Apple
Laptops · Last assessed 6/9/2026
Score breakdown
Why this grade
PIRG 'Failing the Fix' 2026 graded Apple laptops C- (worst of the 8 popular brands, 'fares the worst by far' on disassembly). iFixit scores recent MacBooks 4-5/10 (MacBook Pro M5 = 4/10, MacBook Air M4 = 5/10): battery now screwed not glued, but soldered RAM/storage, riveted keyboard, proprietary pentalobe screws. Self Service Repair makes some parts/manuals available but no schematics, parts are expensive, and aggressive parts-pairing/System Configuration locks penalize independent repair. Equal-weight average lands in F under this rubric (pricing + software locks are Apple's weakest axes); PIRG's C- is more generous because the French index excludes pricing/lock penalties.
Methodology & version
Five dimensions — parts availability, schematic access, repairability, OEM pricing, and software freedom — are scored 0–100 and weighted equally; the letter grade is the average (A 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69, F below 60). This assessment is current as of 6/9/2026 and cites its sources below. It covers the Laptops category and is not a claim about every device the maker ships.