New 12-Inch MacBook Teardown Reveals Tweaked USB-C Hardware and Tamper-Evident Screws

iFixit has completed an in-depth hardware teardown of the new 12-inch Retina MacBook that reveals only minor under-the-hood changes to Apple's ultra-slim notebook compared to the 2015 model.

Specifically, Apple has slightly tweaked the notebook's USB-C hardware by permanently affixing the cable to the USB board. The new arrangement is not compatible with the original 12-inch MacBook.

Apple has also switched from using a tri-wing screw to a repair-friendly Phillips screw, but the notebook's Torx hinge screws are filled with a tamper-evident substance that disintegrates when you insert a screwdriver.

iFixit confirmed that the slightly-longer-lasting 41.4-watt-hour battery in the 12-inch MacBook is not visually distinguishable compared to the 39.7-watt-hour battery in the 2015 model, suggesting improved battery chemistry.

The logic board and other internal components yielded no significant surprises, while the notebook's exterior looks virtually the same beyond a new Rose Gold color finish and an updated EMC number of 2991.

iFixit lists the new 12-inch MacBook's logic board chips as follows:

The new 12-inch MacBook retained a repairability score of 1 out of 10, which is the lowest score possible, as the processor, RAM, and flash storage are still soldered to the logic board, and the battery remains entirely glued into the lower case.

iFixit has a dozen replacement guides for 12-inch MacBook do-it-yourself repairs.