The MacBook Neo is the ‘best-designed MacBook’ in years, according to iFixit

The new Apple MacBook Neo it’s not the cheapest MacBook to date – it’s the most refurbishable MacBook in “fourteen years,” according to to drop deep and how to update the iFixit website.

The “big issue,” in iFixit’s view, is the battery. While older MacBook batteries are said to be glued in place, the Neo’s battery is held in place by a tray secured by 18 screws. That’s a lot of screws, but iFixit declared that “the screws still beat the screws every time.” In fact, the new system — which should make it easier to replace your MacBook’s battery — “sent joy to the iFixit office.”

Some of the changes that are said to make the MacBook Neo repairable: a flat integrated cost, that the Repair Assistant seems to accept replacement parts without complaint, and an easy-to-change keyboard layout.

In the end, iFixit still has enough concerns – such as RAM and storage – that it only gave the Neo a repair of 6 out of 10. But it said that for the MacBook, “that’s a strong score.”