Reviews of the new MacBook Pro 13" with an M2 chip reveal an unpleasant detail: the basic version of the 256 GB SSD is significantly slower than that of the predecessor with the M1 chip. The cause is that only a single NAND memory chip is installed instead of two.
Benchmarks reveal the SSD brake
The difference in performance is very clear, at least in benchmarks: the new MacBook Pro 13" with M2 and 256 GB SSD should only reach around 1,450 MB/s reading and writing in the Disk Speed Test, while the version with M1 chip is higher at 2,900 MB/s reading and 2,200 MB/s writing.
256 GB SSD of the MacBook Pro 13 with M1 and M2 in the benchmark (Image: Max Tech (YouTube))
This is reported by the MacRumors website and refers to observations in tests by the YouTube channels Created Tech and Max Tech.
Photos as an indication of the cause< /h2>
Both agree on their observations and back them up with comparison photos and benchmarks. The 256 GB SSD of the older MacBook Pro 13 with M1 chip is therefore equipped with two NAND packages of 128 GB each, while the new version only has one chip housing.
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Right MacBook Pro 13 with M1 and 2 NAND chips, left MacBook Pro 13 with M2 and only 1 NAND chip (Image: Created Tech ( YouTube))
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MacBook Pro 13 with M1 and 2 NAND chips on the left, MacBook Pro 13 with M2 on the right and only 1 NAND chip (Image: Max Tech (YouTube))With one “chip” less, the performance drops
As is well known, SSDs benefit to a certain extent from parallel access to as many NAND chips as possible, which is why the models with the highest storage capacity are usually the fastest within a series.
This could be the obvious cause of the difference in performance, although it is not known how many NAND dies are actually housed in each chip package.
From 512 GB it gets faster again
According to a video test by zollotech, the performance of the 512 GB version of the new MacBook Pro 13 with M2 is not affected. So two 256 GB chips could be installed here.
Faster SSD costs 230 euros more
MacRumors has contacted Apple about the problem and will report as soon as there is feedback. Until then, customers should at least consider the disadvantage of the SSD performance of the basic variant with 256 GB and, if necessary, use the more expensive 512 GB variant with a significantly faster SSD. However, this makes itself felt in the wallet, because then 230 euros more are required and the notebook then costs 1,829 euros instead of 1,599 euros with 256 GB.
230 euros surcharge for the larger and faster SSD