iFixit Teardown Reveals How MacBook Pro's Glowing Logo Works

Lighter, but still hard to repair

Apple dropped the glowing logo in 2016, so bringing it back just as backlit displays disappear is a little ironic. The feature may now serve as a way to set Apple's most expensive laptop apart from cheaper models.

The other internal changes are less surprising. Apple cut the weight by using less aluminum in the base and lid and fitting a slightly smaller trackpad. The hinge was reworked so the display wobbles less when you tap the screen.

None of that makes repairs easier. iFixit says you must remove the logic board to replace the USB-C ports, and components such as the memory and the HDMI port are soldered in place. With configurations costing up to $15,000, buyers may not expect to repair the machine themselves, but the thin, light and glowing design still comes with trade-offs.