Apple has reversed its brief experiment with user-upgradable storage, soldering the SSD chips directly onto the mainboards of the newly released Mac mini models featuring M6 and M5 Pro chips, according to hardware teardowns published by Expand Mac mini on Sept. 25, 2026. Buyers choosing the latest hardware configurations can no longer swap or upgrade internal storage components after purchase.
Permanent Storage on M6 and M5 Pro Motherboards
Teardown reports from Expand Mac mini confirm that NAND storage chips on the M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini systems are permanently affixed to the mainboard. This design choice marks an abrupt shift from the previous M4 generation, where Apple utilized removable storage modules. While those older M4 modules required specialized tools and soldering skills to upgrade, the physical capability existed for technicians willing to attempt NVMe modifications. That hardware pathway is now completely closed on the current lineup.
For owners of the M4 generation, hardware functionality remains untouched. Those older machines continue to support interchangeable modules, though the new modules designed for the M6 and M5 Pro architectures are incompatible with older chassis.
SSD Speed Variations Between 256 GB and 512 GB Configurations
Independent benchmark testing highlighted by MacRumors reveals a stark performance divide based on storage capacity. The entry-level 256 GB configuration utilizes a single NAND storage chip, whereas models equipped with 512 GB of storage or higher integrate two distinct chips. This hardware configuration mirrors the performance throttling observed in iPhone 18 Pro models with 1 TB or more capacity when intermediate caching buffers become saturated under heavy workloads.
Lab tests recorded read speeds of approximately 3,217 MB/s and write speeds around 3,000 MB/s for the 256 GB Mac mini variant. By comparison, the 512 GB configuration achieved roughly 6,372 MB/s for reading and 6,577 MB/s for writing data. While the larger model delivers nearly double the raw throughput in benchmark environments, everyday software tasks rarely push standard drives to their operational limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the SSD be upgraded on the Mac mini M6 or M5 Pro?
Are M4 storage modules compatible with the new Mac mini models?
Do all storage tiers offer the same read and write speeds?
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