2020 MacBook Air More Repairable Than Predecessor

iFixit has done another of their in-depth teardowns of a new computer and the results are good news for owners of Apple’s most recent MacBook Air.

Apple released a significant refresh of the MacBook Air last week, improving the processor and storage, as well as replacing the much-maligned Butterfly keyboard with the new Magic Keyboard. The new keyboard is a return to the scissor mechanism that has been the basis of keyboards for decades, and has proven to be far more reliable.

iFixit’s teardown, however, reveals a number of other improvements under the hood. First and foremost, the new model is more repairable than previous generations. Significantly, re-routed trackpad cables make it possible to replace both the battery and trackpad. The speakers also gain screws, making it easier to replace them if needed.

Another significant improvement is a larger heatsink over the processor. Apple has said nothing about a larger heatsink, but it’s likely the addition will improve the Air’s sustained performance by helping to keep it cooler.

All-in-all, iFixit gave the new model 4 out of 10 on their repairability scale, up one point from the previous model. The upgrades are welcome improvements and demonstrate that Apple may finally be listening to customers wanting more control over their own repairs.