iFixit Tears Down M5 MacBook Pro: What’s New Inside Apple’s Latest Laptop
Repair experts at iFixit have shared their full teardown of Apple’s new M5 MacBook Pro, offering a closer look at the internal design, battery setup, and repairability improvements. Released on Wednesday, the latest MacBook Pro may look identical to the M4 version, but subtle tweaks inside show Apple’s ongoing effort to refine performance and user experience.
Minimal Exterior Changes, But Some Internal Tweaks
The iFixit teardown of the M5 MacBook Pro shows few visible changes from its predecessor. The casing still relies on P5 screws, maintaining Apple’s signature tight build. However, iFixit noted that replacing the battery remains unnecessarily complicated since Apple continues to sell it as part of the main chassis, which also houses the keyboard.
Accessing internal components like fans, ports, and the logic board still requires significant disassembly. According to iFixit, nearly every component must be removed to follow Apple’s official process for a battery replacement—a point of frustration for DIY repair enthusiasts.
Improved Battery Access and a Slight Power Boost
Despite the repair hurdles, iFixit’s teardown of the M5 MacBook Pro uncovered one small but welcome improvement: the trackpad no longer needs to be removed to reach the pull tabs on the central battery cells. This update simplifies the process just enough to make battery replacements less daunting for technicians.
The M5 model also features a new 72.6 Wh battery, slightly larger than the 72.4 Wh pack used in the previous M4 MacBook Pro. Curiously, Apple’s official specs page still lists the older 72.4 Wh figure, suggesting a minor but unadvertised capacity bump.
Inside the M5 Chip and Cooling System
As expected, the main star of the teardown is the Apple M5 chip, which brings improved speed and efficiency to the MacBook lineup. While iFixit hasn’t yet measured thermals in depth, the internal design seems optimized for the M5’s enhanced performance and cooling demands.
The cooling fan setup remains largely unchanged, but Apple’s thermal paste and heatsink layout appear slightly refined, potentially offering more consistent temperature regulation under heavy workloads.
Repairability Score and Final Thoughts
iFixit praised Apple for minor steps toward easier battery access but criticized the company’s continued tendency to restrict modular repairs. As a result, the M5 MacBook Pro’s repairability score remains modest, with users still facing challenges when attempting self-service maintenance.
For most users, these changes won’t impact day-to-day use—the M5 MacBook Pro continues to deliver exceptional performance and battery life. However, repair professionals and right-to-repair advocates are keeping a close eye on how Apple balances innovation with serviceability in its future models.
The iFixit teardown of the M5 MacBook Pro confirms what many expected: the M5 upgrade focuses on power and efficiency, not hardware design. While the slight battery improvement and easier pull-tab access are welcome, Apple’s approach to repairability remains a mixed bag.
As Apple pushes the boundaries of chip performance, the conversation around sustainability and repair accessibility continues to heat up—and iFixit’s detailed teardown provides another critical look under the aluminum hood.
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