The MacBook Neo is the “most repairable MacBook” in years, according to iFixit

Apple’s new MacBook Neo is not only the most affordable MacBook yet, it’s also the most repairable MacBook in “about fourteen years,” according to an in-depth analysis by website iFixit.

The “big story,” in iFixit’s view, is the battery. While older MacBook batteries are supposed to be glued in place, the Neo’s battery is held by a tray secured with 18 screws. That’s a lot of screws, but iFixit declared that “the screws still beat the adhesive every time.” In fact, this new arrangement — which should make replacing your MacBook’s battery much easier — “sent cheers across the iFixit office.”

Other changes that are said to make the MacBook Neo more repairable: a flatter disassembly tree, the fact that Repair Assistant seems to accept replacement parts without complaint, and an easier screen and keyboard to replace.

In the end, iFixit still had enough concerns — like RAM and storage — that it gave the Neo a repairability score of just 6 out of 10. But she said this is a solid score for a MacBook.

In 2012, Apple announced a redesign of its MacBook laptops with the new Retina Display MacBook Pro. This change was part of a push to move repair of Apple devices in-house, or to Apple-authorized repair shops, and remove much of the self-repairability that previous models had. Many parts of the new MacBook were glued together, including the memory cards and battery; iFixit gave this model a score of 1 out of 10 for repairability.

Since then, Apple has faced criticism for opposing certain rights to repair laws in states and creating so-called part coupling barriers that limit or prevent devices from working with non-manufacturer parts. Laws allowing people to repair devices in states including Oregon have prompted the company to lift restrictions on repairing iPhones using old parts.

Memory and storage are still soldered into the new MacBook Neo, making it difficult to upgrade. “But the parts that fail first are easier to access than any MacBook has been in a long time,” iFixit said. “The battery is installed rather than glued. The ports are standard. The screen is easy to replace. The interior design is also unusually sensible.”