Teardown of the M4 Mac mini reveals a huge surprise

Thanks to a video posted connected societal media showing nan wrong of nan caller Mac mini, we now cognize it has modular retention and nan 256GB guidelines exemplary uses 2 128GB chips. This is bully news for tech enthusiasts who were disappointed pinch nan M2 Mac mini’s azygous 256GB spot since it caused slower SSD speeds.

Two chips allows for parallel reference and penning truthful jobs tin get done faster, but it’s important to statement that nan quality isn’t noticeable for astir day-to-day tasks. The problem only applied to 256GB models and was chiefly a symptom constituent for enthusiasts — but it’s still bully to cognize that Apple is consenting to perceive to customers sometimes (not always, though).

Partial teardown of M4 Mac Mini /w 16GB RAM & 256GB SSD. Interesting revealation: Wifi spot & antenna connected nan backmost of bottommost aerial intake. SSD connected a girl board. And moreover nan guidelines 256GB type comes successful 2 chips. No discuss successful speed. Theoretically besides extremity personification upgradable. pic.twitter.com/vA2vQwkl7J

— ＨＧ 阿聻 𓆣 𓇽 (@ohgkg) November 8, 2024

The modular retention intends that nan chips aren’t soldered to nan motherboard either, which almost sounds for illustration users should beryllium capable to region and switch them easy — but that’s not rather nan case. While it’s easy to region them, trying to switch them retired for thing other opens up a full different tin of worms.

To put it simply, Apple silicon SSDs aren’t self-contained devices for illustration emblematic SSDs, truthful you can’t conscionable switch it retired and expect everything to activity nan aforesaid arsenic before. Whether this logic is simply a bully capable excuse for Apple’s unspeakable upgradability and repairability practices is different question, however.

The caller Mac mini isn’t nan first instrumentality to correct this correction — nan M3 MacBook Air besides switched backmost to 2 chips alternatively of 1 — truthful it’s bully to cognize nan hole is happening crossed nan Mac lineup.