MacBooks have long been criticized for their sub-par repairability. You can say the same for much of Apple’s hardware, forcing users into an expensive repair, or simply persuading them to buy a brand-new model. But with the brand-new M5 MacBook Pro, Apple has made a few improvements, notably to the battery replacement process. It’s better than last gen, but there’s still a long way to go when compared to most other laptops.

iFixit, a well-known brand that produces guides and sells parts and tools for repairs, has performed its teardown of the M5 MacBook Pro. The new flagship model released on October 22 after a week-long pre order period. In a recent blog post, iFixit reveal that Apple is “inching ever so slightly closer” to more repairable MacBooks.

It’s slightly easier to replace the battery in the M5 MacBook Pro

iFixit details in its blog post that battery removal is an aspect which is easier than previous models. Although the battery is pretty much identical to its predecessor, prior generations of the device required you to laboriously remove the trackpad first before reaching adhesive pull tabs that allow you to lift the battery out. One problem, however, is that these pull tabs can be a pain to deal with as the adhesive hardens over time.

This is a welcome change for any DIY repairs moving forward, but still isn’t the way Apple does it officially. Apple’s own method involves removing the whole top case, including the keyboard. For this reason, buying a genuine Apple part from the Self Service Repair Store will likely cost you more than $500. The M5 parts aren’t up on the store yet, but the M4 parts cost from $527.12.

Anyone who already has an M4 (or even an M3) MacBook likely won’t be rushing to grab the newest M5 model. iFixit notes that the performance uplift is pretty minor and says it “looks, feels, and performs almost exactly like last year’s model”. Apple has certainly marketed the M5 chip more towards existing M1 users, with one of the main upgrades being improved AI performance, chiefly to boost the effectiveness of Apple Intelligence.

But if you have upgraded to M5, you can rest assured that the repairability is getting better. There’s certainly more work to be done, and it may still be an expensive process, so we can only hope that Apple makes further improvements by the time the M6 generation comes around. The next M5-powered hardware could be the M5 MacBook Air, currently slated for spring 2026.

You can browse through the official repair manual for the M5 MacBook Pro on Apple’s website here.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.