The Ultimate Guide to Apple's Proprietary SSDs

Why Apple Uses Custom Connectors

Rather than adopting the industry-standard M.2 connector, Apple developed proprietary connectors identified by pin arrangements (6+12, 7+17, 12+16, and 22+34 pins). This makes their drives non-interchangeable with other manufacturers' products.

SSD Interfaces Compared

• SATA — Three generations offering up to 0.6 GB/s
• PCIe — Ranging from 1.0 GB/s to 63.2 GB/s depending on version and lane configuration
• AHCI vs NVMe — NVMe protocol dramatically reduces latency vs older AHCI

Generation 1 (2010-2011)

mSATA interface with 6+12 pin connector. Found in the first MacBook Air models with solid-state storage. SATA II speeds (up to 300 MB/s).

Generation 2 (2012-2013)

Two form factors (2A and 2B) with 7+17 pin connector. SATA III speeds (up to 600 MB/s). Used across MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and some iMacs.

Generation 3 (2013-2015)

PCIe 2.0 interface with 12+16 pin connector. Significant speed improvement over SATA — up to 800 MB/s read speeds. Marked Apple's transition away from SATA.

Generation 4 (2015)

PCIe 3.0 x4 interface, doubled performance over Gen 3. Used in late-2015 MacBook Pro and iMac models.

Generation 5 (2016+)

NVMe protocol with new 22+34 pin connector. Dramatically faster with lower latency. Used in all MacBook Pro models from 2016 onwards, though newer models have soldered storage that cannot be replaced.

Upgrade Compatibility

Many older Macs support upgrading to faster SSD generations than originally shipped. Third-party adapters exist but quality varies. We can advise on the best upgrade path for your specific model.