iFixit Teardown of the New Retina Display MacBook Pro [Photos]

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Posted June 13, 2012 at 3:16pm by iClarified

iFixit has posted their teardown of the new Retina Display MacBook Pro.

Highlights:
● All these upgrades earned this Pro a new model number: A1398
● The new battery packs quite a punch: 95 Wh at 10.95 V compared to last year's puny 77.5 Wh.
● We found a 512 GB Samsung flash memory module.
● Broadcom BCM4331 single-chip 802.11n dual-band wireless solution
● Broadcom BCM20702 single-chip Bluetooth 4.0 HCI solution with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) support
● NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M GPU
● Intel Core-i7 3720QM 2.6 GHz processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz) with Intel Graphics HD 4000.

Repairability Score: 1 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair).
● Proprietary pentalobe screws prevent you from gaining access to anything inside.
● As in the MacBook Air, the RAM is soldered to the logic board. Max out at 16GB now, or forever hold your peace-you can't upgrade.
● The proprietary SSD isn't upgradeable either (yet), as it is similar but not identical to the one in the Air. It is a separate daughtercard, and we're hopeful we can offer an upgrade in the near future.
● The lithium-polymer battery is glued rather than screwed into the case, which increases the chances that it'll break during disassembly. The battery also covers the trackpad cable, which tremendously increases the chance that the user will shear the cable in the battery removal process.
● The display assembly is completely fused, and there's no glass protecting it. If anything ever fails inside the display, you will need to replace the entire extremely expensive assembly.

Take a look at some photos below or hit the link for the full walkthrough.

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iFixit Teardown of the New Retina Display MacBook Pro [Photos]

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PastorX - June 15, 2012 at 3:47am

We are starting to feel the loss of Steve Jobs. This is not a MacBook Pro but a glorified MacBook Air. I would like to upgrade later but now you either buy everything from the beginning or you're stuck with it. This is not acceptable and not at all user friendly. I will stay with my old MacBook pro mid 2009 for now and I will upgrade when mister "wanna be Jobs but not actually succeeding" decides to think of the users instead of his pocket.

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Tim - June 14, 2012 at 4:29am

Absoutly a brilliant design. I look forward to the iMac version of this. Could be as thin as rigidity will allow. Unfortunately may be a long while before a 27" retina display can be produced. Also without looking it up isn't this less dpi than the iPhone? And it's still technically not better than we can perceive. I remember something like the iPhone was 50 dpi less than true retina recognition. I would buy one if I had the cash. Too rich for my blood at this point.

Why - June 13, 2012 at 4:29pm

The Retina model is not worth the. Money I'm getting the other model

Bruised banana tip - June 13, 2012 at 3:37pm

I was really tempted by this new retina MacBook Pro, pro seeing these information, I think I have to change my mind. At least! Users are able to upgrade their memory or SSD, but also I could see why Apple designed new MacBook Pro this way... make it looks like thinner.. Im sorry but my 2011 MacBook Pro is thin enough to carry and work around.. lol.

Dribble - June 13, 2012 at 3:36pm

Those fans sure do look symmetrical!

joyz - June 13, 2012 at 3:43pm

Interesting they use toshiba memory in the Air yet use samshit in this model

vasodys - June 13, 2012 at 4:34pm

Do not dare call those fans symmetrical!

Tom - June 15, 2012 at 1:09pm

The blades of the fans are asymmetrical, or the blade spacing. Some blades are colser to each other, some are further. See the lower pic (from closer).