The new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Apple’s M2 chip is finally in stores and in the hands of customers. While the M2 offers a performance boost over the M1, that doesn’t seem to be the case when it comes to storage speed. Testing on the new M2 MacBook Pro shows that the entry-level model has a slower SSD than the M1 model.
As described on YouTube channels like Max Tech and Created Tech (via Mike Rumors) is the base model of the new M2 MacBook Pro with 256GB of storage, with a slower SSD compared to the previous-generation 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M1.
These tests were run using the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, a benchmarking application that allows users to test performance and measure the transfer speed of any internal or external storage on the Mac. Surprisingly, instead of delivering better results than its predecessor, the 256GB M2 MacBook Pro got worse in terms of storage speed.
Benchmarks show that the SSD in the entry-level MacBook Pro M2 model is 34 percent slower in write speed than the M1 model, while the difference in read speed is up to 50 percent.
Here are the results of a benchmark test conducted by YouTube channel Max Tech:
- M1 MacBook Pro: 2900 MB/s (read speed) and 2215 MB/s (write speed)
- M2 MacBook Pro: 1446 MB/s (read speed) and 1463 MB/s (write speed)
However, the lower SSD performance doesn’t seem to affect the more expensive M2 MacBook Pro models with more internal storage. YouTuber Aaron Zollo of Zollotech says the 512GB M2 MacBook Pro’s SSD speeds are very similar to the M1 model.
What happened to the 256GB M2 MacBook Pro?
Created Tech removed the bottom case of the new M2 MacBook Pro with 256GB of storage to see its internal components. It turns out that Apple has indeed changed a few things when it comes to SSDs.
The M1 MacBook Pro has two 128GB NAND chips in its 256GB version. When a device combines multiple NAND chips, it can achieve faster speeds in parallel. However, the M2 MacBook Pro has a 256GB NAND chip, so that’s why it can’t reach the same SSD speeds as the previous-generation 13-inch MacBook Pro.
It’s unclear why Apple changed the SSD in the entry-level M2 MacBook Pro model. One possible reason is that the company is trying to reduce costs by using a single NAND chip instead of two. Unfortunately, M1 MacBook Pro users considering upgrading to the M2 model with 256GB of storage will end up losing SSD performance despite improvements to the CPU and GPU.
The downgrade also raised concerns that Apple is doing the same with the entry-level M2 MacBook Air, which won’t hit stores until next month.
Using a slower SSD increases the time it takes to load applications and transfer files. Sure, the SSD in the entry-level M2 MacBook Pro is still pretty fast, but a 50% reduction in speed compared to the previous model seems unfair to consumers, especially in a “Pro” machine.
The M2 MacBook Pro starts at $1,299, but you can find special deals on Amazon.
FTC: We use car affiliate links to earn revenue. more.
Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news: