Despite minor hardware improvements compared with its predecessor, the new 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro features interesting repairability tweaks, according to iFixit’s teardown. Here are the details.

As noted in most reviews of the new 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro, this year’s release offers relatively small performance gains when compared with the M4 MacBook Pro. At the same time, it reflects Apple’s steady year-over-year progress since moving away from Intel.

With that in mind, iFixit asked, “Did Apple upgrade the MacBook Pro’s repairability?” and set out to find the answer.

### M5 MacBook Pro Teardown Insights

The first thing iFixit points out in its teardown is that, despite not being perfect, Apple’s official repair guides do make the teardown process easier and safer. They note:

> “I can see Apple’s recommended approach for making the device safe is to remove the Battery Management System’s cable first. This cuts power to the rest of the device, even as the battery is connected, preventing any accidental short circuits while I continue to dispatch the trackpad flex cable that sits over the battery connector.”

However, iFixit highlights that replacing the battery still involves swapping out several internal components, which remains one of its longest-standing criticisms regarding both repairability and environmental impact in the current MacBook Pro design:

> “This is why selling a battery preinstalled in a chassis is such a bad idea. Because guess what happens now? Everything I just took apart has to be reinstalled, but in the new chassis. It’s arduous, it’s tedious, and nobody really wants to do that.”

They also note that the six-cell battery now has a capacity of 72.6 Wh, which is a minor upgrade from the M4 model’s 72.4 Wh pack. In practice, this small change reveals both progress and ongoing pain points.

Another sticking point is that replacing most of the laptop’s components requires removing the logic board, a process that can be tricky. Additionally, removing the screen requires taking off the antenna bracket first, so a few crucial screws can become accessible. iFixit describes this as:

> “A tedious affair, especially where the multiple tiny P2 screws are concerned.”

### Positive Repairability Tweaks

On the upside, iFixit appreciates a simple but significant improvement: Apple has brought all the battery pull tabs within reach without requiring the removal of the trackpad. This means that if Apple ever decides to release the battery as a standalone part, that repair would be considerably simplified.

iFixit also praises Apple’s decision to release repair guides for the new M5 MacBook Pro on day one, calling it “delightful.” This transparency helps consumers and repair shops anticipate which spare parts will be available and understand how easy they will be to replace.

### Repairability Score and Outlook

The new 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro scored a 4 out of 10 on iFixit’s reparability scale. While this isn’t a dramatic improvement, iFixit notes that:

> “With the repairability progress we saw in this version, we’re tantalisingly close to that repairable MacBook we’ve all wanted.”

For those interested, you can watch the full teardown below.

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https://9to5mac.com/2025/10/24/ifixit-tears-down-the-m5-macbook-pro-and-finds-small-but-welcome-repairability-improvements/