Finally, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, which is equipped with Apple’s M2 chip, has arrived in stores and also in the hands of customers. While M2 brings performance improvements compared to M1, the same does not seem to be the case when it comes to storage speeds. Tests with the new M2 MacBook Pro show that the entry-level model has a slower SSD than the M1 model.
As per YouTube channels like Max Tech and Created Tech (via MacRumors), the base model of the new M2 MacBook Pro, which has 256GB of storage, delivers slower SSD speeds compared to the previous-generation 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1.
Tests were conducted using Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, a benchmark app that allows users to test the performance and measure the transfer speed of any internal or external storage on a Mac. Surprisingly, instead of delivering better scores than its predecessor, the 256GB M2 MacBook Pro got worse in terms of storage speeds.
Benchmarks show that the SSD in the entry-level MacBook Pro M2 is 34% slower in write speed than the M1 model, while the difference in read speed is up to 50%.
Here are the results of one of the YouTube channel Max Tech benchmark tests:
- 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. Zollotech YouTuber Aaron Zollo reveals that the 512GB M2 MacBook Pro has very similar SSD speeds to the M1 model.
What’s up with the 256GB M2 MacBook Pro?
Created Tech removed the bottom case of the new M2 MacBook Pro 256GB storage to take a look at the internal components. It turns out that Apple has actually changed things when it comes to the SSD.
The M1 MacBook Pro has two NAND chips with 128 GB each in its 256 GB version. When a device has multiple NAND chips combined, it can achieve higher speeds in parallel. However, the M2 MacBook Pro has a single 256GB NAND chip, so it doesn’t hit the same SSD speeds as the previous generation 13-inch MacBook Pro.
It’s unclear why Apple changed the SSD in the entry-level MacBook Pro M2. 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 who are considering upgrading to the M2 model with 256GB of storage will end up losing SSD performance despite the CPU and GPU improvements.
The downgrade also raises concerns that Apple could do the same with the entry-level M2 MacBook Air, which won’t be available in stores until next month.
A slower SSD increases the time it takes to load apps and transfer files. Of course, the SSD in the entry-level M2 MacBook Pro is still quite fast, but a 50% reduction in speed compared to the previous model seems unfair to consumers, especially for a “Pro” device.
Prices for the M2 MacBook Pro start at $1299, but you can check Amazon for special offers.
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