iFixit Says Apple's DIY Repair Program Makes MacBooks 'Seem Less Repairable'

The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models with the M1 series of chips have been added to the Self Service Repair program.

IFixit provides 14-inch MacBook Pro batteries.

The expansion of the program is good news for the right-to-repair movement, but iFixit doesn't like the way it's implemented. Apple is competing with iFixit in this area of business.

iFixit's Sam Goldheart wrote that Apple's program makes the MacBook Pro seem less repairable because Apple's current procedure for replacing a MacBook Pro's battery is too time consuming.

Apple's program doesn't allow customers to order a replacement battery for the MacBook Pro. The "top case" includes a glue-in battery. The customer will need to follow Apple's repair manual to replace the "top case" in their MacBook Pro.

The keyboard, battery, speakers, and other items are included in top cases. Apple's self-service parts store charges $527 for a top case for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, which makes it more expensive to replace a MacBook Pro's battery through the program, compared to having an Apple Store or Apple Service Provider complete the job.

Apple is giving do it yourself repairers a lot of trouble: read a lot of documentation, pay a lot of money for an overkill replacement part, and do it anyways. We wonder if Apple wants better repairability.

Although details remain slim, Apple says a battery replacement part will be available for the MacBook Pro in the future. Even if Apple releases a replacement battery, it will still be cheaper and easier for the company to handle.