Third-Party SSD for M4 Mac Mini Is Here: 2TB for $350!

[@LeoEverydayTech]

The price will drop soon as other manufacturers launch their products. I am expecting the 2TB version to be around $120.

[@HoundDogMech]

Now $120 fr 2TB is reasonable. Too Bad Apple didn't make Memory Removable.

[@MannyRamirezM]

Did you bring a cushion ?

[@gosekinz]

they really need to work on their website - its dodgy af

[@steinmar2]

Either €120 for 2TB or €80 for 1TB

[@jackwong64]

I would say $150-200, it’s for Apple.

[@SirHackaL0t.]

It’s worth saying that you need to use the middle thunderbolt socket to flash the system.

[@MarioReinhardt2525]

Why?

[@orhanyor]

@@MarioReinhardt2525 It is the only DFU capable port any other port wont work

[@anthrobug]

@@MarioReinhardt2525 Because that's the one that works.

[@SpyderTracks]

@@MarioReinhardt2525because it’s the only DFU port

[@ppj845]

Shenzhen’s manufacturer’s first batch of mass production is out too, 2TB price is around 120$ for sandisk nand and 160$ for toshiba nand

[@LeoEverydayTech]

I agree the price will drop soon.

[@greenpulp.]

Where can we buy it in Shenzhen or Hong Kong? Do you think they will have it at Huaqiangbei Market?

[@ppj845]

Not yet, I’ve only seen people starting to get their hands on the initial production products. Maybe wait for a few months, it’ll start to spread out. Right now you can probably only find it on Xianyu which is Taobao’s second hand market platform

[@jasonkenah3562]

I would like to know the url as well

[@sentientsimian]

SanDisk would be great.

[@Allium_369]

This will make the Mac mini so much better

[@Vash.Baldeus]

What would make it far better is Crapple stopping doing shit like this where they create proprietary b/s.

[@MultiNakir]

@@Vash.Baldeus correct

[@flsendzz]

@@Vash.Baldeus hopefully the pc market catches up, but I still have decided to go Apple-only a few years ago and am not looking back. the arm chips are insane, but apple needs better competition so they can't scam us with these disk and memory prices

[@akin242002]

The M4 mac mini was already the best value product by Apple. With this new SSD option now viable, it just increased in value at $600.

[@SpyderTracks]

I’m definitely getting one, currently running a docker container on Linux for Plex, may migrate the whole thing into the Mac Mini, it’s just too good a price to ignore

[@iamjobayer_]

You should also show us ssd speed test .

[@amdisthebest]

Looking forward to the M4 Mini Pro options.

[@lindsaybruce1396]

Interesting and I did expect this, but I'll wait to see reviews (and for the prices to drop). For the moment I would stick with the external Thunderbolt drive trick, but this does give hope for the future of far cheaper internal SSDs.

[@rolandgerard6064]

Thanks for let us know, now we can decide if it is an viable option or not.

[@woodenrendering9234]

I took my mac mini M4 to Shanghai, got the 256G replaced to 2T. Caused my 1000RMB, about 130 dollar.

[@Colin-from-BHAM]

There’s a place in Hangzhou that does that also. I got my M1 MacBook Pro SSD upgraded to 2 TB there.

[@Aleph-alpha]

Address please….

[@Colin-from-BHAM]

@ I don’t know if I will be breaking any KZbin rules by giving you the address.

[@Colin-from-BHAM]

@ It was on the basement of a technology market. The building is called buynow science and technology on Jiaogong Road.

[@stevewise75]

@@Colin-from-BHAMI’m in Jing’an, can you share the place for changing the ssd?

[@Helios.vfx.]

Well, I guess those max mini with 16gb base model doesn't look bad at all now

[@ldfox11]

I just bought Patriot Memory Viper VP4300 Lite 4TB on Amazon for $232.69. Pre-ordered the Trebleet Thunderbolt 5 80Gbps M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure for $218.49, will get it in about 30 days. Total for 4TB, $459.18 = $260 for 2TB. I will install my system on the external drive, in test runs faster than Apples internal drive, crazy right. Forgot yo tell you, that's with the Mac Mini Pro. The regular Mac Mini M4 only comes with Thunderbolt 4, half the speed.

[@FREZINO]

great stuff guys. I am waiting for the 8TB option.

[@redesignedlife777]

8tb for 350 lol

[@JamesBond-fo6ow]

just get an external drive. $650 for a decent drive, $60 for a Tbolt case and you have 8 TB @ 3000 MB/s

[@thomaswinwood]

Won't happen. The Mac Studio could only do 8TB in the form of two slots each accepting a card with four 512GB NAND chips, and the Mac mini only has one slot. The M4 Mac mini can do 2TB at most; the M4 Pro Mac mini can do up to 4TB since its card can hold four NANDs rather than two.

[@redesignedlife777]

@ m4 Mac mini pro can do 8tb.

[@jdsd_]

@@redesignedlife777 How do you know?

[@harveysmith4424]

When m4 pro with 4/8tb options

[@dolph9913]

Just ordered, it cost 300 flat. Now just have to wait. Base Model Mac Mini M4

[@davypelletier]

need this for mac studio

[@Desert679]

I'm glad I got my M4 Pro 4TB $670 off retail, so my Apple SSD cost a whopping $530.00. Military discount + CC cash back was the discount angle I used.

[@jeremys457]

How’d you manage that? The m4 pro with only 4tb being changed is $2339. That’s with the military discount. And then the 3% cash back.

[@Desert679]

​@@jeremys457 $3399.00 to $3059.00 after military discount M4 Mini 14/20 64GB 4TB 3yr Apple care, CC cash back $278.00 = $618. Actually I overstated after I checked, still Apple SSD 4TB for $582.00 is a "Win" anyway you look at it.

[@Desert679]

@@jeremys457 $3399.00 to $3059.00 after military discount M4 Mini 14/20 64GB 4TB 3yr Apple care, CC cash back $278.00 = $618 total discount. Actually I overstated, still Apple SSD 4TB for $582.00 is a "Win". CC used any purchase over $1500.00 you get a $250.00 cash back and the additional +$28.00 was the percentage back of the purchase at whatever rate they stated.

[@jayn1848]

You don't need an .ipsw file, you can just right click the DFU logo and select restore

[@NicolasSilvaVasault]

i wish we could do the same with the ram

[@MinkiStylee]

Is there a way to use those SSDs externally ? Like with some sort of an adapter 😅

[@Helios.vfx.]

then you could piuck up any nmve drive with a package and connect it to the mac mini thro a hub or directly with thgunderbolt cable

[@hydzior]

Is this working with m4 pro mac minis? Because i saw that in there the disks are longer and twice the speed.

[@LeoEverydayTech]

No. M4 Pro Mac Mini requires a different storage board. I believe people are still working on this.

[@puremetal2417]

Does the second Mac for dfu have to be Apple silicon based or can it be an older MacBook intel chip.

[@LeoEverydayTech]

An older Mac can suffice

[@puremetal2417]

@ has this been tested. I’ve heard it’s not possible with intel based macs

[@Helios.vfx.]

and older but there was a thing, certain Mac OS are supported, but way too old isn't. Look it up, I saw a while ago at a spamnish video about it. can't remmeber much but some videos about it.

[@LeicaM11]

Connect „to the additional Mac Computer“ 😮😮 I do have nobody nearby, with a Mac Computer😂😂😂

[@m4-ssd]

How to use M4-SSD? kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIqXYmOJZdmGbrs

[@jansix4287]

It's happening!!! Half an hour before New Year. 🥳

[@mk500]

Any word on the M1 Mac Studio upgrades?

[@LeicaM11]

😂😂 Take it to the repair shop to solder down that ssd from a spender Mac

[@jinraigami3349]

So no need to involve soldering anymore? Dayumn.

[@delphiguy23]

Is there a similar solution for the ram? It would be nice to just get the base model and use the savings to upgrade ram and ssd this way instead of paying the apple tax

[@Zigzag_artichoke]

The ram is soldered, so something like this will never happen for ram

[@devonglide1830]

@@Zigzag_artichoke I wouldn't say 'never'. I live in China and you see guys advertising soldering of ram chips on mac devices. The only reason I'm not guaranteeing it can be done is I'm too lazy to look, but I've seen it with previous models so I'm guessing the m4 will be no different.

[@delphiguy23]

@@Zigzag_artichoke One can always wish ;)

[@hydzior]

Ram is integrated into the m4 chip. No. Youll not see any third party upgrades.

[@Thehugomac]

Will you also be selling SSD's for 2019 Mac Pro? They are very similar to Mac Mini's SSD.

[@LeoEverydayTech]

I think the next product will be an SSD for the M4 Pro Mac Mini.

[@tilly9000]

Does something like this also exist for M4 macbook pro?

[@jansix4287]

Nope. Only the desktops have modular SSDs, the laptop chips are soldered in place. Sorry!

[@tbirdvet]

Could you clone the original drive to the new one and would that permit booting with out doing the DFU process.?

[@LeoEverydayTech]

Nope. The DFU part is like a paring process. Once the Mac mini is paired with the new drive, even your original drive won't work unless you repeat the DFU (pairing) process.

[@JohnSHigham]

When the 1TB M.2 NVMe I currently have in my Mac Pro cost £60 and another £7 for the controller card, paying this much isn’t much better than Apple tax prices compared with the cost of standard parts.

[@LeoEverydayTech]

This price will drop soon as other manufacturers launch their products. I am expecting the 2TB version to be around $120.

[@nowave7]

It's still much cheaper. 2TB upgrade at Apple would set you back $800, this is not even half the Apple price. Sure, you do lose your warranty, but if you wait a year, you'd be out of warranty and the prices are bound to go down even further.

[@TheMetalMag]

Does it work only for the M4 Mac mini?

[@LeoEverydayTech]

Yes

[@Juan-k7p]

Only 3000 MB/s? Internal 1tb for the pro is 5000+ will this speed be achieved for pro or it’s only for base Mac mini m4?

[@hydzior]

Youll not. Pro ssds are different, longer and with double the nand. Here youve one.

[@fmlazar]

Won't doing this invalidate any Apple warranty?

[@nicholasschneider8440]

No. Just keep your original storage and install it if you ever bring it to Apple as it should have all original hardware installed when going in for service.

[@UnCoolDad]

I wonder if Apple will block this at the OS level.

[@EnervatedSociety]

Still prefer an external. I can share it with my other macs, cheaper (as of now) and if it dies on me, I can easily replace it without risking the internal cables, or worst. Plus, I might as well not kill my warranty while I have it. Oh, and faster r/w than the internal.

[@OnAirRecords]

What if Apple finds a way to block them?

[@infindebula]

@@OnAirRecords unlikely. Apple doesn’t have a history of blocking stuff like this. They even announced the new M4 Mini as having user-replaceable storage.

[@OnAirRecords]

@@infindebula Let's hope so.

[@AliKazi]

I wish there was a 4TB VERSION

[@huyanh995]

Is it possible? The highest configuration on Apple website is 2TB.

[@WHTMAN-ei7ik]

@@huyanh995 Not possible on the M4 (non-pro) Mac Mini. Only the M4 Pro Mac Min. Since the M4 (non-pro) only has 2 NAND chips on the removable drive. While the M4 Pro Mac Mini removable drive is a different shape and has 4 NAND chips. Which is why the M4 Pro also has a limit of 4TB. Since the highest available storage size NAND is 1TB.

[@marcusagain]

do i NEED another mac to do the paring process?

[@huyanh995]

Isn't it obvious in the video that you need another mac to run apple configurator?

[@Tr4ns1st0r]

You do, but it would still cost less to get the SSD and a used M1 Mac Mini to flash the software than to buy the 2TB from Apple. I'm not saying you *should,* but it clearly shows how comically overpriced Apple's MSRP upgrades are.

[@beta3alkimya986]

Is there any way download the operating system without another mac I have only pc

[@cartanfan-youtube]

Hackintosh if compatible, I know you can get macOS downloaded thru windows but idk if there’s anything like Apple Configurator on windows

[@nri_raj]

I added 10TB pCloud

[@npdvvecchi7181]

Could you not clone the drive ?

[@LeoEverydayTech]

Nope. The DFU part is like a paring process. Once the Mac mini is paired with the new drive, your original drive won't work unless you repeat the DFU (pairing) process.

[@npdvvecchi7181]

@ thank you 🙏

[@kpbendeguz]

Why would you lose warranty when you could just use an external ssd enclosure?

[@ch3vr0n123]

What is the chance of malfunction;)

[@Mr_Beowulf]

Is it possible to upgrade MacBook Pro 16 M4 max 48GB 1TB. Upgrade it to 2 TB.

[@noahnoah5454]

No because on the Macbooks the SSD is soldered

[@Mr_Beowulf]

@noahnoah5454 okay, I probably should have brought with 2TB cus I think 1 is not enough.

[@goddyab]

Hello, i Clicked on the Link you gave ..you have only For MAC M4 Only, Do yoy have for M2 MAC Studio SSD?

[@ch3vr0n123]

I think that older one have soldered ssd chips

[@fjb9234]

So I need to buy two Macs to upgrade the SSD on a Mac mini. Wow! That is an expensive memory upgrade.

[@teckniec2]

I kept telling people there would be a third party solution so get the base storage for now. I didn't expect this to come so soon but it makes sense its going to be a high volume selling device, plenty of money to make off of apples greed.

[@Gmon750]

While us tech enthusiasts would certainly do this, it will never become mainstream for regular users. Not supported by Apple. It WILL void your warranty. Requires another Mac. Requires Apple Configurator I can see countless of newbie Mac users trying to save a buck ruin their installation and figuring out a way to blame Apple.

[@cameraman655]

I was thinking, no way would I ever attempt this.

[@ljackattack]

@@cameraman655 Well, it is really not that hard, maybe you have a friend that is handy with electronics?

[@cameraman655]

@@ljackattack Perhaps, I do have some contacts who are savvy in this area, I’ll see what I can dig up. Curious though is this SSD or previous versions available for M1 chipped Mac Minis? As they are no longer under warranty I would not have worry about that.

[@LaurenGlenn]

You can blame Apple by the fact that you can't just put the drive in and run it like you can a PC. Even reinstalling the OS on an ARM64 PC (which is typically harder than an x64 one) can be done with basic steps that are less involved.

[@cameraman655]

@ I do in another comment on this video, I touched on this. I have been a Mac user going back to the early 90s, when during the Jobs era, while somewhat greedy and everything being proprietary, you could still swap out a HD and RAM with little difficulty, especially on their Powerbooks, though desktops were a little more difficult and labor intensive. A few years back, you could easily change the RAM on the iMac up until 2019 or so, when Timmy put a stop to that😡.

[@skyflyer4231]

I suspect that using one of these will void your AppleCare coverage. The system has been 'modified'.

[@jansix4287]

Stop worrying. This is the way to go. Push your government to support right-to-repair laws against planned-obsolescence corporations.

[@Allium_369]

Most definitely

[@haywardkong1213]

If you can open up the Macmini M4 and leave no trace, that's great AppleCare Coverage... Just be sure to keep the original SSD to throw back in there so later on if there's a problem.

[@Worthless.]

ehh... $260 for a sn850x 4tb + that $120 thunderbolt exclosure seems better value. or a 2tb model for 160 + 120 enclosure still better value

[@saschageier]

lets see if apple is going to sue them...

[@littleflowerkk]

Because nand is designed and custom made by apple, 3rd party ssd supply must use used nand. Can you check their TBW. Thanks.

[@judasslip]

If you don't want to go through all the hassle and at the same time void your Apple warranty, just get a good USB4/5 SSD enclosure. I get read/write speeds comparable to the internal SSD in the M4 Pro, and peace of mind (priceless).

[@tbirdvet]

You can but the AI feature will not work from external boot drive.

[@judasslip]

@@tbirdvet I still boot from my internal drive, I only put my pictures, videos, and other work files which takes up the most space, on the external drive and edit them there. So no features lost.

[@infindebula]

And your Mac is now a two-piece device, and you’ve used up a port.

[@judasslip]

@@infindebula Again, no issues with that. As with all the people I know, I've always used an external drive for several reasons, like editing with multiple Macs, doing backups, or when moving to a new Mac. The mini will still have 3 open ports after connecting the monitor and external drive, and there are 3 more ports on the monitor itself which is more than I can ever need.

[@infindebula]

@@judasslip I guess that works out very well for you then.

[@SomeDumUsrName-b3e]

"Do not use excessive force." Ok......well that doesn't really mean anything. "Excessive" to you is the next person's "takin' it easy."

[@graphguy]

Doesn't this VOID the Apple Warranty?

[@Allium_369]

Of course it does

[@Gmon750]

Yep.

[@billhgong]

Technically yes but you get to keep your original NAND board untouched where you can always put it back before warranty repair.

[@piast99]

$350 for 2 TB is crazy expensive.

[@jacksongunner7122]

Not if you compare it with what Apple charges.

[@ldfox11]

Thunderbolt 5 enclosure + 4TB SSD for around 400. I'm not buy 2TB for 300.

[@psychoacer]

No one is forcing you too. Just wait or not buy it at all. Complaining wont lower the price.

[@ldfox11]

@@psychoacer What did Tom Petty say? "the waiting is the hardest part"

[@JamesBond-fo6ow]

or just got TB 4 for half that.

[@JohnSHigham]

@@JamesBond-fo6ow Going one generation back on Thunderbolt won’t halve the cost of the NVMe going in the enclosure. You’re just being a sarcastic contrarian without thinking first. Enclosures can vary in price but the bulk of the cost is still the NVMe once you get to that kind of capacity.

[@JamesBond-fo6ow]

@@JohnSHigham I shouldnt have trusted your math. $200 for a basic 4TB NVME + $60 for a TB 4 case = $260.. TB 5 enclosure $300 + $200 NVME = $500... double. Only a few peeps will have the workflow to necessitate TB 5.

[@michaelkeudel8770]

Still more than 2 times what a regular Laptop/PC ssd costs.

[@rex_tang]

$300 now

[@vermilionssj9081]

I got 2TB for 125€ from Ebay

[@cameraman655]

No way in hell, would I ever attempt that, kudos. I would love it if one could take the ‘Mini’ down the friendly local corner computer store and have them install it, though I suspect that would likely void the warranty. Oh the halcyon days when you could swap out drives and ram little or no difficulty, then Steve passes and Timmy gets greedy and locks down the Mac.

[@kenk7110]

Jobs is the one who insisted on locking down the Mac. Woz with the Apple II line was all about being open and expandable. That really helped Apple take off.

[@jacksongunner7122]

I’m not sure you’ll see these drop down to street prices for regular PC’s as the SSD chips used are unique to Apple and the manufacturers won’t sell them to anyone but Apple. Chinese gray market chips are limited and many times are selling used chips that have limited life or are defective. Still $350 is a deal compared to Apple but buyer beware on these.

[@DTArni-]

2tb is perfect size but why such abysmal read and write speed? 3000, it's not 2018 brooo

[@Marin-i1v]

cant wait for apple to implement measures to brick macs with third party ssd drives

[@MasterKilokk]

See NOW I'm mad that I upgraded to the 512GB model...

[@amazoniaxp]

$350 is insane! With all this work and risk, an nvme and a thunderbolt dock are better, cheaper, more reliable and with up to 8tb of capacity.

[@LeoEverydayTech]

This price will drop soon as other manufacturers launch their products. I am expecting the 2TB version to be around $120.

[@Zaydel]

Yes, it is insane actually but system installation under external drives won't support Apple Intelligence.

[@ljackattack]

It already dropped to 300$...

[@haywardkong1213]

It's not much of a risk once prices drop to under $200 like $120-$150... Of Course, you have to have experience in opening up computers which is a not a problem for me.

[@amazoniaxp]

@@haywardkong1213 Open is easy, I just don't want to void the warranty.

[@benfuct5880]

Am I crazy? Or is that just 2230 nvme drive? 😅😅😅

[@infindebula]

It is a similar form factor but not NVME.

[@marktadros8782]

Sank you very muchly

[@gdotone1]

350 dollars. NO! Absolutely not.

[@imBenx]

Price in China, ~$100 for 2T😂

[@T1N016]

This seems kind of scammy. I will wait to purchase mine

[@infindebula]

The wait-and-see approach makes a lot of sense here. I expect these drives to become quite mainstream. The price will go down and it will become available from reputable shops. That’s when I’ll pull the trigger.

[@bradleyolinger1691]

Kinda pointless if you have to have two Macs. Not everyone has another Mac laying around.

[@ALFOONUS]

Still a rip off

[@eduardolima5431]

Rubbish!! the speeds are not like the original. I rather use a TB4 or TB5 case with a m.2.

[@LeoEverydayTech]

The speed is as fast as the original; the only thing uncertain is the reliability.

[@jansix4287]

@@LeoEverydayTech Aren't these supposed to be the exact same SSD chips Apple is using for all their Macs? Reliability should be equal.

[@icountu]

Seems fraud

[@axelgenus]

It most probably is.

[@jansix4287]

I wouldn't send money to someone I don't know in China, but the product is absolutely real. This has been done before with Mac Studio SSDs.

[@R7SOUL]

@@jansix4287 You do all the time if you use Amazon. Pretty funny statement