Thinking of getting a new MacBook Pro? Well, you’ll be pleased to hear that the entry-level 13-inch model comes with a removable solid state drive (SSD). This means that if you feel like replacing it with something more capacious in the future, you can.
The discovery comes from OWC, which sells third-party upgrades for Apple hardware through its MacSales website.
According to OWC, while the SSD module is user-removable, getting it out isn’t an easy task. To access it, you must first remove the speaker module. There is also “very strong tape” covering the interface port. OWC also notes that the bottom of the laptop’s chassis is harder to remove than previous models.
This is a highly unusual turn of events for Apple. Previous MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops came with the SSD drive soldered to the logic board, thereby preventing users from servicing it.
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OWC were only able to obtain the entry-level, 13-inch model. As a result, it’s not clear if this is also the case for the more expensive MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.
You can watch OWC’s unboxing and teardown video above. It’s unlikely that this will persuade many people to run down to the Apple Store though. The latest Apple hardware refresh has been nothing short of a disappointment, with the latest models regarded as too expensive and too limited.
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