The new Mac mini SSD has two storage downsides that buyers should know before ordering. First, the NAND storage in the new Mac mini models with the M6 and M5 Pro chips is soldered to the logic board. Second, all new configurations with 256GB of storage reportedly use a single NAND chip instead of a pair of 128GB chips. Together, these two changes affect both upgrade options and drive performance.
For anyone comparing configurations, the Mac mini SSD is now a decision you cannot reverse after purchase. The previous M4 and M4 Pro models had removable storage that could be upgraded later. The new M6 and M5 Pro models do not support aftermarket storage upgrades.
Mac mini SSD Is Now Soldered
In the previous generation, the Mac mini with the M4 and M4 Pro chips had removable storage. Owners could upgrade that storage after buying the machine. That option is gone in the new generation.
The Mac mini SSD in the M6 and M5 Pro models is soldered to the logic board. This means the drive cannot be removed or replaced. It also means the machine cannot accept a larger drive later, no matter how much free space you need down the road.
Plug-and-play SSD modules were previously available that were functionally equivalent to Apple’s proprietary modules, yet hundreds of dollars cheaper. Because of that, many buyers configured their Mac mini with the minimum 256GB capacity from Apple and later installed a higher-capacity module themselves.
With the new models, that path no longer exists. One vendor that made those modules said it “will keep looking for an opening, but support for the M6 and M5 Pro now looks unlikely.” Apple has not commented on the reversal.
It is worth noting that Mac mini models with the M1 chip and M2/M2 Pro chips also had NAND soldered to the logic board. The removable storage in the M4 and M4 Pro configurations now looks like a one-off exception rather than a new standard.
Why the Soldered Design Matters
A soldered Mac mini SSD changes the ownership experience in a few practical ways:
No aftermarket upgrades. You cannot add a cheaper third-party drive later.
No capacity changes. Whatever storage you pick at checkout is what you keep for the life of the machine.
Higher upfront cost. Buying more storage from Apple at the time of purchase usually costs more than adding it yourself.
Repair and longevity concerns. If the NAND chip fails, the machine may not be repairable in the way a removable drive would allow.
For buyers who keep a machine for many years, the soldered design removes a safety net. You cannot stretch the life of the computer by dropping in a bigger drive when your files, apps, and projects outgrow the original capacity.
Mac mini SSD Speeds Drop on 256GB Models
The second downside concerns performance. All new Mac mini configurations with 256GB of storage reportedly have a single NAND chip rather than a pair of 128GB chips.
Configurations with 512GB of storage or more do have dual NAND chips. As a result, the 256GB configurations have slower SSD speeds than the higher-capacity models, according to testing with Blackmagic’s Disk Speed Test benchmark tool.
| Mac mini Configuration | Read Speed | Write Speed |
|---|---|---|
| M6, 512GB | 6,371.5 MB/s | 6,577.4 MB/s |
| M6, 256GB | 3,216.8 MB/s | 3,000.2 MB/s |
| M4, 256GB | 2,792.5 MB/s | 2,014.5 MB/s |
The new 256GB model’s Disk Speed Test scores were roughly half that of models with 512GB of storage or more. The average customer is unlikely to notice the difference in everyday use, but power users will appreciate knowing that they need to opt for at least 512GB of storage to achieve the fastest SSD speeds possible.
Fortunately, even with 256GB of storage, the new Mac mini appears to have meaningfully faster SSD speeds compared to the previous 256GB model. So the base model is not slower than the base model it replaces. It is simply slower than the pricier configurations in the same lineup.
Mac mini models with M2/M2 Pro and 256GB of storage also had a single NAND chip. The M4 and M4 Pro configurations proved to be a one-off exception for this too.
Who Should Care About SSD Speed
Not every buyer needs to worry about benchmark numbers. The practical impact depends on what you do with the machine.
Casual users who browse the web, stream video, and handle documents are unlikely to notice the gap between 256GB and 512GB models.
Photo and video editors who move large files will feel the difference when importing, exporting, and scrubbing through footage.
Developers and data users who compile code, run virtual machines, or work with large datasets benefit from faster read and write speeds.
External drive users may offset the storage limit, but external drives cannot match the speed of the internal Mac mini SSD.
If your work involves large files or heavy multitasking, the 512GB configuration is the safer choice for both capacity and speed.
What Buyers Should Do Before Ordering
Because the Mac mini SSD cannot be upgraded later, the storage choice at checkout carries more weight than it used to. A few guidelines can help.
Estimate your needs over the full life of the machine. Think about how much space you will need in three to five years, not just today.
Choose at least 512GB for demanding work. That configuration has dual NAND chips and the faster SSD speeds.
Use external storage for archives, not for active projects. External drives work well for backups and media libraries, but they are slower than the internal drive.
Do not count on future upgrades. The soldered design means there is no aftermarket path forward.
Factor in cloud storage. If you rely on cloud services, a smaller internal drive may be workable, but you will still live with the slower 256GB speeds.
The new Mac mini SSD brings two clear trade-offs: no upgradeability and slower speeds on the base configuration. Buyers who understand both can choose the right model the first time.
