After the release of Apple’s new 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 chip, it was discovered that the base model for $ 1299 with 256 GB of memory has a significantly lower read / write speed of the SSD compared to the equivalent model of the previous generation.
YouTube channels such as Max Tech and Created Tech tested the 256 GB model with Blackmagic’s Disk Speed Test application and found that SSD read and write speeds were about 1450 MB / s, which is about 50% slower. reading and about 30% slower writing compared to a 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M1 chip and 256 GB of memory.
The numbers of applications for testing the speed of the disk, shared by Vadim Yuriev from Max Tech:
- 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1 / 256GB) Read speed: 2900
- 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2 / 256GB) Read speed: 1446
- 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1 / 256GB) Recording speed: 2215
- 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2 / 256GB) Recording speed: 1463
Yuriev disassembled the new 13-inch MacBook Pro and found that the 256GB model is equipped with only one NAND flash chip for storage, while the previous model has two NAND chips, which are probably 128GB each. This difference probably explains why the new model has a slower SSD, as multiple NAND chips allow faster speeds in parallel.
It seems that only the base model 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 chip has a slower SSD. As noted in the MacRumors forums, Aaron Zolo launched the model’s Disk Speed Test application at 512 GB and SSD read / write speeds are similar to all M1 models, but obtaining these speeds will require at least $ 1499 spent. This probably means that the 512 GB model remains equipped with two 256 GB flash memory chips.
It is not clear why the new base model 13-inch MacBook Pro is equipped with only one NAND chip, but costs and / or supply constraints are two possible factors. We contacted Apple for comment and will update this story if we receive feedback.
Slower SSD speeds can affect common tasks such as transferring files to an external device, and overall performance can also be a blow, as Macs temporarily uses SSD space as virtual memory when physical RAM is fully used. If you’re considering the new 13-inch MacBook Pro and faster SSD speeds are important to you, we recommend ordering a model with at least 512GB of memory (or better yet, wait for the new MacBook Air in July).
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro launches on Friday. The slower SSD speeds of the base model were not mentioned in many (some?) Embargoed reviews of the laptop, as it seems that Apple provided many reviewers with a 1TB configuration for testing.
It remains to be seen whether the new MacBook Air with the M2 chip will also have lower SSD speeds when configured with 256 GB of memory.
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