Can you upgrade the HDD in a 2015 MacBook Pro?

Question

Can you upgrade the HDD in a 2015 MacBook Pro?

Considering buying a MacBook Pro 13" as a replacement for a MacBook Air (it's not much heavier and has lots of RAM, force pad, retina display, etc for similar money).

While the premium for 256GB SSD over 128GB is just £150 on the Air, it seems to be a whopping £200 on the Pro. I guess that's just marketing knowing that they can get away with it.

With SSD prices falling (and I know that these new MacBook SSDs are proprietary and very fast) I was wondering about going with the 128GB to start with and then upgrading in a year or two to a 512GB or 1TB module.

I'm not necessarily expecting this to be a DIY job, and probably something that Apple wouldn't do (for financial/marketing reasons), but maybe something that a computer repair shop would be able to do for very little money + cost of parts.

Anyway, the main question is whether or not Apple have tried to stop it (eg by soldering the SSD onto the logic board or something equally crazy).

Posted on Mar 28, 2015 10:35 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Mar 28, 2015 10:39 AM in response to Alexander Lake

No. There is no HDD in the new models, only proprietary SSD flash drives that cannot be replaced.

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Answer 2

Mar 30, 2015 2:25 AM in response to Kappy

Mmm, that slightly contracdicts my research...

Something like this should be doable

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/Air-Retina/Apple-MacBook-Pro-Retina-2012- Drive-Internal-Flash

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Answer 3

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Mar 30, 2015 2:38 AM in response to Alexander Lake

You asked about a 2015 model. OWC sells SSD modules for early 2013 models and older. There is a difference in the type of technology used from the late 2013 models.

Ciao.

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Answer 4

Mar 30, 2015 3:01 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Yes, but I suspect that's just a matter of time.

Also, I suspect that those older modules will work, just that they may not be as quick as the latest Apple ones (which are incredible!)

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Answer 5

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Mar 30, 2015 3:05 AM in response to Alexander Lake

Alexander Lake wrote:

Yes, but I suspect that's just a matter of time.

I agree, but when is the question. To date I have seen nothing from OWC or Transcend.

Also, I suspect that those older modules will work, just that they may not be as quick as the latest Apple ones (which are incredible!)

Why don't you try it and tell me what the results are. It's your money. 😁

Ciao.

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Answer 6

dsdati

Level 1

4 points

Mar 30, 2015 3:13 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

well if we consider that 10k ssds have been announced and everything is expected to increase in size to support higher resolutions any 128 256 gb macbooks will be useless unless you want a notebook that can run single program. thats not liekly to happen so im sure there will be a way to upgrade.

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Answer 7

Mar 30, 2015 3:15 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Ha! ;-)

Well, it was more a strategic question - happy with small units for now.

My question is answered here: https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Retina+Display+Early+2015+Te ardown/38300#s86949

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Answer 8

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,305 points

Mar 30, 2015 3:20 AM in response to Alexander Lake

The bottom line is, are they compatible even if physically they are the same? I do not know the answer to that question.

Ciao.

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Answer 9

Mar 30, 2015 3:28 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Well, given that the flash storage is removable, then that bodes well for future upgradeability - good enough for me!

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Answer 10

dwb

Level 7

32,920 points

Mar 30, 2015 5:53 AM in response to Alexander Lake

Not so fast! OWC was very quick to offer SSD upgrades for each retina MBP until the 2014 model. More than a year has passed and there’s still no 2014 upgrade. The 2015 model came out and no 2014 upgrade - no 2015 upgrade. That suggests the newer models have some proprietary connection or controlling chip that third party vendors cannot replicate.

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Answer 11

Mar 30, 2015 6:18 AM in response to dwb

Oooh!

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