New Mac Mini Has Modular Storage, 256GB Model Will Have Faster SSD - MacRumors
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New Mac Mini Has Modular Storage, 256GB Model Will Have Faster SSD

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Apple has returned to using two 128GB storage chips in the new Mac mini with 256GB of storage, according to a partial teardown video shared on social media today. This means the base-model Mac mini with the M4 chip will not have significantly slower SSD speeds compared to higher-end configurations of the computer with 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB of storage, as multiple NAND chips allows for faster SSD read and write speeds.

mac mini thermal architecture feature
The teardown video also reveals that storage is modular in the new Mac mini, meaning that it can be easily removed since it is not soldered down. As we saw with the Mac Studio, however, replacing the modular storage is complicated.

The previous-generation Mac mini base model with the M2 chip has a single 256GB storage chip, resulting in 30% to 50% slower SSD read and write speeds compared to higher-capacity models. The slower speeds led to criticism from some customers.

M4 Mac Mini TeardownThe new Mac mini has modular storage (via iFixit Answers forum)

A single 256GB storage chip also led to slower SSD speeds in the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro base models with the M2 chip a few years ago. Apple returned to using two 128GB storage chips in 256GB configurations of MacBook Air models with the M3 chip earlier this year, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro line was discontinued last year and replaced with an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro that starts with 512GB of storage.

The criticism surrounding Apple's decision to use a single 256GB chip in some base-model Macs a few years ago primarily came from a vocal contingent of tech enthusiasts, and the average customer is unlikely to even notice the slower speeds in common day-to-day tasks. Nevertheless, it appears that customers who do want the fastest SSD speeds do not need to worry about which storage capacity they choose when ordering the new Mac mini.

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Tag: Teardown
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Related Forum: Mac mini

Top Rated Comments

AndiG Avatar
AndiG
19 months ago
Simply use standard M2 NVMe SSDs.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cicalinarrot Avatar
cicalinarrot
19 months ago
I have lost my only excuse not to buy this :(
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
turbineseaplane
19 months ago

but Apple had to do extra work to not support NVMe SSDs.
That's the key

They did this all on purpose so you'd have no choice but to pay their insanely overpriced upgrade fees
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
seek3r
19 months ago

That's literally what this is.
I believe if it’s like the studio and MP it’s just the NAND, the controller is embedded in the SoC, so it’s not a full SSD on its own

That said it’s still a super welcome improvement! Should help with maybe getting third party NAND modules if the cheapest mac in the lineup is a market, and at the very least it means the machine isnt hosed if the SSD dies or wears out, even if you have to get an Apple replacement :)
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M
Moka Akashiya
19 months ago

That's literally what this is.
Apart from the fact that they are incompatible, it is just NAND without a controller, you can't buy a new one anywhere and you will have to buy a whole new Mac to miraculously swap the flash memory.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
sw1tcher
19 months ago
Apple has returned to using two 128GB storage chips in the new Mac mini with 256GB of storage... This means the base-model Mac mini with the M4 chip will not have significantly slower SSD speeds compared to higher-end configurations of the computer with 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB of storage

The teardown video also reveals that storage is modular in the new Mac mini, meaning that it can be easily removed since it is not soldered down...
Has hell frozen over?
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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