David Hanak Popular server iFixit published detailed procedure for disassembling the new MacBook Air. Quite a lot has changed compared to recent MacBooks. The "good old" days of replaceable components are irretrievably gone, even in the case of the battery. It can be replaced, but this year's model is quite far from the simplicity of the previous model.
The new MacBook Air is assembled in more or less the same way as all MacBooks from previous years. The lower part of the chassis is held by several pentalobe screws, after unscrewing which the cover can be removed. The following is a look at the internal layout of the components, from which a lot can be read. Continuing with the dissection, everything turned out to be relatively easy. The motherboard is held on by six screws. The fan and components of the individual ports are attached in a similar style. Both the PCB on the left side of the computer with a pair of Thunderbolt 3 connectors and the PCB on the right with the 3,5 mm audio connector are modular and their disassembly is relatively easy.
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However, the same cannot be said about the touchpad, which is also replaceable, but in order to get to it, you need to dismantle the entire motherboard and the upper part of the chassis with the keyboard. Other components are already attached using glue. Although it holds the speakers firmly, their removal is not difficult at all. The same applies to the battery, which is newly attached using the adhesive strips that Apple usually uses to fix batteries in iPhones and iPads. These strips allow relatively trouble-free battery removal. It's a much friendlier solution than classic glue in the case of a MacBook or MacBook Pro. However, the old solution in the form of screws is probably gone forever.
During further disassembly, a completely modular Touch ID sensor appears, the display is also relatively easy to remove. But that's the end of the process, everything else is hard soldered to the motherboard. That is, both the processor and memory storage or operating memory. A (expected) disappointment in that regard. The average user does not have much reason to get inside their MacBook Air. Service technicians will be pleased by the modularity and easy availability of internal components.
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Dan Pražák As a result, the experts from iFixit gave the reincarnated MacBook Air a repairability score of 3 out of 10. They especially appreciate several modular components and easy access to them. On the other hand, the keyboard integrated into the upper part of the chassis earned a negative rating, as a result of which its replacement is quite complicated and requires disassembly of the entire laptop. The non-replaceable operating memory and SSD also reduced the score significantly.
