Apple and Lenovo’s Laptops Are Nearly Impossible to Fix

Apple and Lenovo make some of the least repairable laptops on the market, according to a new analysis. The two companies scored the lowest grades in repairability testing, with their devices designed in ways that make repairs difficult, expensive, or impossible for anyone outside an authorized service center.

Apple’s MacBook lineup has long been criticized for soldered components and sealed enclosures. Lenovo’s ThinkPad models face similar issues. Both manufacturers have made it hard for independent repair shops and consumers to access parts or service their own machines.

There’s a bright spot: Apple’s recently released MacBook Neo bucked the trend. The new model includes more user-accessible components and easier-to-replace parts, marking a departure from the company’s typical approach. It’s a step toward the right direction, though it remains an outlier in Apple’s broader laptop portfolio.

The analysis underscores growing frustration with device repairability as consumers face expensive repairs and electronics waste piles up in landfills.