Base 13-Inch MacBook Pro With M2 Chip Has Significantly Slower SSD Speeds

[MacRumors]

Following the launch of Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 chip, it has been discovered that the $1,299 base model with 256GB of storage has significantly slower SSD read/write speeds compared to the equivalent previous-generation model.

YouTube channels such as Max Tech and Created Tech tested the 256GB model with Blackmagic's Disk Speed Test app and found that the SSD's read and write speeds are both around 1,450 MB/s, which is around 50% slower reading and around 30% slower writing compared to the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 chip and 256GB of storage.

Disk Speed Test app numbers shared by Max Yuryev of Max Tech:

• 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1/256GB) Read Speed: 2,900
• 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2/256GB) Read Speed: 1,446
• 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1/256GB) Write Speed: 2,215
• 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2/256GB) Write Speed: 1,463

Yuryev disassembled the new 13-inch MacBook Pro and discovered that the 256GB model is equipped with only a single NAND flash storage chip, whereas the previous model has two NAND chips that are likely 128GB each. This difference likely explains why the new model has a slower SSD, as multiple NAND chips allows for faster speeds in parallel.

It appears that only the base model 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 chip has a slower SSD. As noted in the MacRumors forums, Aaron Zollo ran the Disk Speed Test app on the 512GB model and the SSD's read/write speeds were similar to all M1 models, but getting these speeds will require spending at least $1,499. This likely means that the 512GB model remains equipped with two 256GB flash storage chips.

It's unclear why the new base model 13-inch MacBook Pro is only equipped with a single NAND chip, but costs and/or supply constraints are two possible factors. We've reached out to Apple for comment and will update this story if we hear back.

Slower SSD speeds can impact common tasks such as transferring files to an external drive, and overall performance can also take a slight hit since Macs temporarily use SSD space as virtual memory when physical RAM is fully used. If you are considering the new 13-inch MacBook Pro and faster SSD speeds are important to you, we recommend ordering a model with at least 512GB of storage (or better yet, wait for the new MacBook Air in July).

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro launched on Friday. The base model's slower SSD speeds were not mentioned in many (any?) embargoed reviews of the notebook, as it appears that Apple provided many reviewers with a 1TB configuration for testing.

It remains to be seen if the new MacBook Air with the M2 chip will also have slower SSD speeds when configured with 256GB of storage.

Article Link: Base 13-Inch MacBook Pro With M2 Chip Has Significantly Slower SSD Speeds

 

[dantracht]

As my mother would say, OY VEY.

Buyer beware I guess?

This, and things I hear about temperature issues......

Oy vey.

 

[iObama]

Dang. This model is just not great lol. Very confusing part of the lineup.

 

[nfl_brah]

Saving additional costs on the most popular model, after increasing the overall price? Good job Timmy. I’m sure you’ll spin it to show how environmentally wise this decision was.

 

[fwmireault]

This is not acceptable for a Pro model, even the base one. Write and read speed should always improve or at the very least stay the same from the previous generation.

 

[IamTimCook]

Life’s good when I need to worry about 1400MBs read and write as being the “slow” option. 😆

It’s probably like they are saying, one drive for 128 vs the normal two. Thanks Covid!

Am I right, remembering that some of 16 MBP’s models (1TB) are R/W at 7000MBs 😳?

 

[Realityck]

Yesterdays news is its own thread today. Now we have to worry about buying 256GB model of M2 13" MBP.

 

[CalMin]

This will most likely be an unpopular opinion, but if they are not running benchmarks this isn't going to be very noticeable to most folks who buy this machine. Sure, it may be slower in some tasks, but a few seconds here and there won't harm anybody at all.

If you're pushing a 13" MacBook Pro (M1 or M2) to where it slows down and/or costs significant time or money, you need to be shopping higher up the MacBook Pro range.

 

[asdfjkl;]

This is not acceptable for a Pro model, even the base one.

I have to agree. This is bad. If this were the M2 MacBook Air, I'd not be so disappointed. But if the "Pro" moniker means anything, it should mean performance.

 

[Tubamajuba]

You can get a 1 TB PCIe gen4 SSD for less than $150 that more than triples the speed of the NAND flash in this Mac.

 

[Zshrc]

The only thing I can realistically think of is that Apple will stop selling Macs with 128GB (Education M1s use this), so they have no need for 128GB NAND chips. (M1 Pros had 2x 128GB NAND modules, so they ran in dual channel mode, hence faster speeds). More likely, its probably them trying to nerf the 13" Pro out of existence.

 

[gusping]

Life’s good when I need to worry about 1400MBs read and write as being the “slow” option. 😆

It’s probably like they are saying, one drive for 128 vs the normal two. Thanks Covid!

Am I right remembering that some of 16 MBP’s models (1TB) are R/W at 7000MBs 😳?

Yes, the proper Pro MacBooks include top speed PCIE 4.0 drives. It seems M1/2 devices get crippled speeds (relatively speaking).

 

[pi=e=3]

This will most likely be an unpopular opinion, but if they are not running benchmarks this isn't going to be noticeable to most folks who buy machine. Sure it may be slower in some tasks, but a few seconds here and there won't harm anybody at all.

If you're pushing a 13" MacBook Pro to where it slows down and/or costs significant time or money, you need to be looking higher up the MacBook Pro range.

It won’t be noticeable at all for 99% of the target user base.

Even a SATA SSD is fast enough that there is no perceivable difference in daily use vs an NVMe.

The only people who will whine are the users on this forum, who already wouldn’t buy this laptop.

It’s a nothingburger.

 

[0134168]

Dang. This model is just not great lol. Very confusing part of the lineup.

As I said, absurdest mac ever.

 

[turbineseaplane]

You can get a 1 TB PCIe gen4 SSD for less than $150 that more than triples the speed of the NAND flash in this Mac.

Can you swap out the slow one Apple ships and put the model in you mention?

(Rhetorical question)

 

[Joe Rossignol]

Yesterdays news is its own thread today. Now we have to worry about buying 256GB model of M2 13" MBP.


View attachment 2023766

In fairness, I chose to enjoy my sunny Saturday with family! MacRumors writers deserve some time off too. I still voluntarily chipped in this front page story on a Sunday despite not getting paid overtime, and I believe we are the first major blog to cover the story. So give us a little bit of credit

 

[Shirasaki]

While this is not great, tbh, even 1TB M1 model chugs sometimes, just by opening a bunch of programs in the background. Granted, Ventura beta 2, but still.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The fact Apple continues selling a 13” dog of a “pro” model is just so embarrassing

 

[edwrap]

If you are considering the new 13-inch MacBook Pro and faster SSD speeds are important to you, we recommend ordering a model with at least 512GB of storage (or better yet, wait for the new MacBook Air in July).

If this is a cost-saving measure, it will probably also affect the cheaper MacBook Air line as well…

As for the importance, sure, most people won’t notice. Most people won’t notice if the processor, GPU, Wi-Fi, etc, was half as fast either, because “most” people don’t use computers for anything more than web browsing and word processing. But it’s still a bad look for Apple.

 

[UBS28]

Saving additional costs on the most popular model, after increasing the overall price? Good job Timmy. I’m sure you’ll spin it to show how environmentally wise this decision was.

Tim will have more "green" in his wallet.

 

[UBS28]

I have to agree. This is bad. If this were the M2 MacBook Air, I'd not be so disappointed. But if the "Pro" moniker means anything, it should mean performance.

I wouldn't like it for the M2 MacBook Air also, because Apple significantly increased the price of these machines.

But I understand Apple. They struggle getting machines out, so Apple probably found a way to produce more M2 chips by downgrading to some crappy SSD's that nobody wants to use.

 

[MrGimper]

Tim Apple's penny-pinching strikes again.....

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Suspect the same will be true of the m2 air.

 

[Jack Neill]

I was semi serious looking at this machine but if this is true of all models, (Macworlds tests show they were on par with M1 13's) I'm out. My M1 Air is working just fine.

 

[Colpeas]

This will most likely be an unpopular opinion, but if they are not running benchmarks this isn't going to be very noticeable to most folks who buy this machine. Sure, it may be slower in some tasks, but a few seconds here and there won't harm anybody at all.

If you're pushing a 13" MacBook Pro (M1 or M2) to where it slows down and/or costs significant time or money, you need to be shopping higher up the MacBook Pro range.

That’s not the point. M2 Pro is more expensive AND is marketed as more powerful, so it should’t have inferior storage.