New Mac mini with M2 chip has slower SSD speeds than M1 chip. Upgrade to 512GB storage for better performance.
The new Mac mini with the M2 chip has a lower starting price of $599, but the base model with 256GB of storage has slower SSD read and write speeds compared to the previous-generation model with the M1 chip and 256GB of storage. A teardown of the new Mac mini reveals that the 256GB model is equipped with only a single 256GB storage chip, while the same configuration with the M1 chip has two 128GB chips, which explains the slower speeds. Benchmarking results show that SSD read and write speeds for the new 256GB Mac mini are each around 1,500 MB/s, which is anywhere from 30% to 50% slower than the equivalent previous-generation model.
Customers looking for the fastest SSD speeds should configure their M2 Mac mini with at least 512GB of storage to avoid this issue, as a slower SSD can impact file transfer speeds and overall performance. The higher-end Mac mini with the M2 Pro chip also has a single NAND chip, and 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models with the M2 chip and 256GB of storage also have slower SSD speeds due to a single NAND chip.
Apple claimed that M2-based Macs have “even faster” performance for real-world activities, but it’s unclear if the statement was referring to SSD performance or overall system performance. We have reached out to an Apple spokesperson for additional comment on the matter and will update this story if we hear back.
The new Mac mini with the M2 chip is a great option for those looking for a budget-friendly Mac, but customers should be aware of the slower SSD speeds on the base model with 256GB of storage. To get the fastest speeds, customers should configure their Mac mini with at least 512GB of storage. Apple has not yet clarified the differences in SSD performance between the M2 and M1 chips, but we will update this story if we hear back from an Apple spokesperson.
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