Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 53 mins ago
iFixit teardown reveals how the touchscreen MacBook Pro’s glowing logo works
iFixit took apart Apple’s touchscreen PROLED MacBook Pro to examine its design and how it can be repaired.
The laptop’s glowing logo uses four LEDs, a reflective layer and a diffuser to spread light evenly, while a two-way mirror coating makes it look shiny when switched off.
Reaching the logo is difficult because it sits behind the display, and iFixit broke the OLED panel while trying to remove it.
The teardown found that some parts can be replaced, but doing so may require removing the logic board, while memory and storage are soldered to it.
After swapping logic boards between two laptops, iFixit found the touchscreen and Touch ID still worked following Apple’s Repair Assistant process.
Apple reduced the laptop’s weight despite adding touch and the lit logo, and iFixit gave it a repairability score of 5 out of 10.
iFixit’s teardown of Apple’s touchscreen MacBook Pro showed how four LEDs illuminate the Apple logo on the lid.
A reflective layer and diffuser spread the light, while a two-way mirror coating makes the logo look shiny when the LEDs are off.
The design restores a glowing logo without relying on a display backlight, which OLED screens do not need.
The teardown also found that several parts are difficult to replace, and iFixit rated the laptop 5 out of 10 for repairability.
- Who
- iFixit examined Apple’s touchscreen MacBook Pro.
- What
- The teardown revealed that four LEDs, a reflective layer and a diffuser illuminate the Apple logo.
- When
- iFixit published the teardown on November 10, 2026.
- Where
- The illuminated logo is on the laptop’s lid, behind the display.
- Why
- Apple used a separate lighting system because the OLED display has no backlight to illuminate the logo.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
9to5Mac and MacRumors reported that iFixit had published its teardown.
Engadget reported on the teardown and the illuminated logo design.
- Logo lighting
- Four LEDs, a reflective layer and a diffuser
- Logo coating
- Two-way mirror coating
- Display
- Tandem OLED
- Repairability score
- 5 out of 10
- Weight
- 3 pounds (1.38 kg), compared with 3.4 pounds (1.55 kg) for the standard 14-inch model
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like a two-way mirror