Entry-level M2 MacBook Pro has a slower SSD than M1 model - 9to5Mac

Tests done with the new M2 MacBook Pro reveal that its entry-level model has a slower SSD than the M1 model.

As noted by YouTube channels like Max Tech and Created Tech (via MacRumors), the base model of the new M2 MacBook Pro, which has 256GB of storage, delivers slower SSD speeds compared to the previous generation 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1.

The tests were run with Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, which is a benchmark app that lets users test the performance and measure the transfer speed of any internal or external storage on a Mac.

Surprisingly, instead of providing better results than its predecessor, the 256GB M2 MacBook Pro got worse in terms of storage speed.

Benchmarks reveal that the SSD inside the entry-level MacBook Pro M2 model is 34% slower than the M1 model for write speed, while the difference in read speed is up to 50%.

However, the M2 MacBook Pro has a single 256GB NAND chip, so this is why it fails to reach the same SSD speeds as the previous generation 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Unfortunately, M1 MacBook Pro users who are considering upgrading to the M2 model with 256GB of storage will end up losing SSD performance despite the CPU and GPU improvements.

Of course, the SSD in the entry-level M2 MacBook Pro is still quite fast, but cutting the speed by 50% compared to the previous model seems unfair to consumers, especially in a “Pro” machine.