Apple’s entry-level new M2 Mac mini and 2023 MacBook Execs are transport with considerably slower SSDs than their predecessors. This might negatively impression learn/write intensive workflows.

The slowdown is as a result of Apple makes use of a single flash chip resolution on the 2023 fashions. For comparability, the M1 Mac mini and 2021 MacBook Execs used two flash chips.

Fewer NAND chips guilty for the M2 Professional Macs sluggish SSD efficiency

Apple was additionally discovered utilizing slower storage chips on the entry-level M2 MacBook Professional and MacBook Air. The drop in speeds will be attributed to the change to a single NAND storage resolution on the bottom M2 Macs. NAND chips present quicker efficiency in a parallel resolution.

The bottom M2 Mac mini ships with 256GB of storage and makes use of a single storage chip. Relying on the take a look at, the M2 Mac mini offers 30-50% slower storage speeds than the M1 mannequin. The M2 MacBook Professional additionally posted an analogous decline in its SSD efficiency. Whereas loading or writing massive recordsdata, the slower learn/write speeds will negatively have an effect on the M2 Mac mini’s efficiency.

An in depth teardown of the M2 Mac mini by YouTuber Brandon Geekbit additional confirms this modification.

The entry-level 2023 MacBook Professional variants ship with 512GB of storage. It makes use of two storage chips, down from the 4 chips present in its predecessor. Just like the M2 Mac mini, there’s an analogous efficiency decline within the SSD efficiency of the brand new MacBook Execs.

Improve your Mac’s storage if you would like quicker SSD efficiency

Apple confirmed the change when the slower NAND problem was first reported on the M2 MacBook Professional. It famous whereas benchmarks would possibly present a distinction in comparison with the earlier era, the M2-powered Macs will ship higher efficiency in real-world use. Regardless of Apple’s reassurance, your workload might take a success from the slower SSDs on the entry-level Mac mini and MacBook Professional.

In case your workflow includes exporting many images/movies or transferring round massive recordsdata, contemplate upgrading your Mac’s storage. Do notice that even the M2 Mac mini with 512GB storage won’t present the identical SSD speeds because the M1 mannequin. It’s because it’s going to nonetheless use two fewer NAND chips. Nevertheless, this gained’t be a difficulty on MacBook Execs with 1TB storage.