Apple removes the Customer Data Migration Tool connector in the the 2018 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

If you've been contemplating about purchasing a 2018 MacBook Pro, apart from the keyboard and throttling issues, there's one more fact to be wary of. iFixit's recent teardown has revealed that the new logic board forgos the Customer Data Migration Tool connector, which means you need to start paying more attention to taking regular backups as a precaution against logic board failure. 

In all MacBook Pros with Touch Bar, the SSD is soldered on to the logic board. The 2016 and 2017 models provided a connector on the logic board, which can interface with the Customer Data Migration Tool. So in the event of a logic board failure but the SSD still intact, a Genius Bar or an Apple Authorized Service Provider can simply connect the tool to the logic board and recover user data using the Migration Assistant onto a functioning MacBook. 

Now, in the 2018 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, Apple seems to have removed this connector making the tool incompatible. MacRumors says it has contacted multiple sources who have confirmed that data recovery is not possible if the logic board has failed. As long as the board is functioning, data can be recovered using Target Disk Mode. The sources say that the connector had to be removed because the 2018 models feature the T2 chip that provides hardware encryption for the SSD. 

An internal 2018 MacBook Pro Service Readiness Guide also prompts service centers to advise customers for frequent Time Machine backups to safeguard data in the event of a logic board failure. While it goes without saying that periodic data backups are highly recommended, the removal of this useful fall back method will mean that for an unforeseen logic board failure can prove to be very dear in terms of data loss.