MacBook Repair Terms

Apple’s own ARM-based chips (M1, M2, M3, M4 series) introduced in 2020. Apple Silicon integrates CPU, GPU, RAM, and Neural Engine into a single chip soldered to the logic board. This means RAM cannot be upgraded after purchase — the spec you buy is the spec you keep. Repair options are more limited than Intel-based Macs.

Apple’s magnetic charging connector, designed to detach safely if the cable is pulled. MagSafe returned with the M-series MacBooks after being absent on USB-C-only models. MagSafe port damage on older MacBooks is repairable; on newer models the port is part of the logic board assembly, making repair more involved.

Apple’s term for the motherboard. On Apple Silicon MacBooks, the logic board contains the M-series chip, RAM, and storage — all soldered. Logic board replacement is very expensive. Component-level microsoldering repair is often more cost-effective for liquid damage or chip faults, when the damage is localised.

A dedicated security chip present in Intel-based MacBooks (2018–2020). The T2 handles encrypted storage, secure boot, and Touch ID. A failed T2 chip can prevent the MacBook from booting entirely. T2 faults sometimes appear after liquid damage and require specialist diagnosis — they present identically to logic board failure.

On MacBooks, the top case is a combined assembly including the keyboard, trackpad, palm rest, battery, and speakers. Apple designs them as a single unit, so a failed keyboard or cracked palm rest often requires replacing the entire top case. This is why MacBook keyboard repairs are significantly more expensive than on other brands.