Skip to main content

Here’s why people are saying to avoid the entry-level M2 Pro MacBook Pro

One thing Mac users have always been able to count on in recent years is the blazing speed of their computer’s storage. The brand-new M2 Pro MacBook Pro and M2 Mac mini, however, look set to be bitterly disappointing in that regard.

That’s because multiple outlets have confirmed that Macs outfitted with entry-level M2 chips (both the M2 itself and the M2 Pro) come with much slower read and write speeds compared to the previous-generation models. For instance, 9to5Mac benchmarked the new 14-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro chip and found its SSD’s read and write speeds dropped by 40% and 20% respectively.

M2 Mac Mini Teardown / Disassembly (4K - Up Close)

Similarly, MacRumors benchmarked the M2 Mac mini using Blackmagic Disk Speed Test and found the device’s read and write speeds were anywhere from 50% to 30% slower than its predecessor.

None of this is good news for potential Apple customers. Apple devices are expensive and, while that usually means you get a quality product in return, no one likes to see performance drop between device generations.

Letting the chips fall

A person sitting in a vehicle using a MacBook Pro on their lap.

What’s causing this slowdown in SSD performance? Well, it’s all to do with the way the SSD storage is distributed among chips on the Mac’s logic board. Previously, Apple would split storage into two or more chips — the 256GB M1 Mac mini used two 128GB NAND modules, for instance. Now, though, the M2 Mac mini puts that 256GB onto a single chip, as confirmed by YouTube channel Brandon Geekabit. Doing this impacts the performance, hence the slower-than-expected results.

In the base-model 14-inch MacBook Pro’s case, Apple formerly arranged its 512GB storage onto four chips. According to 9to5Mac’s teardown, that is now split across two chips, which cuts down its speed. That means if you want the absolute best SSD output you can get, it might be worth bumping up from the minimum amount of storage.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen an M2 Mac offer much slower storage speeds than a previous model. Both the M2 MacBook Pro and the M2 MacBook Air suffered in this regard if you bought the entry-level models with 256GB of storage.

A person holding the logic board of the M2 Mac mini computer from Apple.
Brandon Geekabit/YouTube

Interestingly, the problem did not affect any M2 MacBook with more than 256GB of storage, as those models use more than just a single NAND chip. We’ll have to see if that’s also the case with the M2 Mac mini and M2 Pro MacBook Pro.

It’s a disappointing turn for Apple’s Mac range. While the Mac mini and MacBook Pro are still blazing fast when it comes to SSD speed — 9to5Mac recorded write speeds of 3154.5Mbps in the M2 Pro MacBook Pro — it’s never good to see performance that can’t match a previous-generation model.

We suspect Apple may have taken this approach to save money. During its October 2022 earnings call, Apple explained that it expected Mac revenue to “decline substantially” year-over-year in the first quarter of 2023. Perhaps that prompted the apparent cost-cutting measure in the Mac mini and MacBook Pro. Let’s hope the next generation of Mac SSDs don’t suffer a similar fate.

Editors' Recommendations

Alex Blake
In ancient times, people like Alex would have been shunned for their nerdy ways and strange opinions on cheese. Today, he…
There are too many MacBooks
The lid of Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air seem from above.

There are too many MacBooks. With six options to compare, choosing one from the lineup now requires a deep knowledge of the marketing and technical materials -- a lack of which will lead someone to make the wrong choice.

I know what you're thinking -- what could possibly be wrong with more options? Certainly, more choice is better for the customer, right? There's some validity to that belief, to be sure. But if Apple wants to remain the In-N-Out of the tech world rather than McDonalds, Apple needs to trim down its MacBook lineup. And fortunately, there's an opportunity coming up that might be the perfect time for a shakeup.
The problem with the M2
Apple Silicon is still very young. It's been almost three years since it was birthed into the world, and we're only two generations into its development. And as big of a deal as the M1 was when it launched, showing the real potential of Apple Silicon versus the rest of the industry. But the real test of its impact would have to be long-term.

Read more
MacBook Air 15-inch vs. MacBook Air 13-inch: which to buy
The lid of Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air seem from above.

For the first time in a long time, there are now two size options for the MacBook Air. The difference in size between the 15-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Air is dramatic, though you'll find that these are otherwise very similar laptops.

So, which is better -- or more importantly, which is right for you? We've reviewed both devices in-depth, so here's everything you need to know about deciding between these two laptops.
Specs

Read more
Intel chips held back the 15-inch MacBook Air, Apple says
Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air placed on a desk.

Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Air is a surprisingly good laptop, and its positive reception might make you wonder why Apple didn’t launch it sooner. Well, we just got the answer from Apple itself, and it turns out the fault apparently lies with Intel.

That interesting tidbit was revealed by Laura Metz, Director of Product Marketing at Apple, and Thomas Tan from Apple’s enterprise product marketing team. Speaking to Inc, the pair explained that Apple silicon was the driving force in creating the 15-inch MacBook Air.

Read more