Looks like Apple’s M2 MacBook Pro has a major SSD problem

By Arif Bacchus Published June 27, 2022

There’s a new reason why Apple’s latest MacBook Pro with the new M2 chip might not be as fast and as next-generation as you think. According to tests from multiple YouTube videos spotted by MacRumors, the entry-level models of the latest Apple flagship laptop have slower SSD speeds when compared to last year’s M1 models.

There are two YouTube videos that have exposed the drop in SSD performance between MacBook Pro generations. One comes from Max Tech and another from Created Tech. Both videos suggest that the entry-level M2 MacBook Pro model with a 256GB SSD is twice as slow as the M1 MacBook Pro when testing is done with the Blackmagic Disk Testing tool. The problem seems only linked to entry-level models, as when a separate YouTuber benchmarked a higher-end M2 MacBook Pro against the M1 MacBook Pro, the SSD speeds were the same.

Apple 13-inch Macbook Pro with M2 chip. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

So, what do the specifics behind the numbers show? Well, in Created Tech’s tests, the M1-powered MacBook Pro netted a 2,048 MB/s write speed and 2,924.6 MB/s read speed. That’s up against the slower 1,551.3 MB/s write speed on the MacBook Pro with an M2 chip, and the 1,477.1 MB/s read speed.

Recommended Videos

When compared to Max Tech’s test, the results are somewhat similar. That YouTuber netted a 2,215 MB/s write speed, and 2,900 MB/s read speed on the M1 MacBook Pro. Then, on the MacBook Pro with an M2 chip, the results came in at 1,446 MB/s read and 1,463 MB/s write.

It is unknown what could be causing this drop in SSD performance. YouTuber Created Tech suggests that it could be because Apple is using a single NAND chip on the 2022 MacBook Pro M2 models. Previous models had two NAND chips, for faster speeds. Opening up the bottom casing of the new M2 MacBook Pro is what lead to this speculation, and it remains unclear if the base model Apple M2-powered MacBook Air will also suffer from this same problem.

While these speeds aren’t all that bad, MacRumors points out that the slower speeds could also impact the overall system performance for higher-demanding tasks. This applies to situations where a MacBook might use SSD space as virtual memory.

Former Computing Writer

Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…

Topics

Computing

I love the Dell XPS 13, but I’ll pick the MacBook Air any day

Dell XPS 13 and M4 MacBook Air.

I am a huge fan of slim and light laptops. That preference is borne more out of my professional lifestyle than a necessity for absolute silicon firebreathers. I believe a laptop should be, well, light on your lap, or hands, unless you need all that firepower in a mobile form factor.

That’s the reason gaming laptops exist, or those thick workstations such as the HP ZBook with an Nvidia RTX A500 series graphics card. For the rest, a thin laptop can do the job just fine, with its quirky set of compromises. Finding the right slim laptop, however, is the tricky part.

Computing

iPad is the best secondary screen I’ve used with a MacBook

You can extend your MacBook's screen by using an iPad as a secondary monitor.

I spend an unhealthy amount of time lurking in communities where people share aesthetic desktop setups. One of my friends recently set the group chat on fire with a triple monitor setup that had two vertical screens and an ultrawide curved panel at the center. An impulse swipe later, I achieved a similar makeover for my desk at home.

Here’s the problem, though. My $600 workstation overhaul did bring me visual joy, but not much utility. For reporting assignments, I spend the majority of the year away from home, working from deserted cafes or unnaturally uncomfortable bunk beds. I do miss the convenience of large secondary screens. Interestingly, that yearning is addressed by a rather unconventional device —the humble iPad.

Computing

Attention to detail is Apple’s not-so-hidden hardware superpower

Apple Mac Studio 2025 top down view showing desktop.

I've reviewed well over 300 laptops, a handful of displays, and a smattering of accessories. Naturally, I've gained an appreciation for great hardware design and construction, and I can pretty immediately get a sense of where a device stacks up. While several companies make great hardware, one stands apart. I'm talking about Apple, and I'm writing this after having reviewed the new Mac Studio, the MacBook Air 13 (M4), the MacBook Air 15 (M4), and the Apple Studio Display.

At the end of 2023, I wrote extensively about why I made the decision to switch to Mac after decades of Windows loyalty. I made that decision based in part on the outstanding power-performance ratio that Apple Silicon brings to laptops, -- along with a growing frustration with Windows. Apple's software isn't nearly perfect, especially considering the company's flawed rollout of Apple Intelligence. But since I've made the switch -- which included migrating from an Android smartphone to an iPhone and incorporating an Apple Watch -- I've been extremely happy. And reviewing so many Apple products at once just reinforced an impression that's been growing on me for a while: nobody makes hardware that's nearly as great.
It starts with the unboxing