Intel MacBook Pro 2016-2020: repair or replace?
A 2017 or 2019 MacBook Pro remains a good machine for many uses. But not all its faults deserve the same effort.
The Intel-based MacBook Pros from 2016 to 2020 have two or three well-documented design flaws. Before repairing, we look at the whole machine, not just today's fault.
What is worth it
- Battery: a new battery gives back hours of use; it is the first thing to do on a Mac of that age.
- Screen flex (stage light): component-level repair, far cheaper than the screen.
- Liquid damage and logic board: repairable at component level, fixed price per model.
- USB-C port that no longer charges on one side: charging chips, repairable.
What we look at closely
The butterfly keyboard (2016-2019): keys that double or stop responding. It is replaced with the complete top case, battery included; a costly repair, to be weighed against the Mac's value. If the battery also needs changing, the job becomes more worthwhile.
The SSD: soldered on these models too, so data recovery through the logic board if it fails.
Our rule
We tell you frankly at the diagnosis if the sum of repairs exceeds half the value of an equivalent second-hand Mac. In that case we advise recovering your data and replacing instead. The diagnosis is deducted from the repair, and isn't charged if the Mac can't be repaired.
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