Can I upgrade to an SSD on my Macbook pro?

Yes, but maybe not Samsung models, try an OWC or Crucial.

I'm using a Samsung 850 EVO on several machines with no problems. Apple uses regular 2.5 inch internal SATA III drives, so they plug right in.

Yes, no need extra cable to connect SSD to your McBook Pro.

Just be careful unconnecting and reconnecting the cable. It is easy to damage the cable.

Csound1 is urging some caution about the Samsung 850 series because there have been numerous problems reported involving abrupt failures as well as the inability to reformat or partition. Experienced this myself with a 2009 MBP and it wasn’t the SATA cable. It is hard to say whether this is an issue that affects specific models since we don’t always get all the particulars but the reports have been numerous enough that for now I continue to advise against the Samsung 850 series. Sad because the 840 series was a star performer at a good price.

red_menace wrote:

I'm using a Samsung 850 EVO on several machines with no problems. Apple uses regular 2.5 inch internal SATA III drives, so they plug right in.

There are widespread reports of problems with Samsung drives in Macs, if you ignore that everything is fine

They are a best seller on Amazon with 4.8 out of 5 in over 10,000 reviews, so is it specific to Macs or something more general? Solid state devices tend to fail early (if they fail at all), so I'm wondering if it is just the normal failure percentage. I'm using them in a couple of McBook Pros and a couple of Mac Pros without issue, although I've had an OWC SSD fail.

red_menace wrote:

They are a best seller on Amazon with 4.8 out of 5 in over 10,000 reviews, so is it specific to Macs or something more general? Solid state devices tend to fail early (if they fail at all), so I'm wondering if it is just the normal failure percentage. I'm using them in a couple of McBook Pros and a couple of Mac Pros without issue, although I've had an OWC SSD fail.

You have used all of them, or just a few?

You have used all of them, or just a few?

All of what? I've just had experience with the 850 EVO - the 850 PRO has longer life, and is a little bit faster, although I'm not sure if there is enough of a difference to justify the higher price.

The Samsung 850's isn't that what you are talking about?

There are many reports of them not working in Macs, are they all wrong?

This is Samsung's info on the drive

Notice the absence of a Mac OS