When Apple introduced the M4 Mac mini two years ago, teardown analysts discovered that the internal solid‑state drive was mounted on a removable module rather than being soldered to the logic board. The design allowed owners to replace the drive themselves or to purchase third‑party upgrade kits, a rarity in modern Macs.
A recent blog post from the aftermarket specialist Expand Mac mini reports that the newer M6 and M5 Pro models have reverted to a soldered‑on NAND design, mirroring the approach taken with the M1 and M2 Mac mini generations. The company’s teardown shows the SSD module integrated directly into the board, leaving no slot for a user‑replaceable drive.
Expand Mac mini’s team warned that “support for the M6 and M5 Pro now looks unlikely,” citing the lack of a removable module and the cramped interior space as obstacles to offering upgrade kits for these models.
The pricing gap underscores the impact of the design change. Expand Mac mini’s 1 TB upgrade module for the M4 Mac mini retails for $300, while Apple charges $500 to upgrade an M6 Mac mini from its base 256 GB to 1 TB. For a 2 TB capacity, the third‑party module costs $420, compared with Apple’s $1,000 price tag.
Apple’s own repair documentation for the Mac Studio still lists removable SSDs, suggesting that the studio line may retain upgrade flexibility, although no teardown has yet confirmed the guide’s accuracy for the latest revisions.
Owners of the M4 Mac mini who still want more storage can follow Jeff Benjamin’s step‑by‑step tutorial on 9to5Mac, which walks users through installing a larger SSD in the existing removable module. For the M6, Satechi offers a USB‑C accessory that houses an external SSD and adds extra ports, providing a workaround for those unwilling to accept the built‑in limitation.
Expand Mac mini said it will continue to monitor future hardware revisions for any opening that might allow an upgrade solution, and it will announce any changes as soon as they are verified.