"Apple is switching to a new type of tamper-resistant screw. This is not a standard Torx, and there are no readily available screwdrivers that can remove it. This isn’t the first time they’ve used this type of screw—it first appeared in the mid-2009 MacBook Pro to prevent you from replacing the battery—and Apple is using a similar screw on the outer case of the current MacBook Air. This screw is the primary reason the 11″ MacBook Air earned a lousy repairability score of 4 out of 10 in our teardown last October.
Apple chose this fastener specifically because it was new, guaranteeing repair tools would be both rare and expensive."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentalobe_screw
The pentalobe security screw is a five-pointed tamper-resistant system used by Apple. Pentalobe screws were adopted by Apple starting in 2009. Apple attracted criticism upon the introduction of the pentalobe screw; it was seen by some as an attempt to lock individuals out of their devices. In response, inexpensive pentalobe screwdrivers, manufactured by third parties, have become relatively easy to obtain.


Message Thread
Did BMW recently patent a new way to screw their customers? - Ken C December 26, 2025, 4:57 am
- DFM December 26, 2025, 12:54 pm
- GOG December 26, 2025, 6:49 am
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