GoKawiiliFixit teardown reveals LED mechanism behind new MacBook Pro's glowing logo
iFixit's teardown of Apple's new touchscreen MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display found that the glowing Apple logo is powered by a light strip with four LEDs placed behind the OLED screen, with light reflected through a diffuser. The logo itself is coated to behave like a two-way mirror, appearing metallic when off but letting light pass through when lit. iFixit also noted the laptop uses less aluminum and a smaller trackpad to cut weight, plus a reworked hinge, though many components remain soldered or hard to access.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The redesigned logo mechanism shows how Apple engineered around the absence of a backlight in OLED panels to preserve a branding feature it dropped back in 2016, suggesting the company views the glow as a way to visually set its priciest laptop apart. iFixit's findings also reinforce ongoing criticism that Apple's hardware designs continue to prioritize aesthetics and thinness over repairability, even as the company touts other sustainability efforts.
- The glowing MacBook logo now works via four LEDs and a diffuser rather than a backlight cutout.
- The logo coating acts like a two-way mirror, appearing metallic when off and translucent when lit.
- Despite weight-saving redesigns, iFixit found the laptop still difficult to repair, with soldered parts and complex disassembly.
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch M4 — This is the very laptop featured in the teardown, now boasting a tandem OLED XDR display and the clever glowing logo engineering iFixit just unpacked. If you're intrigued by Apple's new display tech and repair tradeoffs, owning the device itself is the best way to see those innovations firsthand.
See Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch M4 on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: engadget.com — Ian Carlos Campbell, 2026-11-11
Published there as: “iFixit teardown shows how Apple's glowing PROLED MacBook logo works”
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