Apple Breaks with the Past: MacBook Neo Is Modular and Easy to Repair

This year Apple has decided to leave everyone stunned with an unexpected move by its standards. With the launch of MacBook Neo, the Cupertino company did not simply present a device at a competitive price, priced at €699, but breaks decisively with more than a decade of construction philosophy based on soldered components and heavy use of glue.

The new model marks a return to the basics of maintenance, presenting itself as a machine designed to last over time thanks to a design modular and accessible.

Right to Repair: MacBook Neo is Cupertino’s easiest laptop to repair ever

The structural change introduced with MacBook Neo is a concrete response to the growing pressures of the right-to-repair movement and to the upcoming European Union regulations that will impose stricter reparability standards (starting next year).

The internal structure of the budget laptop in the line almost completely abandons the use of adhesives to facilitate easier maintenance — for both technicians and more experienced users. Access to the components is extremely intuitive: simply unscrew eight screws on the bottom of the case to reveal a tidy, clean internal layout where cables are routed with precision.

Unlike previous models, where the battery was often permanently glued to the chassis, MacBook Neo uses a system of 18 screws to hold the accumulator in place, allowing safe removal without the use of potentially harmful chemical solvents.

Even components subject to frequent wear, such as USB-C ports and the headphone jack, are no longer soldered but configured as separate modules and easily replaceable.

The real surprise for enthusiasts, however, concerns memory management. In a sharp reversal of the trend set since 2012, Apple has equipped the MacBook Neo with standardized RAM and SSD slots, allowing users to expand storage space and memory even after purchase.

Additionally, inside the chassis there is a more compact motherboard, cooled by a single fan and easily accessible. This allows easy replacement of thermal paste.

All these changes not only extend the life of the laptop, but drastically reduce repair costs and electronic waste. MacBook Neo represents a turning point and may not remain an isolated case. Moving from a closed system to a modular and upgradable structure is certainly advantageous for users, but now it remains to be seen whether this philosophy will also be extended to the more expensive Pro lines.