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Teardown shows 16-inch MacBook Pro is full of Magic Keyboard goodness

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16-inch MacBook teardown by iFixit
Explore the inside of the new 16-inch MacBook with a teardown by iFixit.
Photo: iFixit

Disassembling the new 16-inch MacBook Pro finds plenty to like. There’s a keyboard that’s almost certainly more reliable, a revamped thermal system and a bigger battery.

On the other side of the coin, repair company iFixit did a teardown and gives this laptop a low, low rating for repairability.

AirPods Pro teardown reveals a ton of tiny tech

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AirPods-Pro-teardown-1
Yes, that's a button cell battery!
Photo: iFixit

Most of us lovingly look after our newest Apple devices to ensure they last as long as possible. iFixit pulls them apart in the name of science. Its latest teardown victim? AirPods Pro.

You won’t be shocked to find that there’s loads of tiny tech inside Apple’s newest earbuds. But you might be surprised to see how different they are to regular AirPods on the inside.

Apple Watch Series 5 teardown confirms it’s a tweaked Series 4

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Apple Watch Series 5 teardown
Opening up the newest Apple Watch Series 5 doesn’t find any surprises.
Photo: iFixit

Disassembling the latest Apple Watch doesn’t find very much that’s different from last year’s model. That doesn’t mean there aren’t improvements in the new Series 5; they’re just not visible in a teardown, even one done by the experts at iFixit.

Nixed bilateral charging could have been iPhone 11 Pro exclusive

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iPhone 11 teardown disassembled
Taking an iPhone 11 to pieces finds no sign of one rumored feature, but hints Apple Tags could still be on the way.
Photo: iFixit

A teardown of the iPhone 11 finds Apple’s less-expensive handset lacks any sign of inverse wireless charging. iFixit did discover hardware possibly related to this rumored feature in the iPhone 11 Pro series, however.

An X-ray of the iPhone 11 does turn up evidence of ultra-wideband support, however. That will prove important if Apple launches the item-tracking tags that also showed up in many rumors.

New MacBook Pro teardown reveals surprising internal tweaks

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2019-MacBook-Pro-13-teardown
Here’s what’s inside the new 13-inch MacBook Pro.
Photo: iFixit

iFixit just got its hands on Apple’s newest 13-inch MacBook Pro, which can only mean one thing: It’s time to take a look at what’s inside its svelte aluminum shell.

The new model ships with a Touch Bar, Touch ID, and the Apple T2 Security Chip as standard. It also boasts newer Intel chips that promise up to 83% faster multi-core performance.

But that’s not all you get for your money. There’s a bigger battery inside it, too — plus some other surprising tweaks. And not every change is a good one.

2019 MacBook Pro teardown reveals minimal keyboard changes

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2019 MacBook Pro keys
What’s inside a 2019 MacBook Pro key.
Photo: iFixit

Apple just dropped a new MacBook Pro with faster Intel processors that deliver even greater performance. But more importantly, it features “new material” that Apple hopes will fix its keyboard woes.

The machine now been pulled apart by iFixit so that we can see exactly what’s changed under the hood. Don’t expect anything too dramatic or you’ll be sorely disappointed.

Samsung requests iFixit pull its Galaxy Fold teardown

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Fold teardown
Teardown reviewed what may have been devastating flaw in design.
Photo: iFixit

iFixit says it removed its teardown of Samsung’s troubled Galaxy Fold device at the Korean company’s request.

The website’s teardown revealed that Samsung may have failed to include sufficient protection against debris between the device’s OLED screen and chassis bezel. iFixit removed the article after Samsung retrieved all units sent to reviewers. Many reviews noted that the pricey $1,980 handset suffered serious screen problems.

Here’s what you’ll find inside the new iPad Air

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iPad Air 3 teardown
The new iPad Air, torn apart.
Photo: iFixit

The new iPad Air has suffered a customary teardown after finding its way into the hands of iFixit.

As expected the device shares a lot in common with the 10.5-inch iPad Pro. But if you look closely, you’ll find Apple has made a whole bunch of big changes that make this more of a mid-range iPad than a smaller flagship.

Here’s what was found under its hood.

Why Apple was right to scrap AirPower [Opinion]

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AirPower
Apple hasn't given up on wireless charging pads.
Photo: Apple

Let me be among the first to thank Apple for killing the wireless charging pad known as AirPower.

While tech commentators try to rank this failure against other doomed Apple products, I feel grateful that Cupertino pulled the plug. AirPower, an ambitious attempt to use multiple coils to charge an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, was a public health hazard.

iPad mini 5 teardown uncovers big improvements on the inside

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iPad mini 5 teardown
This is what's inside the new iPad mini.
Photo: iFixit

The fifth-generation iPad mini has started making its way into the hands of early adopters. One unlucky unit ended up with iFixit, which has already torn it apart to show us what’s inside.

Unsurprisingly, it’s not a whole lot different to its predecessor. But there are plenty of new chips and components under the hood.

Don’t even think about repairing the AirPods 2

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AirPods 2
If your AirPods look like this, your music-listening days are over.
Photo: iFixit

Apple’s second-generation AirPods may be better than ever, but they’re certainly not any more repairable. A new teardown reveals that the next-gen wireless earphones aren’t “designed to be serviced” in any meaningful capacity.

The challenge of repairing them doesn’t necessarily guarantee a short lifespan. However, it does suggest that these probably won’t be hanging around long-term.

Apple may be softening its stance on repair laws

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Right to Repair
This shouldn't hurt.
Photo: iFixit

Apple has been publicly opposed to a rapidly growing movement known as “Right to Repair”

But internally, the tech giant is slowly loosening its grip on parts for repair as 20 states consider legislation that would make it easier for consumers to repair their electronic devices, such as iPhones and MacBook computers.

Don’t expect your AirPods to last forever

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AirPods-teardown
The tiny batteries buried in AirPods start to wear out in a few years.
Photo: iFixit

Apple’s second-generation AirPods are arriving just in time for people who are discovering that their first-gen ones are wearing out.

This despite the original AirPods being, at most, 2.25 years old.

Apple may have quietly fixed MacBook Pro’s ‘stage light’ flaw

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MacBook Pro 2018 display cables
It's a small but significant change.
Photo: iFixit

Apple’s latest MacBook Pro lineup may be immune to the “stage light” flaw that has plagued some 2016 and 2017 models.

Slightly longer display cables inside the newer notebooks could help prevent the wear that older units are susceptible to. It’s only a minor change, but it may eliminate nasty $600 repair bills.

There’s still a way to get a cheap iPhone battery replacement

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iPhone batteries
Apple's offer has ended, but iFixit's one continues.
Photo: iFixIt

Apple’s cheap battery replacement program might have come to an end, but the folks over at iFixit have extended their own $29.99 replacement program for the rest of 2019.

The company’s kits provide everything you need to replace the battery for your iPhone, with batteries available for handsets going all the way back to 2011’s iPhone 4s.

Death of 3D Touch, AirPods with health sensors, and a MacBook Pro flaw you need to know about, on The CultCast

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Cultcast 372 MacBook Pro
New AIrPods with health sensors in 2019? Is Apple killing 3D Touch? We'll tell you what we know.
Photo: Apple

This week on The CultCast: Why iPhone’s 3D Touch is probably dead; new reports say AirPods packed with health sensors are coming in 2019; the MacBook Pro “stage light” flaw affects all models built after 2016 — and could cost you $600 to fix. Plus, the wild saga of MoviePass … continues.

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. It’s simple to accept Apple Pay and sell your wares with your very own Squarespace website. Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first hosting plan or domain.

12.9-inch iPad Pro teardown video reveals smaller battery

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Disassembling an iPad Pro isn’t for the faint of heart.
Disassembling an iPad Pro isn’t for the faint of heart.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s latest tablet isn’t easy to take apart, even for experts. A video teardown by iFixit documents the difficulties that come from 12.9-inch iPad Pro components held in with tiny screws and glue. Lots of glue.

Still, the hard work revealed some interesting details about the new computer, including the size of its battery.

2018 iPad Pro teardown reveals a bunch of big improvements

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2018 iPad Pro teardown
Here's everything you'll find inside the 2018 iPad Pro.
Photo: iFixit

iFixit has finally gotten around to tearing apart the 2018 iPad Pro.

Unsurprisingly, it has discovered lots of big improvements under the hood of Apple’s latest tablet, and more chips than you can shake a stick at. Plus, there’s good news and bad news for DIY repairers.

Mac mini teardown provides closer look at tiny internals

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2018 Mac mini teardown
Here's everything you'll find squeezed inside the 2018 Mac mini.
Photo: iFixit

The Mac mini might be Apple’s smallest and most affordable computer, but there’s a whole lot to technology packed into its tiny aluminum shell. iFixit’s latest teardown provides us with a closer look at the machine’s internals — and reveals our repair options.

2018 MacBook Air teardown confirms repairs aren’t so painful

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2018 MacBook Air teardown
See what's inside the new MacBook Air.
Photo: iFixit

Even if you take good care of your new MacBook Air, there’s always a small chance something could go wrong. But it is a lot easier for Apple and its Authorized Service Providers to fix the new ultraportable than other Apple notebooks.

A new teardown reveals all the changes Apple has made to make swapping components simpler.