M4 Pro Mac mini 4TB SSD Upgrade: Speed vs. Cost
2025-07-12
The author upgraded their studio's M4 Pro Mac mini from a 512GB SSD to a 4TB SSD. The upgrade process was relatively straightforward, but removing the bottom cover required care to avoid damaging the power button connector. A DFU restore was necessary, achievable with Macs containing a T2 chip. Performance tests showed the upgraded 4TB SSD had significantly faster write speeds and comparable read speeds to an external Thunderbolt 5 NVMe drive, but with greater consistency. While expensive ($699), it's significantly cheaper than Apple's $1200 option.