Apple Still Using SSDs With Varying Speeds on New MacBook Air

Several months ago, we noted that Apple appeared to be using two different suppliers, Samsung and Toshiba, for the solid-state drives (SSDs) on its MacBook Air models. Notably, the Samsung SSDs registered significantly faster read and write speeds than the Toshiba SSDs. User reports indicated that Apple was indeed using both suppliers simultaneously, rather making it a luck of the draw as to which SSD a user received in a given machine.


Engadget now points to a new video produced by TLD Today indicating that Apple is continuing to employ this dual-supplier strategy for SSDs in the new MacBook Air, with the Samsung SSDs continuing to provide substantially better performance than the Toshiba drives.

Jonathan over at TLD discovered a fairly significant discrepancy when benchmarking both MacBook Air models over the weekend. The 128GB Samsung SSD in his 11-inch Air was able to achieve 246 MB/s write and 264 MB/s read speeds. When he switched to the 13-inch model, however, speeds dropped to 156 MB/s and 208 MB/s, respectively, using that notebook's 128GB Toshiba SSD.

The report indicates that users are unlikely to notice any difference in day-to-day usage between machines running the drives, although the substantial performance difference does suggest that it may be noticeable for certain high-intensity tasks.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forum: MacBook Air

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Top Rated Comments

NebulaClash Avatar
184 months ago
Go to the Apple store, tell them you want to buy a Macbook Air, but you only want one with the Samsung SSD. Have them try it out in the store before you buy to make sure.

If enough people do that, Apple will start to get the idea that it matters.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lars666 Avatar
184 months ago
Some MacBook Airs Are Slower Than Others ... Hope, Morrissey includes this in the set on his current tour!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
troop231 Avatar
184 months ago
Or just swap it out for a better OWC one :cool:
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tastydirt Avatar
184 months ago
While this situation is not ideal, I very much doubt anyone would be able to notice the real world difference between the Toshiba and Samsung SSDs. That Blackmagic tool only tests large sequential transfers and not the smaller random ones that affect system responsiveness.

If people bothered to check, you'll find similar variances in the HDDs Apple have traditionally used.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SeattleMoose Avatar
184 months ago
My Rap Song...

So for the same price
And a roll of the dice
You buy a Mac
Which ain't as nice

You walk out
And you read the news
You take it back
But they refuse

I think I'll keep my day job.....;)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ghsDUDE Avatar
184 months ago
Paranoia is about to set in with any Air Toshiba users.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)