Base Model 13-Inch M2 MacBook Pro SSD Is 50% Slower Than M1 Model

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 chip has a storage speed problem, which can only be fixed by spending an extra $200.

As MacRumors reports(Opens in a new window), multiple tests of the M2 MacBook Pro revealed that the SSD in the base model is significantly slower than the base model M1 MacBook Pro it replaces. How much slower? Fifty percent slower read speeds (1,446MB/s compared to 2,900MB/s) and 30% slower write speeds (1,463MB/s compared to 2,215MB/s).

As Created Tech explains(Opens in a new window) after taking a look inside the laptop, the reason for the slowdown seems to be Apple's decision to switch to a single NAND chip for the 256GB of storage in the base model. For the M1 MacBook Pro, two 128GB NAND chips were used, allowing Apple to use both in parallel and hence faster data transfers were possible.

Upgrading to the 512GB model of the M2 MacBook Pro sees the storage speeds return to M1 levels, and that's most likely due to two 256GB NAND chips being used. Of course, you're going to have to spend $200 more on that model. Depending on the type of work you're doing on the laptop, spending the extra and paying $1,499 is probably worth it.

The M2 MacBook Air doesn't ship until next month, but its base model also ships with a 256GB SSD. Should we assume the same single-chip solution and slower read and write speeds? It seems likely, especially considering the base Air model is $100 cheaper than the 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro.