Following the release of Apple’s new 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 chip, the $1,299 base model with 256GB of storage was found to have significantly slower SSD read/write speeds compared to the equivalent generation model. previous.
youtube channels like maximum technology Y technology created tested the 256GB model with Blackmagic’s Disk Speed Test app and found the SSD’s read and write speeds to be around 1450MB/s, which is around 50% slower on read and around 30% slower on writes compared to 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 chip and 256GB storage.
Disk Speed Test app numbers shared by Max Tech’s Vadim Yuryev:
- 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1/256GB) Read Speed: 2900
- 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2/256GB) Read Speed: 1446
- MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1/256GB) Write Speed: 2215
- 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2/256GB) Write Speed: 1463
Yuryev took apart the new 13-inch MacBook Pro and found that the 256GB model is equipped with a single NAND flash storage chip, while the older model has two NAND chips that are likely to be 128GB each. This difference likely explains why the newer model has a slower SSD, as multiple NAND chips allow for faster speeds in parallel.
It appears that only the base model 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 chip has a slower SSD. As noted in the MacRumors forums, aaron zollo ran the Disk Speed Test app on the 512GB model and SSD read/write speeds were similar to all M1 models, but getting these speeds will require spending at least $1,499. This probably means that the 512GB model is still equipped with two 256GB flash storage chips.
It’s unclear why the new entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro is only equipped with a single NAND chip, but cost and/or supply constraints are two possible factors. We’ve reached out to Apple for comment and will update this story if we hear back.
Slower SSD speeds can affect common tasks like transferring files to an external drive, and overall performance can also take a slight hit as Macs temporarily use 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 storage (or better yet, wait for the new MacBook Air in July).
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro launched on Friday. The base model’s slower SSD speeds weren’t mentioned in many (any?) embargoed notebook reviewsas it appears Apple provided many reviewers with a 1TB configuration for testing.
Whether the new MacBook Air with the M2 chip will also have slower SSD speeds when configured with 256GB of storage remains to be seen.
