iFixit has posted its traditional description and video of the teardown of the 14-inch M2 Pro MacBook Pro, and for the most part the inside of the new laptop is similar to that of the M1 Pro MacBook Pro. However, there are a few notable changes that iFixit concludes are a result of the supply chain challenges that have plagued the industry due to the ongoing pandemic and other issues.
The first major change is that the M2 Pro’s heatsink is smaller than the M1 Pro’s. The reason for the smaller heatsink seems to be due to the second major change: Apple uses 4GB RAM modules in the M2 Pro laptop instead of the 8GB modules in the M1 Pro. iFixit notes that 4GB modules, which are also used in the M2 MacBook Air, are likely due to supply chain issues.
The third big change is that Apple uses larger modules for the laptop’s SSD. Instead of 128 GB modules, Apple uses 256 GB modules. As we noted last week, the larger modules result in fewer data channels that can be used in parallel, resulting in slower performance, although most people won’t notice this in everyday use.
According to Dylan Patel, principal analyst at SemiAnalysis, speaking to iFixit, 128GB modules are being “phased out” as the industry moves toward greater NAND chip densities. iFixit speculates that the change could move Apple to start at 1TB instead of 512GB in future MacBook Pro models.
iFixit is known for its teardowns, but this time they used the M1 Pro MacBook Pro Self Service Repair Manual and found that guide can be used for the M2 Pro MacBook Pro without any issues. That’s not really a surprise as the design of the laptop hasn’t changed. And while the manual is lengthy, iFixit says it “sets you up for success,” but points out that there’s still the problem of Apple’s parts blocking and inability to use third-party parts for a repair.