Apple seems determined to put people off from attempting to fix their new MacBook.
The new MacBook is barely any different from last year’s model, with a slightly faster CPU, a slightly bigger battery, and a new Rose Gold option all there is to show for its extra 12 months of development.
However, a recent iFixit teardown has revealed one other notable internal difference.
This time around, Apple has used a new kind of screw in the hinge that’s designed to tip it off to any unauthorised tampering. These unique screws are filled with a substance that disintegrates when you insert a screwdriver.
If you attempt to crack open your expensive new MacBook, likely for a spot of DIY repair work, Apple will know. Or at least, it will know if you subsequently take the MacBook in for an official repair.
Needless to say, your attempts to claim such a repair under warranty will fail. As the report says, these screws “make you feel like a hoodlum for repairing your own machine.”
Related: Apple MacBook Pro 2016: Everything you need to know
In addition, the laptop’s processor, RAM, and flash memory remain soldered to the logic board, while the custom battery is glued to the lower case and the tiny Retina display is one fused unit.
All of which results in the renowned tech repair website giving the ‘new’ MacBook a rock-bottom 1 out of 10 score for repairability.
Related: Best laptop 2016
Next, check out our comparison of the tablet and laptop form factors:
Does Apple’s use of tamper-detecting screws bother you? Let us know in the comments.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.