The 2019 13-inch MacBook Pro is even less repairable than its predecessors

Apple does not seem to want to be outdone by Dell and its XPS 13 2-in-1, as it has made its new 13-inch MacBook Pro even less repairable than its predecessors. Most modern laptops have soldered RAM, but Apple went either further and switched to a proprietary SSD for the 2017 13-inch MacBook Pro. iFixit has got its hands on the recently announced 13-inch MacBook Pro, and it is not good news for those who like to repair their devices.

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro has a soldered SSD, just like the XPS 13 2-in-1. Apple has shaved a bit off the heatsink too, so it will be interesting to see how well the new device can cool its quad-core CPU. Positively, Apple has included a 7% larger battery, which now has a 58.2 Wh capacity up from 54.5 Wh. Additionally, the headphone jack makes a return and is replaceable, as are the Thunderbolt ports.

However, soldered SSDs are never a good idea, with Apple having built planned obsolescence into the new 13-inch MacBook Pro. SSDs have life spans and do fail. Replacing dead drives is a relatively simple, albeit potentially long-winded, task on most machines. By contrast, if a drive were to fail on the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, then you are looking at a new logic board and probably a new machine if it is within warranty. The kicker? Companies like Samsung guarantee their SSDs for around 5 years use, several years after most laptop warranty periods end. Good job, Apple.