OWC Certifies 480 GB Aftermarket SSD Upgrade for 13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro

Tuesday October 30, 2012 10:10 AM PDT by Eric Slivka
Earlier this year, Other World Computing (OWC) announced the launch of its 480 GB Mercury Aura Pro solid-state drive for the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro. Some questioned the cost-effectiveness of pursuing such an upgrade, however, given its $579.99 price tag compared to Apple's $500 charge to boost the standard 256 GB drive to a 512 GB drive, although aftermarket upgrade users can also keep their original drives for external use.


OWC has now announced that it has certified this same Mercury Auro Pro drive for use in the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro released last week, and Apple's decision to offer a 128 GB drive in the entry-level model may make OWC's offering a more appealing option for those looking to upgrade storage capacity on their machines.
In addition to offering significantly more capacity over the factory base 128GB SSD, the 480GB Mercury Aura Pro offers a $220 savings over the comparable sized 512GB factory capacity upgrade costing $800.
While OWC's aftermarket solid-state drive is currently offered only in 480 GB capacity, the company does note that additional capacities will be coming in November. Apple offers 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, and 768 GB options in the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro, with all but the lowest capacity available in the 15-inch models.

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37 comments


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scottsjack
82 months ago

Well if it's ios = front Page it seems these days

Macs = wherever


You got that right. It's "iOStoysRumors.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Virtualball
82 months ago
Yikes, that's a lot of money... A fast 480 GB SSD is $400-500 but those are standard. Hopefully these will go down in price as time goes on :o
Rating: 5 Votes
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dukebound85
82 months ago

I personally wouldn't want to open up a glued laptop and risk it's integrity and build quality just to upgrade what can be ordered via Apple's own website.


I'd fear it'd fall apart.


its not glued
Rating: 5 Votes
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nick_elt
82 months ago

Are you saying you are not excited to see someone else's tracking information :-/

Feck know who decides what's front page material, but decisions really are ....... Odd.


Well if it's ios = front Page it seems these days

Macs = wherever
Rating: 5 Votes
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Jibbajabba
82 months ago

How did this not make front Page but people getting their smart covers early did?


Are you saying you are not excited to see someone else's tracking information :-/

Feck know who decides what's front page material, but decisions really are ....... Odd.
Rating: 3 Votes
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All Taken
82 months ago

Interesting to see if OWC will then assume the voided Apple warranty . . . :rolleyes:

Or did OWC receive written authorization from Apple?


The machine warranty is still valid. Any replacement part that is used and not installed by an authorised service provider is not covered so this aftermarket SSD is not covered under Apple warranty but the entire remainder of the machine is. It's that simple and has been clarified several times with apple executive relations.

If a manufacturer can prove the replacement part caused other issues related to warranty service they have a case but otherwise they just provide warranty for everything except that part.
Rating: 3 Votes
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nick_elt
82 months ago
How did this not make front Page but people getting their smart covers early did?
Rating: 2 Votes
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jav6454
82 months ago
In this day and age, a damn SSD shouldn't cost as much. Just look at Intel's latest 325. It's in the $200 range for a nice beyond 240GB SSD. Apple wants to charge $800 for something Intel barely charges $500. Crazy.
Rating: 2 Votes
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boomer0001
82 months ago

That's incorrect under US law. Apple's warranty disclaims itself (which Apple is within their rights to do) in the event of any "unauthorized modification." Since there are no user-serviceable parts inside a retina (as opposed to the cMBP), Apple can void the warranty of a machine where someone has changed the SSD. No evidence of damage is required. Hence my question of whether OWC has received written authorization from Apple.


As I work for an AASP, Apple sends people to us that wants to modify their machine by using an Authorized Provider to maintain their warranty. We've put in SSD/HDD combo's in MBP's and iMacs and Apple honors their warranty because they used an AASP. With Retina Displays, it may not be User accessible, but it is AASP accessible and I don't see any reason why they wouldn't honor the warranty as long as an AASP performed the service work. My advice would be to call Apple prior to taking it in to an AASP so they can have it on their logs that you contacted them prior to performing any work as well as keeping receipts of the work performed after the date of the call.
Rating: 2 Votes
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All Taken
82 months ago

Apple has configured OS X to enable TRIM support only with Apple-provided SSDs.


Enabling trim on non-apple SSDs is no more complicated than adding a photo of somebody using google search to Facebook. One app download called TrimEnabler, and selecting 'On'.
Rating: 2 Votes
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