Thought Leadership
The new Mac mini models with the M6 and M5 Pro chips once again feature soldered storage, preventing users from upgrading the internal storage after purchase.
The latest Mac mini with either the M6 or M5 Pro chip no longer offers removable internal storage. The information comes from a blog post by accessory maker Expand Mac mini, which cites its own hardware testing.
Change From the M4 Mac mini
When Apple introduced the M4 Mac mini two years ago, teardowns showed that its internal SSD was no longer soldered to the mainboard, unlike earlier models. This made it possible to upgrade the storage after purchase.
According to Expand Mac mini, the new Mac mini with the M6 and M5 Pro chips has reverted to soldered NAND storage. The setup is similar to the earlier M1 and M2 models. As a result, the SSD module can no longer be removed.
Significantly More Expensive Than Upgrades
Expand Mac mini sells its own storage expansion modules for the M4 and M4 Pro models. For comparison, the company’s 1 TB expansion module for the M4 Mac mini costs $300 USD, while Apple charges $500 USD to upgrade the M6 Mac mini from 256 GB to 1 TB at the factory.
A 2 TB module from Expand Mac mini costs $420 USD. Apple’s corresponding factory upgrade, by comparison, costs $1,000 USD.
Accessory Maker Reacts
Expand Mac mini commented on the development:
“No slot means nothing to swap, and very little room left for us. In August we said we would extend our coverage once we had tested real hardware. This is the result, and not the one we hoped for. We will keep looking for an opening, but support for the M6 and M5 Pro now looks unlikely. If that changes, you will hear it here first.”
Expand Mac mini, accessory maker
For the Mac Studio, Apple’s own repair guide still shows removable SSD storage. However, no teardowns confirming this for the current generation are available so far.
(Editorial Team)
