SSDs for internal Mac replacements

I will focus on the uni-body Mac Mini (2010 - current)

2010 Mac Mini -- SATA 2 (2.5" drive)

2011/2012 Mac Mini -- SATA 3 (2.5" drive)

2014 Mac Mini -- PCI-e SSD (only Mac Mini - equip with "Fusion drive" or pure SSD has the flex connector) + 2.5" SATA 3 drive

2018 -- flash storage to be soldered on board - only external storage can be additional; NO internal SSD can be added.

From your post, I would guess your Mac Mini would be 2014 Model -- just to make sure your Mac Mini has the needed hardware for PCI-e SSD (such as connector, flex-cable and a screw).

At your leisure time, here is the link, detailed all of Mac's propriety SSD -- there are few shapes..

I use SSUBX/SSUAX PCI-e SSD for my 2014 Mac Mini (however, 2014 Mac Mini only has PCI-e x 2 speed).

https://beetstech.com/blog/apple-proprietary-ssd-ultimate-guide-to-specs-and-upgrades

Take a look of my system report:

2014 MacMini - PCI-e 2.0 x 2

However, my Apple OEM SSD is ssubx - specs of PCI-e 3.0 x 4 as it works in 2014 MacMini's PCI-e 2.0 x 2.

NVMe is the specs for the SSDs --

Then, back to your question -- M.2 SSDs and Apple's propriety SSDs are quite different. Even some people uses "adapter" to use 3rd party M.2 SSD on Mac - that I have not tried and have no intention to explore that. The other place for Mac compatible propriety SSD will be OWC.

Other thoughts -- PCI-e 2.0 x 2 on 2014 MacMini - is not that fast. That been said, it might be cheaper to use SATA-3 SSD.

Below is the disk speed in 2014 MacMini with ssubx 1T.

as long as it's not larger

as long as the connector fits and is not so loose it the ssd disconnect on it's not

This guy knows his Mac hardware 👌

TheGoldenKnight wrote:

I was advised the “late 2014” Mac mini is PCIe 3.0 x4.

The information was so specific, I was understanding the late 2014 Mac mini is the only Mac mini equipped for PCIe 3.0 x4. Is this correct?

It is the only Mac Mini with a removable PCIe SSD.

Curious, is the late 2014 Mac mini also equipped for NVMe? Are any Macs NVMe? Are any Macs equipped for M.2?

The factory SSD is a SATA based SSD, but the Mini can work with a PCIe NVMe SSD after the Mini has been upgraded to macOS 10.13+. macOS 10.13+ installs a system firmware update that adds NVMe support. However, you will need to run macOS 10.13+ on the Mini in order to use a NVMe SSD since only macOS 10.13+ includes the necessary NVMe driver as well.

I highly recommend keeping the original Apple PCIe SSD just in case you may ever need it later on since there has been a few times in the past where the original Apple PCIe SSD has been needed to upgrade the system firmware during a macOS upgrade.