-26T08:02:08","slug":"m4-macbook-pro-features-soldered-storage-and-battery-glue-the-register","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tech.newat9.com\/index.php\/2024\/11\/26\/m4-macbook-pro-features-soldered-storage-and-battery-glue-the-register\/","title":{"rendered":"M4 MacBook Pro features soldered storage and battery glue \u2022 The Register"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"body\">\n<p>Despite improved repairability scores for Apple&#8217;s latest iPhone and Mac Mini, the iFixit team says it was left underwhelmed after tearing into the new M4 MacBook Pro.<\/p>\n<p>The reassuringly expensive brand is hardly alone in building hardware deemed hard to mend, and in the pursurt of slimmer and lighter devices, the company&#8217;s engineers have &#8211; at times &#8211; been a little too liberal with the glue and difficult-to-find screws.<\/p>\n<p>Yet Apple has recently taken strides to undo its bad reputation for repairability and upgradeability and things seemed to be changing.<\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"adun\" data-pos=\"top\" data-raptor=\"condor\" data-xsm=\",fluid,mpu,\" data-sm=\",fluid,mpu,\" data-md=\",fluid,mpu,\">\n        <noscript><br \/>\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/pubads.g.doubleclick.net\/gampad\/jump?co=1&amp;iu=\/6978\/reg_onprem\/personaltech&amp;sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&amp;tile=2&amp;c=2Z0WAgCqfLBQIO550D_-62wAAARg&amp;t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pubads.g.doubleclick.net\/gampad\/ad?co=1&amp;iu=\/6978\/reg_onprem\/personaltech&amp;sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&amp;tile=2&amp;c=2Z0WAgCqfLBQIO550D_-62wAAARg&amp;t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0\" alt=\"\"\/><br \/>\n            <\/a><br \/>\n        <\/noscript>\n    <\/div>\n<p>The iPhone 16, for example, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theregister.com\/2024\/09\/23\/iphone_16_teardown_ifixit\/\" rel=\"noopener\">received plaudits<\/a> for featuring adhesive that debonded when an electrical current was passed through it \u2013 useful for switching out the battery. Similarly, the recent M4 Mac Mini featured storage and a CMOS battery that could be changed without a soldering iron or logic board replacement.<\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"adun\" data-pos=\"top\" data-raptor=\"falcon\" data-xmd=\",fluid,mpu,leaderboard,\" data-lg=\",fluid,mpu,leaderboard,\" data-xlg=\",fluid,billboard,superleaderboard,mpu,leaderboard,\" data-xxlg=\",fluid,billboard,superleaderboard,brandwidth,brandimpact,leaderboard,mpu,\">\n            <noscript><br \/>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/pubads.g.doubleclick.net\/gampad\/jump?co=1&amp;iu=\/6978\/reg_onprem\/personaltech&amp;sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&amp;tile=4&amp;c=44Z0WAgCqfLBQIO550D_-62wAAARg&amp;t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pubads.g.doubleclick.net\/gampad\/ad?co=1&amp;iu=\/6978\/reg_onprem\/personaltech&amp;sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&amp;tile=4&amp;c=44Z0WAgCqfLBQIO550D_-62wAAARg&amp;t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D426raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0\" alt=\"\"\/><br \/>\n                <\/a><br \/>\n            <\/noscript>\n        <\/div>\n<div class=\"adun_eagle_desktop_story_wrapper\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"adun\" data-pos=\"mid\" data-raptor=\"eagle\" data-xxlg=\",mpu,dmpu,\">\n                <noscript><br \/>\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/pubads.g.doubleclick.net\/gampad\/jump?co=1&amp;iu=\/6978\/reg_onprem\/personaltech&amp;sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&amp;tile=3&amp;c=33Z0WAgCqfLBQIO550D_-62wAAARg&amp;t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pubads.g.doubleclick.net\/gampad\/ad?co=1&amp;iu=\/6978\/reg_onprem\/personaltech&amp;sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&amp;tile=3&amp;c=33Z0WAgCqfLBQIO550D_-62wAAARg&amp;t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0\" alt=\"\"\/><br \/>\n                    <\/a><br \/>\n                <\/noscript>\n            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Hopes were therefore high for Apple&#8217;s M4 MacBook Pro \u2013 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ifixit.com\/News\/106300\/macbook-pro-m4-pro-teardown-new-model-same-repair-situation\">before being dashed<\/a>. Sure, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.macrumors.com\/2024\/11\/23\/macbook-pro-speaker-repairs-more-affordable\/\">MacRumors<\/a> spotted a reference to repair parts for speakers, but replacing the battery on an M4 MacBook Pro appears to be just as tricky a repair as on the previous generation. Storage is also unhelpfully soldered to the logic board.<\/p>\n<div class=\"CaptionedImage Center Border\"><a href=\"https:\/\/regmedia.co.uk\/2024\/11\/25\/m4_macbook_pro.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/regmedia.co.uk\/2024\/11\/25\/m4_macbook_pro.jpg?x=648&amp;y=365&amp;infer_y=1\" alt=\"Comparison between M3 MacBook Pro internals and M4 (pic: iFixit)\" title=\"Comparison between M3 MacBook Pro internals and M4 (pic: iFixit)\" height=\"365\" width=\"648\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"text_center\">M3 and M4 MacBook Pro internals compared (pic: iFixit)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Although many of the ports are modular, it is most likely the battery that users will seek to replace to extend their device&#8217;s life. Getting to it required the removal of multiple screws by the iFixit team, the trackpad, and stretch-release adhesive tabs (after first disconnecting the battery from the laptop). It is no more onerous than the previous model, but a shame considering the strides taken by Apple with other devices.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Logic board removal in the MacBook is a bit of a &#8216;process,&#8217; which is a gentle way of saying it&#8217;s incredibly complex and tedious,&#8221; iFixit said.<\/p>\n<p>Most of that process can be accomplished with a set of screwdrivers, yet it is not a task for the faint-hearted. Some of the ports \u2013 the card reader and MagSafe ports, according to iFixit \u2013 are also soldered to the logic board, so replacement would require some impressive soldering skills.<\/p>\n<p>However, Apple&#8217;s decision to stick with soldered storage is frustrating and speaks more of the company&#8217;s reluctance to redesign the MacBook Pro than any technological limitation. With hardware replacement cycles lengthening, having to ditch an entire laptop rather than swap out the storage is, at best, irritating. As far as Apple&#8217;s enterprise ambitions are concerned, it is, at worst, a reason for administrators to use alternatives.<\/p>\n<p>The iFixit team has yet to give the M4 MacBook Pro a repairability score at the time of writing. However, since the hardware is very similar to the previous generation, the score will likely be broadly the same: 4 out of 10.<\/p>\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"adun\" data-pos=\"top\" data-raptor=\"falcon\" data-xsm=\",fluid,mpu,\" data-sm=\",fluid,mpu,\" data-md=\",fluid,mpu,\">\n            <noscript><br \/>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/pubads.g.doubleclick.net\/gampad\/jump?co=1&amp;iu=\/6978\/reg_onprem\/personaltech&amp;sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&amp;tile=4&amp;c=44Z0WAgCqfLBQIO550D_-62wAAARg&amp;t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pubads.g.doubleclick.net\/gampad\/ad?co=1&amp;iu=\/6978\/reg_onprem\/personaltech&amp;sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&amp;tile=4&amp;c=44Z0WAgCqfLBQIO550D_-62wAAARg&amp;t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D426raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0\" alt=\"\"\/><br \/>\n                <\/a><br \/>\n            <\/noscript>\n        <\/div>\n<p>An iFixit spokesperson told <i>El Reg<\/i>: &#8220;Parts pairing and calibration issues remain a major obstacle. Batteries and ports are relatively repair-friendly, but swapping displays or logic boards is a minefield of software locks.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Apple has told us that they want to make progress on removing those obstacles, but we haven&#8217;t seen it in practice yet.&#8221; \u00ae<\/p>\n<p>is hardly alone in manufacturing hardware as user-unfriendly as possible in the pursuit of slimmer and lighter devices, the company&#8217;s engineers have, at times, been a little too liberal with the glue and difficult-to-find screws.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theregister.com\/2024\/11\/25\/m4_macbook_teardown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Despite improved repairability scores for Apple&#8217;s latest iPhone and Mac Mini, the iFixit team says it was left underwhelmed after [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6113,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tech.newat9.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6112"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tech.newat9.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tech.newat9.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tech.newat9.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tech.newat9.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6112"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tech.newat9.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6112\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tech.newat9.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tech.newat9.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tech.newat9.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tech.newat9.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}