Apple has been known for soldering the SSDs of its MacBooks directly to the motherboards. This move seemed like a way to create thinner laptops, but since the launch of the M1 Apple silicon SoCs, things have gotten even trickier. Now, not only are the SSDs soldered in place, but they are also linked to the SoC's storage controller, making it almost impossible to swap them out. However, YouTuber iBoff RCC has reportedly managed to hack an Apple M1 MacBook by adding an M.2 NVMe slot to the board.
Innovative Techniques in Action
The YouTuber, who is also an Apple technician, didn’t go into detail about how this upgrade was accomplished. This isn’t the first time iBoff has taken on such a project, as the company has been selling different break-out boards for older MacBooks and iMacs. According to the video description, iBoff intends to turn this upgrade into a product available for sale on its online store. From what can be seen in the video, it appears that the original NAND chip in the MacBook was desoldered from the motherboard, and an M.2 slot was added along with some basic logic components. This alteration seems to trick the MacBook’s SoC into recognizing the new SSD, even though it is larger than the original.
Upgrade Process and Benefits
For anyone looking to upgrade their SSD, it's important to note that this process requires another MacBook to reboot and calibrate the new SSD. Even though the upgrade process is complicated and involves a highly technical installation of the new SSD slot, it achieves two significant outcomes. First, it challenges the notion that Apple couldn’t include slotted storage in its MacBook lineup without making the laptops bulkier. Second, on an individual level, it enhances the reliability of the MacBook that receives this upgrade.
iBoff has stated that a more detailed explanation of how the M.2 slot upgrade and its custom SSD function will be provided in a future video. You can check out the original proof-of-concept video showcasing the upgrade and its performance, which is embedded below this text.
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