Dirt-cheap SSD replacement for 2015 MBA?

[benyben123]

Hi everyone.
I don't know enough about Macs to know if each of these models had a different SSD.
I need to get the lowest-priced SSD replacement for a dead-ssd of a 2015 MBA.
Must be at least 120GB.
What are my options?
Thanks for the advice!

 

[junkw]

less complicated is to buy a used one on eBay:
look at the date stamped on it, sometimes you can get a 2017, 2016 for cheap

Apple Ssd 128GB 2015 for sale | eBay

Get the best deals for Apple Ssd 128GB 2015 at eBay.com. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items!

www.ebay.com

Original OEM are usually Samsung
[automerge]1577558825[/automerge]
There are 3rd parties options, there is big thread on this:

Upgrading 2013/2014 Macbook Pro SSD to M.2 NVMe

This thread is about upgrading MacBook Airs & Macbook Pros (2013-2015) with new high speed and/or high capacity NVMe SSDs. This thread was one of the first to talk about MacBook Pro NVMe SSD upgrades on Macrumors, and was started by user "maxthackray", which we can thank and give tribute for...

forums.macrumors.com

However after reading that for hours and trying one in my macbook, I'd still go the eBay OEM route.

 

[benyben123]

less complicated is to buy a used one on eBay:
look at the date stamped on it, sometimes you can get a 2017, 2016 for cheap

Apple Ssd 128GB 2015 for sale | eBay

Get the best deals for Apple Ssd 128GB 2015 at eBay.com. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items!

www.ebay.com

Original OEM are usually Samsung
[automerge]1577558825[/automerge]
There are 3rd parties options, there is big thread on this:

Upgrading 2013/2014 Macbook Pro SSD to M.2 NVMe

This thread is about upgrading MacBook Airs & Macbook Pros (2013-2015) with new high speed and/or high capacity NVMe SSDs. This thread was one of the first to talk about MacBook Pro NVMe SSD upgrades on Macrumors, and was started by user "maxthackray", which we can thank and give tribute for...

forums.macrumors.com

However after reading that for hours and trying one in my macbook, I'd still go the eBay OEM route.

Hi.
Thanks so much for the info.
Regarding buying a used original one - I tend to agree with you. I had an experience with reccomended parts, but my MBA needed like 3 or 4 tries to accept the drive + adapter. That made me realize I am on shaky ground - who knows when it will decide to not boot on me.

Thanks again.

 

[Acronyc]

I upgraded the SSD on my 2015 11-inch MacBook Air last year. I got a 256GB Intel 760P SSD along with the necessary adapter. There are probably better options available now, but it is faster than the original 128GB SSD and has been really reliable.

 

[benyben123]

That's great info to know!!!
Thank you for this!
I remember these 2 parts for an upcoming possible upgrade (due to running out of storage, not merely for the sake of speed).

I wonder what's the ceiling on the speed is though. Max speed possible on that connection (forgot how it's called - sata speed in the mac)

 

[Cthulhu7747]

I just bought a new MacBook Air 2017 (Best Buy matched Amazon's $699.99 price). I ordered one of these and a Kingston A2000 SSD (it's not one of the drives on Sintech's list, but someone elsewhere mentioned it works). Heed the list of drives on Sintech's list that do not work.

I had a MacBook Air 2011 and upgraded its SSD using a Sintech adapter (different model) and Crucial MX500 (SATA M.2 drive vs. NVMe M.2 drive of later models).

 

[Cthulhu7747]

Here is the thread concerning SSD upgrades.

 

[Macdctr]

Hi everyone.
I don't know enough about Macs to know if each of these models had a different SSD.
I need to get the lowest-priced SSD replacement for a dead-ssd of a 2015 MBA.
Must be at least 120GB.
What are my options?
Thanks for the advice!

The answer to all your questions regarding storage drive replacement can be found here in this link:

Macbook air 2017 SSD Compatibility with Samsung SSD

I'm planning to buy a NVMe m.2 samsung evo ssd. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYFKJR7/?tag=stackoverflow17-20) and wanting to ask you guys is it compatible with my mac ? I have done some research and it says that macOS high sierra supports natively nvme's. Do i need a sintech adapter for the ssd...

forums.macrumors.com

I have an 2015 13inch and 11inch Air i7/8GB that I have upgraded to NVMe M.2 storage drives and 3x the performance found from using OEM Apple storage drives. I will never use the Apple storage drives in my air again. Send me a private message if you have any questions.

 

[benyben123]

Thank you for the info.

Have you never had a boot failure with the aftermarket drive and adatper?

I got the folder screen at boot this weel.

This happened to me this week on the worst possible timing (and with recommended parts).

 

[ApfelKuchen]

While it's not impossible to get "dirt-cheap" and "100% reliable," you are setting a fairly high bar. This is the primary reason people buy from reputable dealers. The warranty/return/exchange policy is part of the price paid.

I get not having money - been there more than once in my life. But at those times I also had very little free time to waste on repeat repair attempts or pursuing my "rights" with shady vendors - I was too busy working to make ends meet. I was far more likely to wait a while longer so I could scrape together the funds to get parts/supplies of known quality, to do the job right the first time.

 

[Macdctr]

Thank you for the info.

Have you never had a boot failure with the aftermarket drive and adatper?

I got the folder screen at boot this weel.

This happened to me this week on the worst possible timing (and with recommended parts).

I have not experienced any boot failures using the NVMe drives I use. I am using Samsung 950Pro and 970EVO/PRO NVMe drives.

 

[avatar1349]

I upgraded the SSD on my 2015 11-inch MacBook Air last year. I got a 256GB Intel 760P SSD along with the necessary adapter. There are probably better options available now, but it is faster than the original 128GB SSD and has been really reliable.

You might wanna try the OWC 1 TB SSD; works out of the box and fast!!!