There is very little tweaking required, as MacBooks have no qualms running without displays, and iFixit has an excellent guide on how to go about it.

The lack of a webcam can be addressed by an external soluition. It is better than the Mac Mini in some use cases because of the keyboard and touchpad. The reseller gets to sell the screen separately, and most importantly, a perfectly functional laptop is saved from the landfill. It is a win-win situation as one gets the computing power of a MacBook for cheap. They are often cheaper than used MacBooks, making them more attractive to budget-minded customers. This contraption is then sold as-is at a discount.

Twitter leaker reports that Chinese audiences are increasingly looking towards a screenless MacBooks as their goto computing devices.Įssentially, the MacBook's screen is stripped off entirely, leaving just the keyboard (and the peripherals underneath). However, some enterprising Chinese resellers have taken the idea to an entirely new level. Strictly speaking, the concept isn't new and has been tried in many computers of the yesteryears. An Apple patent from earlier envisioned a future MacBook that would fit within a keyboard.

Apple 2017 mac mini