Transcend Offers JetDrive Lite 330 Expansion Cards Up to 512GB for 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro

Transcend has begun offering its JetDrive Lite 330 expansion cards for 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, providing users of Apple's latest Macs with an affordable way to increase storage capacity. The cards provide up to 512GB of additional storage for less than $90, giving users a viable alternative to paying Apple's high prices for more internal storage at point of purchase.

transcend jetdrive
The JetDrive Lite expansion cards are tailor-made with a flush design that matches the case form factor of both MacBook Pro Models, and offer maximum sequential read and write speeds of 95MB/s and 75MB/s, respectively.

Once the JetDrive Lite 330 is inserted into the card reader slot, the additional storage can be used to hold large files, like RAW images or 4K video for example, or the card can serve as an onboard Time Machine backup.

Transcend says the JetDrive Lite expansion cards come with a five-year limited warranty and are manufactured using advanced COB (chip-on-board) technology, making them resistant to water, dust, and shock. Other than 2021 MacBook Pro Models, the JetDrive Lite 330 also supports 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (late 2012-early 2015 models).

The JetDrive Lite Series of expansion cards are available now on Amazon, with prices starting at $35.99 for the 128GB version and $89.99 for the 512GB capacity card.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro 14 & 16"
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

Top Rated Comments

Agneev Avatar
23 months ago
Love how these are back after a 5-year hiatus.


Other than 2021 MacBook Pro Models, the JetDrive Lite 330 also supports 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (late 2012-early 2015 models).
2016-2021 aka the years of Jony Ive and his MacBook Pro madness age.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ddtmm Avatar
23 months ago
This is actually not a bad idea. For most people their pictures and music take up a lot of space but really never need stellar disk performance when being accessed. Moving music and pictures to the SD disk would be pretty smart.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
swm Avatar
23 months ago
maybe good for time machine or backup purposes. for anything productive application it's too slow.
and write endurance is also questionable.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
theluggage Avatar
23 months ago

Read and write speeds are abysmally slow. But does get you half a terabyte if you need it.
It's not a replacement for a larger "proper" SSD, but there are plenty of uses for a few hundred GB of cheap, if slow, storage that can be left in place as if it were an internal drive and used to store bulky, seldom updated files.

Relocating your "Media library" (whether that's tunes and movies or finished photos, videos etc. relevant to your work) to such a card is the obvious use.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Doomtomb Avatar
23 months ago

Read and write speeds are abysmally slow. But does get you half a terabyte if you need it.

I’d pass and go for a modern SSD.
I don't think you get it. This is the only option that doesn't require an external device. And these speeds are comparable to mechanical hard drives which is to say not that bad. It's a memory card after all.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
junior Avatar
23 months ago
Purchased a BaseQi micro SD card holder that fits flush into the SD slot. I've stuck a 1TB Sandisk in there. Far more economical, surely.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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