Joe Rossignol
Apple has returned to using two 128GB memory chips in the new Mac mini with 256GB of storage, according to a partial teardown video posted to social media today. This means that the base model Mac mini with the M4 chip won’t have significantly slower SSD speeds compared to the computer’s more expensive 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB configurations, since multiple NAND chips provide faster SSD read and write speeds.
The teardown video also shows that the memory in the new Mac mini is modular, meaning it can be easily removed since it’s not soldered. However, as we saw with the Mac Studio, replacing modular storage is tricky.
The previous-generation Mac mini base model with the M2 chip has a single 256GB storage chip, which results in 30% to 50% slower SSD read and write speeds than higher-capacity models. The slower speeds have drawn criticism from some customers.
The new Mac mini has modular storage (via iFixit Answers forum)
A single 256GB storage chip also resulted in slower SSD speeds in the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro base models with the M2 chip a few years ago. Apple returned to using two 128GB memory chips in 256GB configurations of the M3-powered MacBook Air models earlier this year, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro line was discontinued last year and replaced by an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro that starts with 512GB of storage.
The criticism surrounding Apple's decision to use a single 256GB chip in some base Mac models a few years ago largely came from a vocal contingent of tech enthusiasts, and the average buyer is unlikely to even notice the slower speeds when performing normal, everyday tasks. Still, it looks like buyers who want the fastest SSD speeds won't have to worry about which storage capacity they choose when ordering a new Mac mini.
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