An external drive is a much easier and safer option.Īs mentioned above, some Mac owners claimed to have successfully removed and replaced both the memory and the storage chips in their M1 Mac computers.
Again, removing the original component to upgrade to more storage is risky as it could damage the old drive and the Mac computer. M1 Mac computers have a choice of four internal storage configurations starting at 256-gigabytes with a maximum SSD capacity of 2-terabytes. Overheating these components with a soldering iron can cause irreparable damage, so even though it is possible to do so, it is not recommended unless the user has experience and confidence in their abilities. It is recommended to go with the larger RAM configuration, since it is quite difficult and potentially damaging to upgrade soldered-in memory chips. The M1 Mac computers are limited to a maximum of 16-gigabytes of memory and the only other option is 8-gigabytes. However, as pointed out by MacRumors, upgrades are technically possible and some adventurous owners have already done so. Apple allows external expansion of storage via the two USB 4 ports which support fast Thunderbolt 3 transfer speeds, but doesn’t offer any help regarding memory expansion. Since there are no memory card slots available, and no dedicated place to add another internal drive, an upgrade would require replacing those components. The internal solid-state drive (SSD) is also soldered in place, as was the previous generation Intel-based Mac mini. The two previous generations, based on an Intel CPU, did not have upgradable RAM, so this isn’t unique to the M1 Mac mini. However, according to Apple’s support page even the Mac mini, a small desktop computer with a more sizable case has a fixed memory capacity.
Laptops that are difficult to upgrade are more common in the last few years, so the official stance that the random access memory (RAM) on an M1 MacBook Air or MacBook Pro can’t be increased after purchase is not terribly shocking. Related: How RISC Makes Apple Silicon M1 Mac Faster Than Intel The new M1 Mac was up to the task, outperforming the previous generations' Intel processors and eliminating most of the doubt that Apple chips could be competitive in this new venture. Apple has been making its own chips for the iPhone and iPad as well as other devices for many years, but these new computer systems were the first to rely on an Apple processor. This is significant because a laptop or entry-level desktop is expected to perform intensive tasks much faster than a mobile device. This is the term Apple used when the company announced its plan for future Mac computers to come powered by its own system-on-a-chip. The newest MacBook laptops and Mac mini desktop are powered by Apple Silicon. Whether this a hard line, a technical impossibility, or simply a very difficult and unsupported process was not known until recently. However, once the choice is made, the official statement is that there is no possibility of an upgrade. Think of this more as a glimpse of what might be coming rather than something you'll want to try right away.When purchasing an M1 Mac from Apple or from another retailer, there are options to choose more or less memory and greater or smaller storage capacities. It also wouldn't be shocking if future Macs (particularly desktops) with newer CPUs offer easier upgrade paths, even if they're still unofficial. This does show that the M1 is more flexible than it appears, though. You'd also need to track down RAM and SSD chips that are at least as fast as Apple's picks if you want to avoid bogging your Mac down. You're removing soldered-on chips and replacing them with components you aren't about to find in a store - this is a difficult procedure guaranteed to void your warranty. MacOS recognizes the upgrades as if it they were official.Īs you might imagine, though, the process is fraught with peril. You could theoretically upgrade to 16GB of RAM if the base 8GB isn't cutting it, for example.
MacRumors has learned that technicians in Guangzhou, China have found a way to detach the RAM and SSD chips to replace them with higher-capacity parts. Apple riled do-it-yourself upgraders when it launched M1-based Macs with seemingly non-upgradable memory and storage, but there's apparently a way to improve your system- if you're willing to throw caution to the wind.