M2 13-Inch MacBook Pro With 256GB SSD Appears Slower Than Equivalent M1 in Real-World Speed Tests

[ian87w]

Most likely they opted for cheaper slower SSD module for that little bit extra profit margin.
Disappointing.

No, it's not because the module is slower. It's because Apple only used 1 x 256GB chip instead of 2 x 128GB chips (which is what they did on the M1). With 2 chips, the system can do read/write on both chips at the same time, essentially doubling the performance. 1 chip means only 1x the performance, which is half the models with 2 chips. Apple uses the same chip for the 512GB model, but 2 of them, thus it has the "normal" performance expected.

Basically Apple is too cheap to offer 512GB as base model, so instead of using 2 x 128GB chips for the 256GB models, they just decided to put one 256GB chip to cut cost.

 

[gpat]

Looks like something that will be fixed in an update. Bet on it.

By slowing down the M1 memories as much as the M2, no doubt

 

[babyexercise]

I am shocked that there are people defending Apple in this situation, especially since the m2 macbook pro is literally 250 dollars more expensive than the m1 was outside in the US

They never said m2 pro ssd is faster than m1 air lol

 

[Abazigal]

Are you sure it was the Surface Pro 1? It only came in 64GB and 128GB versions.

I was referring to buying 256gb models of the iPhone, iPad and MBA, and it's currently enough storage for me still. That the base model have just 64gb doesn't negate the existence of the higher storage tiers, and it doesn't stop me from spending a little more to get a version that I know will go on to serve me well for the following years to come.

 

[Trusteft]

Half joking.

Apple products related websites, well mostly youtubers, almost always suggest 8GB is enough for (insert workload) because Apple RAM is magic, and always you should just buy the lowest capacity SSD configuration, so that you spend money on an external SSD with slower speeds which is good enough for anything anyway.

So all is fine. The internal SSD "everybody" buys is plenty fast, even though it is slower than the previous model, everyone is using external SSDs if they get 256GB model. Is anyone who is in desperate need of as fast as possible machines going to buy a 256GB SSD model and stick with it alone?
If yes, what type of heavy workload (specially in video editing) do you have that 256GB SSD is enough if you do not use external drives? How important is really the difference in speed in that case? Especially considering we are not talking about SATA 3 levels of performance, or lower.

I don't know, it sounds a bit like complaining for the sake of complaining to me.


/end of half joking.

 

[nottorp]

"8 Gb should be enough for everyone".
The slower performance wouldn't be so noticeable if they shipped their machines with enough ram.

 

[Ludatyk]

Basically Apple is too cheap to offer 512GB as base model, so instead of using 2 x 128GB chips for the 256GB models, they just decided to put one 256GB chip to cut cost.

I understand you are on this run criticizing Apple, but let's be real... they are not cheap. Granted, they make decisions to cut cost... however we live in a capitalism society and they are a business. If I had a decision to use one chip instead of doing two chips and save cost (especially with shortages effecting the tech community), I'll consider... I would think majority of people in there shoes would do the same thing if the end result brings in more money for them.

Could they have been honest about it? Absolutely. But they are trying to sell you a product... not to dissuade you.

 

[randyhudson]

Maybe people will finally recognize the fact that Photoshop, Lightroom, and Final Cut Pro do not constitute "real work". These tasks are entirely I/O bound, with the CPU barely elevating its heart rate.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Why would you buy a laptop with 256 GB of space anyway?

 

[BornAgainMac]

This YouTube channel that focuses on Apple products is one of my favorite Apple related channels. They go above and beyond the other YouTubers.

 

[Sammy in SoCal]

Who is buying this thing anyway?! It’s a serious mystery as to why it even exists. You have to NEED a machine now or something. Either wait for the air or get a Pro on sale that’s 10x better anyway.

Here’s a perspective

 

[antiprotest]

The "most people will not notice it" people miss the point. The point is whether they are getting what they pay for or know what they are getting.

"Most people" will think they are paying for a better and faster machine. It is a reasonable assumption. Since it's newer they'd expect everything to be the same or better.

Since it's called M2 vs M1, they'd expect the chip to be faster without having other components drag it back down.

"Most people" will not know they are not getting what they pay for. "Most people will not notice it" actually makes it worse. It makes this seem like a form of fraud.

 

[Spike1999]

Yup, iJustine's Tim Cook "interview" ( https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...pple-watch-and-more-in-new-interview.2310999/ ) was absolutely pathetic - an absolutely new low for iJustine. MacRumors shouldn't have frontopaged that video at all. Fortunately, MacRumors (also / nowadays?) cites the "other side" like Luke Miani, Max Tech and of course the New York biker-self-service guy (forgot the name).

Oh I think you mean Louis Rossmann, the one that goes on various rants completely unrelated to his videos.

 

[ian87w]

I understand you are on this run criticizing Apple, but let's be real... they are not cheap. Granted, they make decisions to cut cost... however we live in a capitalism society and they are a business. If I had a decision to use one chip instead of doing two chips and save cost (especially with shortages effecting the tech community), I'll consider... I would think majority of people in there shoes would do the same thing if the end result brings in more money for them.

Could they have been honest about it? Absolutely. But they are trying to sell you a product... not to dissuade you.

Huh? I criticize Apple when they deserve it, and I give them credit when they do. This time, they are dishonest, and the benchmarks are showing. I actually don't mind a company cutting cost, it's in their prerogative to maximize profit. But be honest about it. Disclose the performance deficiency so consumers choosing the 256GB models are informed. Don't pretend like Apple is somehow naive and innocent.

 

[ian87w]

Why would you buy a laptop with 256 GB of space anyway?

Why would Apple sell a 256GB model if nobody buys it?

 

[Jack Burton]

Maybe but the 512GB and up M2s don't apparently exhibit this slow SSD issue.

I would never get less than 512, so at least that part is good to hear. Waiting to see how the M2 macbook airs perform when they hit the market.

Absolutely sucks for people buying in at the base model.

 

[Aoligei]

Why would you buy a laptop with 256 GB of space anyway?

It used to be you buy the one with lowest storage and performing DIY upgrade. Now days, Apple figure out way to milk customer even more big solders on SSD and selling for ridiculous amount of money.

$400 for 1TB SSD? Oh my. You can get Samsung NVME for much lower price. You wanna upgrade memory? Adding other $200 for 8GB additional RAM.

Come on, I brought an HP Pavilion Areo for my wife. It comes with 16GB RAM and 500GB NVME SDD (bith upgradable) standard for like 699 Canadian.

Apple put 256GB version and make it slower, it isn’t about shortage of SSD, it is to upsell higher end model, so they can milk their customer more and more.

 

[Aoligei]

Why would Apple sell a 256GB model if nobody buys it?

To upsell you higher end model. Come on, $200 dollar for 256GB more? You gonna be kidding me. You can get 1TB NVME for this price

 

[assb10yr]

I thought no one was going to buy this laptop, so how does it matter whether it's slow or fast, that too the 256GB model.

 

[GuruZac]

if the same single nand crap is repeated for the m2 macbook air..i can bet apple will regret it and sales figures will fall. Anyone who finds all this bad press will definitely be influenced. In essence that would mean unless u spend 1800euros u cant buy any decent new apple laptop.

The good old M1 MacBook Air is still around. Sadly, it can't be spec'd anymore. But it's still a fantastic laptop in 2022. Power, efficiency, portability.

 

[Ludatyk]

Huh? I criticize Apple when they deserve it, and I give them credit when they do. This time, they are dishonest, and the benchmarks are showing. I actually don't mind a company cutting cost, it's in their prerogative to maximize profit. But be honest about it. Disclose the performance deficiency so consumers choosing the 256GB models are informed. Don't pretend like Apple is somehow naive and innocent.

I'm not pretending that Apple is naive and innocent... I'm only simple stating that it's a business decision and it's not necessarily about them being cheap.

 

[montuori]

Why would you buy a laptop with 256 GB of space anyway?

Because I have significantly less than 256GB of stuff to put on it. Paying $200 more for space I'll never need doesn't make any sense. Nor, incidentally, do I care about disk speed past a certain rate.

 

[johannnn]

Expect the same reduced performance for the 256GB model due to Apple using just one chip. This issue doesn’t exist on 512GB model or higher since both NAND slots are utilized. So if you have to upgrade, get at least 512GB storage model.

So is this correct?

• MBA M1 base model has 2x128GB = fast
• MBP M1 base model has 2x128GB = fast
• MBP M2 base model has 1x256GB = slow
• Unknown whether MBA M2 base model will run 2x128GB (=fast) or 1x256GB (=slow)

 

[Student of Life]

So is this correct?

• MBA M1 base model has 2x128GB = fast
• MBP M1 base model has 2x128GB = fast
• MBP M2 base model has 1x256GB = slow
• Unknown whether MBA M2 base model will run 2x128GB (=fast) or 1x256GB (=slow)

I think we all know the answer to that question. The preponderance of the evidence shows the MBA M2 base model will be slow.

It is interesting because if you upgrade the SSD to 512 and then upgrade the Ram to 16GB in the MBA M2, you are better off getting the 14 MBP considering the price is comparable when one factors past sales of 200 of the MBP price. Remember there are typically no sales on custom build MBA.

 

[guillemn]

I dont get people getting 256gb only for such expensive machine.. my 2013 MBP was 512gb and I was out of space back then. Now I have 2TB and problem solved.