I upgraded my M4 Mac mini’s SSD myself. Losing that option on a new computer matters to me.
SSD supplier Expand Mac mini reports that the M6 and M5 Pro models have NAND soldered to the logic board, rather than a removable storage module. That is its teardown finding—not my own teardown of the new models. Specialist chip-level rework is different from a normal DIY module swap.
Would you rather choose all your storage on day one, or be able to upgrade later?
Sources and footage:
• Expand Mac mini teardown report and board photos (September 22, 2026):
• Apple’s model announcement (confirms models, not the teardown finding):
• My original M4 Mac mini SSD upgrade video:
Narration uses an AI clone of my own voice. Opinions and M4 upgrade footage are mine; teardown photos belong to Expand Mac mini and are shown for commentary.
#MacMini #SSD #RightToRepair #Shorts
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If it gives a noticeable improvement in some quality of life for the product, I’m fine with soldered storage. I’m not sure it does that here? Maybe it makes the page file faster
Don't buy an Apple product if you're not prepared to be disappointed by the simplest things. Apple's logic is that if your hard drive inevitably dies, you can simply buy a new device. And since Apple has the SRAM swap function, most M-chip devices with little RAM quickly reach their maximum write limit, aka the MacBook Neo.
If it’s not modular i dont buy it. I won’t fall into a proprietary loop. My phone is the only exception.. i buy the latest phone, like every 8-1” years or so lol