Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) vs Intel Macs: Repairability & Upgrades
Since Apple introduced M-series chips in 2020, Mac laptops have undergone a revolution in battery life and processing speed. However, repair dynamics have fundamentally shifted:
- RAM and SSD are non-upgradable: Storage and memory are surface-mounted directly to the logic board.
- Board-Level Micro-Soldering: When a power chip fails, repairing the discrete capacitor or diode is much faster and cheaper than replacing the whole logic board.
- Display and Battery Modularity: Displays, batteries, keyboards, and trackpads remain modular and easily serviceable.
