Since the 2016 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, Apple has soldered SSDs directly to the motherboard, preventing users from easily increasing their machine’s storage. But iBoff, a YouTuber specializing in repairs, has found a clever solution to get around this limitation, without taking up too much space.
Pluggable SSD modules for MacBook
This YouTuber designed an SSD slot that replaces the original soldered component on Apple Silicon MacBooks. Once this slot is installed, there is no need for micro-soldering: you can easily interchange the SSDs like you would change a game cartridge.
In his video, iBoff shows how to upgrade from a 256 GB base model to 2 TB on a 13″ M1 MacBook Pro. After restoring the system via Apple Configurator, the Mac is like new, with no loss of performance. Best of all the cake: in the event of a SSD failure, you can replace it without losing your machine.
Could Apple take inspiration from this?
Of course, few ordinary users will be able to install this SSD slot themselves. But this video proves that Apple has the technical means to offer removable SSDs on its MacBooks. The company could even take advantage of this to sell its own proprietary modules, a bit like the Nintendo Switch and its locked memory cards.
In the meantime, seasoned DIY enthusiasts can attempt the operation, provided they have time, advanced equipment and a well-stocked wallet. For others, let’s hope that Apple takes inspiration from this discovery to make its Macs more modular again!
