The standard MacBook Pro 2023 and Mac mini 2023 models have slower SSD speeds than the current models, tests by 9to5Mac (open in new tab) and MacRumors (open in new tab) have revealed.

When we ran the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test on a regular 512GB MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and a 256GB Mac mini with M2, respectively, the speeds were quite different, with read/write speeds up to 50% lower on the Mac mini.

Our own testing confirmed that this was reflected in a limited way: read speeds on the new 14" MacBook Pro 2023 with the M2 Pro and 2TB SSD were slightly slower than the M1 Pro/1TB model, and the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test at 5,293 points versus 5,321 points. However, the newer chip is superior in write speed, 6,168 points versus 5,377 points.

The entry-level MacBook M2 Pro has not yet been tested, but it appears to have a slower SSD.

The teardown of the M2 Pro MacBook Pro by 9to5Mac (open in new tab) and the M2 Mac mini (via iMore (open in new tab)) by Brandon Geekabit (open in new tab) reveal perhaps why Apple is now offering a basic version of the Mac mini. Apple now offers the Mac mini's basic 256GB of storage with a single NAND chip, rather than two 128GB chips as in previous models. Meanwhile, the basic MacBook Pro 2023 14-inch's 512GB capacity consists of two 256GB chips instead of four 128GB chips like the MacBook Pro 2021.

This is consistent with what reviewers saw in the basic MacBook Air M2 and 13-inch MacBook Pro M2. Apple's use of fewer, higher-capacity memory chips means that the total available data bandwidth is smaller, and therefore larger files take longer to read and write.

While many potential users will not notice the difference in speed, Pro users who are likely to purchase these laptops for work may experience some frustration when dealing with large files. An easy solution is to purchase a higher capacity MacBook, which uses multiple NAND chips to provide higher bandwidth.

Even taking this slower SSD into account, there are still many things that make the MacBook Pro 2023 worthy of inclusion on the best laptops list: the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips are extremely powerful, yet offer tremendous battery life, a mini LED displays and a variety of ports make the laptops as versatile as ever.

The same is true for desktop users, and the new Mac mini, with its M2 Pro chip, offers tremendous power in such a small body. the Mac mini is our new choice as the best mini PC for many users.