Looking to replace (increase capacity of) the SSD in my MacBook Pro Retina, Mid 2015.
Are there any options other than OWC?
Are there any options other than OWC?
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SSD Options for MacBook Pro Retina 2013+
- Thread starter Hack5190
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There are none for any 2016 MBPs with touch bar because the SSDs are not removable. The 2016 13" MBP with no touch bar has a removable drive, but I know of no new replacements drives available.
Your only choice is to buy a 2016 MBP with a larger drive or attach a external drive for more capacity.
I made a mistake about the year
. . . .It's a MacBook Pro Retina, Mid 2015 that I bought in 2016 (because as you mention, the 2016's are not upgradable).
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The OWC SSD is the only new drive available larger, but you are replacing a 1.5 GB/sec SSD with a 0.5 GB/sec SSD.
To get a 1.5GB/sec factory drive you have to get one pulled from an existing Apple MBP or from a repair shop. They are not new and there would be no hardware warranty. Some people find pulled drives on eBay, but there could be a hardware support risk.
OP:
There really aren't any easy or cheap options to upgrade the SSD due to the proprietary design that Apple uses.
As mentioned above, you can try to hunt down a used Apple drive on ebay. They won't be cheap.
Does OtherWorldComputing offer one that will fit the 2015 models? (not sure)
I've heard that the OWC drives run hotter than the factory drives, possibly other limitations, as well.
Another way to increase storage:
Get one of the customized micro-SD card adapters that fit into the SD slot.
Be aware that they will be FAR SLOWER than a real SSD, and will appear as a "second drive icon" on the desktop.
BUT -- properly managed, they can give you considerable extra storage space that fits "flush" into the body of the MacBook.
These could work well for large libraries of pictures or music or movies.
There really aren't any easy or cheap options to upgrade the SSD due to the proprietary design that Apple uses.
As mentioned above, you can try to hunt down a used Apple drive on ebay. They won't be cheap.
Does OtherWorldComputing offer one that will fit the 2015 models? (not sure)
I've heard that the OWC drives run hotter than the factory drives, possibly other limitations, as well.
Another way to increase storage:
Get one of the customized micro-SD card adapters that fit into the SD slot.
Be aware that they will be FAR SLOWER than a real SSD, and will appear as a "second drive icon" on the desktop.
BUT -- properly managed, they can give you considerable extra storage space that fits "flush" into the body of the MacBook.
These could work well for large libraries of pictures or music or movies.
Wow I didn't know the speed of the OWC drives were a 1/3 of stock. Thats a no go for me. Have a 200 GB micro SD and a flush adapter (on order) to symbolic link as my Documents folder - was hoping for more fast internal storage.
OWC does make drives for the 2015 and your comment about heat is supported by a quick google search and multiple owner / user complaints.
Thanks to both of you for your insight, I'm going to live with what I have. There are a few USB3 512 GB SSD's around for when I need more.
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