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

[MacRumors]

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.

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.

The 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.

Article Link: New Mac Mini Has Modular Storage, 256GB Model Will Have Faster SSD

 

[abatabia]

I seriously cannot wait to get mine.

 

[AndiG]

Simply use standard M2 NVMe SSDs.

 

[cicalinarrot]

I have lost my only excuse not to buy this

 

[sw1tcher]

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?

 

[dz5b609]

Simply use standard M2 NVMe SSDs.

That's literally what this is.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

...except you can't pay competition-driven market rates for third party m.2.

 

[JosephAW]

Ok ok you don’t need to convince me anymore, I’m in.

 

[seek3r]

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

 

[gpat]

This is easily the biggest improvement in the design.

 

[Dozer_Zaibatsu]

Wait. Does this mean I can buy one and have a single 128GB system disk and put a secondary storage disk of M.2 on there? Because that'd be a game changer.

 

[tipoo]

Is the SSD 3GB/s Macbook Air tier or 7GB/s Macbook Pro tier?

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Is the SSD 3GB/s Macbook Air tier or 7GB/s Macbook Pro tier?

The teardown was of the cheapest base model.

 

[Moka Akashiya]

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.

 

[Infodataset]

Finally i can swap ssd to store my 4k
porn files

 

[Gabebear]

I ordered an M4Pro mini I plan on having for awhile... I bought 1TB thinking that would at least cover the basic apps I need for 3-4 years, but I'm seriously considering dropping the storage back down and waiting a couple years and then upgrading it since it seems these modules are identical to the Mac Studio modules which you can already get upgrades for from third-parties.

 

[DHagan4755]

It would be nice if Apple made the storage in its computers upgradeable. At least in desktops. For mobile, it's understood why they're soldered in.

 

[JippaLippa]

The good news keep on comin!
If I hadn't found a great offer on an almost new M2 for my mom, I'd have bought her an M4.

Mind you, my mother only needs the computer to do some extremely basic browsing (no more than 2,3 tabs open) and to sync the photo library, so I think she'll be allright with 8GB of ram.

With regards to the M4, I was actually a super early apple silicon adopter, having gotten an M1 Mac Mini with 16GB in November 2020 (I used to have a 2011 mac pro, which I still have, and a top spec 2014 hackingtosh).
I use a very heavy application in my job (After Effects); until a native apple silicon version of After Effects was released, it was absolute hell.

I have then gotten an M1 Ultra with 128GB in 2022.
If my earnings will increase in 2025, I might sell it and get an M4 Ultra.

Fingers crossed!

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

That's literally what this is.

It literally isn't. If that module is accurate, the connector is NOT the same as a standard m.2 NVMe SSD.

I would never expect Apple to use a standard SSD as they never have (except for 2.5" SATA maybe). All their "module" SSD's have been proprietary.

 

[dominiongamma]

I have lost my only excuse not to buy this

Could always wait until m5 ;-)

 

[seek3r]

It literally isn't. If that module is accurate, the connector is NOT the same as a standard m.2 NVMe SSD.

I would never expect Apple to use a standard SSD as they never have (except for 2.5" SATA maybe). All their "module" SSD's have been proprietary.

They absolutely have. Most of their blade drives may have had a non-standard connectors, but a cheap and simple adapter to remap pins solves that (for ex the 2013 mac pro I have sitting right in front of me right now with a bog standard wd nvme drive in it, or my old 2012 air which used an adapter to have a nice m2 sata drive replacement)

In this case it appears, as with the studio and the AS Mac Pros, the “drive” is just the NAND, but to say Apple has never used standard SSDs is silly

 

[CarAnalogy]

I would love it if they would include just one standard NVMe slot. I don't even want to boot from it, just to have the option for good fast internal storage. This is progress, at least.

Edit: capitalization is hard.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I would love it if they would include just one standard nVME slot. I don't even want to boot from it, just to have the option for good fast internal storage. This is progress, at least.

That's all I want too

Do whatever shenanigans they want with boot drive, but add an NVMe slot a user can fill on their own, for the desktop computers at least

 

[CalMin]

Has hell frozen over?

No. Unfortunately t’s still quite toasty down there given that these are non-standard connectors.

 

[Zdigital2015]

Simply use standard M2 NVMe SSDs.

Never going to happen. It’s been 12 years of socketed proprietary SSDs in the MacBook Pro. Everyone here should be used to how Apple is selling storage and plan accordingly in their budget.