Removable storage upgrade for Apple silicon MacBook Pro debunks excuses for soldered SSDs

Apple has long soldered MacBook SSDs to their motherboards, seemingly in the pursuit of ever-thinner laptop designs, however, since it introduced its M1 Apple silicon SoCs, things have become even more complicated and locked-down. Now, not only are SSDs soldered, they are also paired to the SoC's storage controller, and replacing the SSD is thought to be basically impossible. That said, iBoff RCC on YouTube has seemingly hacked and modified an Apple M1 MacBook to add an M.2 NVMe slot to the board. 

The YouTuber and Apple technician didn't really explain how the feat was achieved, but this isn't the first time iBoff has tackled a similar project, and the company sells various break-out boards for older-generation MacBooks and iMacs. According to the video description, iBoff plans on turning this project into a product for purchase on its online store, too. Judging from the video, it looks like the original NAND in the MacBook in question was desoldered from the motherboard and replaced by an M.2 slot with some basic logic components, likely in order to trick the MacBook's SoC into recognising the new SSD despite its upgraded size. 

The other requirement for upgrading the SSD is that it requires another MacBook to reboot and calibrate the new SSD. Despite the involved upgrade process and highly technical installation of the new SSD slot, the upgrade serves two purposes. Firstly, it debunks the idea that it was impossible for Apple to include slotted storage in its MacBook line-up without making the laptops significantly thicker, and, secondly, on an individual level, it greatly increases the reliability of the MacBook it is installed into. 

iBoff promises to provide a more in-depth explanation of how the M.2 slot upgrade and its accompanying seemingly custom SSD work in an upcoming video. The original proof-of-concept video showing off the upgrade and its identical performance is embedded below this text. 

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