iFixit: MacBook Pro 16-inch is very hard to fix

Today the iFixit team has completely dismantled the MacBook Pro 16-inch, allowing us to understand Apple’s improvements in keyboards and other components. Since Apple canceled the 17-inch MacBook Pro product line, which is maintained at 13-inch and 15-inch year-round, the 2019 MacBook Pro has the largest screen area. In addition, the new model is equipped with a new scissor keyboard (called Magic Keyboard), a new cooling architecture and other design adjustments.

On the keyboard side, Apple has reverted to the same scissor-switch mechanism used by the old MacBook Pro and the standalone Bluetooth Magic Keyboard for iMac. It’s slightly thinner than the previous scissor button design, but iFixit says that in addition to thickness, the two scissor mechanisms look exactly the same, and some of the keys between the two keyboards are even interchangeable.

Scissor switches are more reliable than butterfly switches and are not easily broken by dust or other small particles. In addition to the new scissor switch, although there are separate physical Escape keys, separate Touch ID buttons and inverted “T” shaped design of the arrow keys, the rest of the keyboard is essentially identical to the previous generation.

Below the keyboard are an Apple-designed rubber dome, a backlight assembly. The keyboard assembly is riveted, which means that the keyboard itself is no easier to repair than a butterfly keyboard, even if they are less prone to failure.

Apple added a new speaker system to the MacBook Pro with a longer speaker enclosure and opposing woofer at the top and bottom to counteract each other’s vibrations. iFixit isn’t sure why there’s a longer shell but speculates it will redirect the sound to improve quality. The new three microphone arrays are also “eye-catching”, but the same as the 15-inch MacBook Pro.

Apple used a 99.8Wh (11.36V, 8790mAh) battery in the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which is the maximum capacity that airlines still allow on an airplane. Compared with the previous 15-inch MacBook Pro, it has increased 16.2Wh, which is the largest battery used in the MacBook. In order to get more capacity for the new machine, Apple will have a thickness of 0.8 mm per battery.

Overall, the MacBook Pro has a maintainability score of 1, because the processor, RAM, and storage devices are soldered to the logic board, while the keyboard, battery, speakers, and Touch Bar are secured with glue and rivets.