- Shop for ssd macbook pro at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up.
- Jul 24, 2020 If you want to make use of your Mac's Thunderbolt port, then this is the best external hard drive for Macs. It provides twice the speeds of standard USB 3.0 drives.
If you install an SSD on a Mac, it's important to make sure that the TRIM command is running on the machine. Screenshot by Dong Ngo If you have replaced the hard drive on your Mac with an SSD.
Looking to upgrade your current storage of your MacBook Pro 2012? Then the first thing you need is a compatible SSD storage drive for your MacBook which is a tricky task itself. That is why we have compiled some of the best SSD drives for MacBook Pro 2012 and for older versions below in this publication so you can easily choose the better option for your upgrade.
The thing with MacBooks is that they are very difficult to upgrade if you look at the versions from the last 3 or 4 years and the versions of MacBook from 2012 and back are easily upgradeable. So if you are looking to upgrade your MacBook from the last 3 or 4 years then you should probably look into it first if it is possible or not.
Finding a good SSD drive for your MacBook is a difficult task due to multiple factors in play. The first thing that makes it a little tricky is that the most of the SSD drives are designed to operate on PCs by default and they support Windows OS. For a MacBook you need a certain kind of SSD drive that is either designed for use with MacBooks or is compatible with both Windows OS and Mac OS and that consumes a lot of time.
Since there are so many options available on the market when it comes to SSD drives that finding a good SSD drive for your MacBook can be a difficult task. The wide range of options has it's benefits but when it comes to an SSD drive for a specific purpose, it is not helping at all because you need a specific type of SSD drive to fulfil your requirement and to look for that specific type of SSD drive within that wide range of options is a difficult and time consuming task. That is why we have shortlisted some options below in this publication that we recommend you have a look at.
If you decide to look for a SSD drive for MacBook Pro on your own then there are few things that you should keep in mind to make a smart decision. Let's get into that first.
Manufacturer
Since you are looking for a SSD drive for a specific purpose you will come across very few options that will meet the criteria for this specific use. So within those few options there will be SSD drives manufactured by reputable names and some manufacturer will be unheard of. We recommend you go for the reputable manufacturer regardless of the price tag.
Warranty
The next thing that you should look for in a SSD drive for your MacBook Pro is the warranty provided by the manufacture. This is necessary because you will be upgrading your MacBook by yourself or by a professional either way you will be installing something new to the MacBook and you don't know if all the lights will go green or not. So you need a warranty just in case to back up your purchase so you can have a peace of mind and kind of an insurance that if something goes wrong you can get it fixed or replaced depending on the policy of the manufacturer.
Now let's start with the SSD drives we have on here for MacBook Pro 2012 and older.
Best SSD Drives For Macbook Pro 2012 & Older (Comparison)
SSD Drive | Weight |
---|---|
Crucial MX500 SSD Drive | 100g |
Samsung 860 EVO SSD Drive | 86.1g |
OWC MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD | 77g |
Crucial MX500 SSD Drive
The first SSD drive we have on here is the MX500 SSD drive produced by Crucial. Crucial is a reliable name when it comes to production of high quality SSD drives. The SSD drive we have in question here is suitable for MacBooks from 2012 and older. This SSD drive is better suited for light work load. The ratings of this SSD drive are high. So how it fared in our review? Let's find out.
Starting with the design of the MX500 SSD drive and it has a high build quality and it is shock resistant as well so you don't have to worry about this storage drive getting damaged if it falls. Due to no moving parts like the old HDD the durability of this storage drive has increased. The MX500 SSD drive features SATA III interface. The read speed of the MX500 SSD drive is up to 560MB/s and the write speed of the MX500 SSD drive is up to 510MB/s. the MX500 SSD drive features 3D NAND flash memory technology which allows for this SSD drive to operate efficiently, faster and quieter. The MX500 SSD drive features integrated power loss immunity allowing you to be worry free of your data when the power is cut as it will be there when you power it back up. When it comes to security the MX500 SSD drive features AES 256-bit encryption and it comes with a 5 year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
When it comes to performance the MX500 SSD drive will significantly improve the performance of your MacBook Pro as the older versions did not have SSD drives to begin with. The build quality of this SSD drive is good and it has all the features you can expect or require from a good SSD drive. It is better suited for lighter work load. There have been no reported issues regarding this SSD drive's performance or build quality.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
SATA III Interface | None That We Could Find |
AES 256-bit Encryption | |
5 Years Limited Warranty |
Conclusion
If you are looking for a SSD drive suitable for MacBook Pro 2012 or older which can handle light work load then MX500 SSD drive by Crucial is a very good option for you.
Samsung 860 EVO SSD Drive
The next SSD drive we have on here is the 860 EVO SSD drive produced by Samsung. Samsung is a well renowned manufacturer of consumer electronics and in recent years they have started to manufacture very good quality storage drives as well. The SSD drive we have on here is compatible with MacBook Pro 2012 and older. This SSD drive is suited for lighter work load as well. The 860 EVO SSD drive has high ratings. How it fared in our review? Let's find out.
Beginning with the design of the 860 EVO SSD drive and it has a slim design with a very good quality build. The 860 EVO SSD drive is designed to withstand shock as well making this SSD drive a durable one. The 860 EVO SSD drive has a SATA III interface which is compatible with 6Gb/s, 3Gb/s and 1.5Gb/s SATA interfaces as well. The 860 EVO SSD drive features a 1GB DDR4 SDRAM cache for faster processing. The flash memory on board the 860 EVO SSD drive is the Samsung's own V-NAND 3-bit memory. The 860 EVO SSD drive is able to reach read speeds of up to 550MB/s and write speeds of up to 520MB/s. When it comes to security, the 860 EVO SSD drive features AES 256-bit encryption to protect your data. The 860 EVO SSD drive comes with a limited 5 year warranty as well.
https://downufil585.weebly.com/4k-video-downloader-license-key-text.html. When it comes to performance the 860 EVO SSD drive will certainly improve the data processing speed of your MacBook Pro and making your MacBook more efficient. The build quality of the 860 EVO SSD drive is very good and it is a lightweight SSD drive as well. The 860 EVO SSD drive is better suited to handle lighter work load. There have been no reported issues regarding the build quality or performance of this SSD drive.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Shock Resistant | None That We Could Find |
Slim Design | |
V-NAND 3-bit Flash Memory |
Conclusion
The 860 EVO SSD drive by Samsung provides another good option for a SSD drive compatible to use with MacBook Pro 2012 and older versions which have lighter work load.
OWC MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD
The last SSD drive we have on here is the MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive produced by OWC Digital. OWC Digital is not a widely known manufacturer but it is a reliable name when it comes to SSD drives. This particular SSD drive here is designed specifically for MacBooks and it is the best option in the market for heavy work load on your MacBook. The ratings of this SSD drive are high. So how it fared in our review? Let's find out.
Let's start with the design of the MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive and it is a lightweight SSD drive with a good build quality making it a reliable and durable SSD drive for MacBook Pro. The MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive features SATA interface. The read speed of this SSD drive is up to 535MB/s while the write speed of the MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive is up to 435MB/s. The MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive features Tier 1 3D NAND for efficient and high performance result. This SSD drive features 128-bit AES encryption along with block management and wear levelling which makes sure that the data is distributed across the SSD evenly for efficient use and to protect the SSD drive itself.
The thing with MacBooks is that they are very difficult to upgrade if you look at the versions from the last 3 or 4 years and the versions of MacBook from 2012 and back are easily upgradeable. So if you are looking to upgrade your MacBook from the last 3 or 4 years then you should probably look into it first if it is possible or not.
Finding a good SSD drive for your MacBook is a difficult task due to multiple factors in play. The first thing that makes it a little tricky is that the most of the SSD drives are designed to operate on PCs by default and they support Windows OS. For a MacBook you need a certain kind of SSD drive that is either designed for use with MacBooks or is compatible with both Windows OS and Mac OS and that consumes a lot of time.
Since there are so many options available on the market when it comes to SSD drives that finding a good SSD drive for your MacBook can be a difficult task. The wide range of options has it's benefits but when it comes to an SSD drive for a specific purpose, it is not helping at all because you need a specific type of SSD drive to fulfil your requirement and to look for that specific type of SSD drive within that wide range of options is a difficult and time consuming task. That is why we have shortlisted some options below in this publication that we recommend you have a look at.
If you decide to look for a SSD drive for MacBook Pro on your own then there are few things that you should keep in mind to make a smart decision. Let's get into that first.
Manufacturer
Since you are looking for a SSD drive for a specific purpose you will come across very few options that will meet the criteria for this specific use. So within those few options there will be SSD drives manufactured by reputable names and some manufacturer will be unheard of. We recommend you go for the reputable manufacturer regardless of the price tag.
Warranty
The next thing that you should look for in a SSD drive for your MacBook Pro is the warranty provided by the manufacture. This is necessary because you will be upgrading your MacBook by yourself or by a professional either way you will be installing something new to the MacBook and you don't know if all the lights will go green or not. So you need a warranty just in case to back up your purchase so you can have a peace of mind and kind of an insurance that if something goes wrong you can get it fixed or replaced depending on the policy of the manufacturer.
Now let's start with the SSD drives we have on here for MacBook Pro 2012 and older.
Best SSD Drives For Macbook Pro 2012 & Older (Comparison)
SSD Drive | Weight |
---|---|
Crucial MX500 SSD Drive | 100g |
Samsung 860 EVO SSD Drive | 86.1g |
OWC MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD | 77g |
Crucial MX500 SSD Drive
The first SSD drive we have on here is the MX500 SSD drive produced by Crucial. Crucial is a reliable name when it comes to production of high quality SSD drives. The SSD drive we have in question here is suitable for MacBooks from 2012 and older. This SSD drive is better suited for light work load. The ratings of this SSD drive are high. So how it fared in our review? Let's find out.
Starting with the design of the MX500 SSD drive and it has a high build quality and it is shock resistant as well so you don't have to worry about this storage drive getting damaged if it falls. Due to no moving parts like the old HDD the durability of this storage drive has increased. The MX500 SSD drive features SATA III interface. The read speed of the MX500 SSD drive is up to 560MB/s and the write speed of the MX500 SSD drive is up to 510MB/s. the MX500 SSD drive features 3D NAND flash memory technology which allows for this SSD drive to operate efficiently, faster and quieter. The MX500 SSD drive features integrated power loss immunity allowing you to be worry free of your data when the power is cut as it will be there when you power it back up. When it comes to security the MX500 SSD drive features AES 256-bit encryption and it comes with a 5 year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
When it comes to performance the MX500 SSD drive will significantly improve the performance of your MacBook Pro as the older versions did not have SSD drives to begin with. The build quality of this SSD drive is good and it has all the features you can expect or require from a good SSD drive. It is better suited for lighter work load. There have been no reported issues regarding this SSD drive's performance or build quality.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
SATA III Interface | None That We Could Find |
AES 256-bit Encryption | |
5 Years Limited Warranty |
Conclusion
If you are looking for a SSD drive suitable for MacBook Pro 2012 or older which can handle light work load then MX500 SSD drive by Crucial is a very good option for you.
Samsung 860 EVO SSD Drive
The next SSD drive we have on here is the 860 EVO SSD drive produced by Samsung. Samsung is a well renowned manufacturer of consumer electronics and in recent years they have started to manufacture very good quality storage drives as well. The SSD drive we have on here is compatible with MacBook Pro 2012 and older. This SSD drive is suited for lighter work load as well. The 860 EVO SSD drive has high ratings. How it fared in our review? Let's find out.
Beginning with the design of the 860 EVO SSD drive and it has a slim design with a very good quality build. The 860 EVO SSD drive is designed to withstand shock as well making this SSD drive a durable one. The 860 EVO SSD drive has a SATA III interface which is compatible with 6Gb/s, 3Gb/s and 1.5Gb/s SATA interfaces as well. The 860 EVO SSD drive features a 1GB DDR4 SDRAM cache for faster processing. The flash memory on board the 860 EVO SSD drive is the Samsung's own V-NAND 3-bit memory. The 860 EVO SSD drive is able to reach read speeds of up to 550MB/s and write speeds of up to 520MB/s. When it comes to security, the 860 EVO SSD drive features AES 256-bit encryption to protect your data. The 860 EVO SSD drive comes with a limited 5 year warranty as well.
https://downufil585.weebly.com/4k-video-downloader-license-key-text.html. When it comes to performance the 860 EVO SSD drive will certainly improve the data processing speed of your MacBook Pro and making your MacBook more efficient. The build quality of the 860 EVO SSD drive is very good and it is a lightweight SSD drive as well. The 860 EVO SSD drive is better suited to handle lighter work load. There have been no reported issues regarding the build quality or performance of this SSD drive.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Shock Resistant | None That We Could Find |
Slim Design | |
V-NAND 3-bit Flash Memory |
Conclusion
The 860 EVO SSD drive by Samsung provides another good option for a SSD drive compatible to use with MacBook Pro 2012 and older versions which have lighter work load.
OWC MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD
The last SSD drive we have on here is the MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive produced by OWC Digital. OWC Digital is not a widely known manufacturer but it is a reliable name when it comes to SSD drives. This particular SSD drive here is designed specifically for MacBooks and it is the best option in the market for heavy work load on your MacBook. The ratings of this SSD drive are high. So how it fared in our review? Let's find out.
Let's start with the design of the MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive and it is a lightweight SSD drive with a good build quality making it a reliable and durable SSD drive for MacBook Pro. The MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive features SATA interface. The read speed of this SSD drive is up to 535MB/s while the write speed of the MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive is up to 435MB/s. The MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive features Tier 1 3D NAND for efficient and high performance result. This SSD drive features 128-bit AES encryption along with block management and wear levelling which makes sure that the data is distributed across the SSD evenly for efficient use and to protect the SSD drive itself.
When it comes to performance the MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive will certainly improve the overall performance of your MacBook. This SSD drive is well suited to handle the heavy work load of tasks such as video editing or gaming. The build quality of this SSD drive is good and there have been no reported issues regarding it's performance.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
For Heavy Work Load | None That We Could Find |
Efficient | |
Durable |
Conclusion
If you are looking for a SSD drive that is compatible with MacBook Pro 2012 or older and can handle the heavy work load then MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD Drive by OWC Digital is a very good option for you.
Conclusion
The SSD drives we have on here for MacBook Pro 2012 and older versions are some of the best on the market right now. If they have any reported issues regarding their performance or build quality they have been mentioned here in this publication. We hope you find this publication useful. Let us know what you think about these SSD drives in the comments below.
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When most of us think of where our Macs store data, we are used to saying 'the hard drive'. But the truth is, not all drives are physically spinning HDDs anymore, and the Solid State Drive (or SSD) is becoming an increasingly common upgrade for MacBook Pros of all ages.
Because SSDs have a number of advantages compared to HDDs, they are more speedy, reliable and quieter — yes, you won't hear the click sound from a spinning hard drive. However, SSDs are also a little bit expensive than HDDs though the price difference is diminishing.
In this guide, we'll walk you through picking the best SSD drive to upgrade your MacBook Pro's old hard drive or existing SSD and point out how we chose the favorite products along the way.
Quick Summary
Need a brief summary of our top picks? Here's the best SSD replacement for your MacBook Pro depending on your specific needs.
- For general users who want a quality, affordable SSD, you won't go wrong with Crucial MX500 — which has exemplary read and write speeds, with awesome energy-saving features that will keep your MacBook from overheating or using up excessive amounts of battery.
- For those of you who want to shop an SSD from a reputable brand, get SanDisk Ultra 3D — which will be able to keep up with your work all day, every day with all-around improvements to your booting, loading, and processing times.
- For power users who want a drive that's durable and built to last, pick up Samsung 860 PRO — which allows you to make the most of every gigabyte, and meet your need with a great warranty and optimized processing technology.
Who Should Get This?
It's a digital world, and we all like to have the shiniest gadgets on the market. But do you really need to install a new internal flash storage and dump the old hard disk drive? Well, it all depends and here are our suggestions.
You should consider upgrading your MacBook Pro with an SSD if:
- You work with large files regularly.
- Your MacBook starts up very slow or performs sluggishly in general. This is common for old MacBook Pros such as 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 models.
- The internal hard disk drive is showing its age and might die out any day. Here's a guide that shows how to determine if it's failing.
- You often use resource-intensive apps such as Adobe Photoshop for photo editing, or Premiere Pro for video editing, etc.
- You need the greater reliability of file storage or want to minimize negative experiences with overheating and potential damage.
- You want to upgrade your MacBook without purchasing an entirely new machine.
You may NOT need an SSD replacement if… How to run a virus scan on macbook pro. How to cancel microsoft word subscription on macbook.
- You mainly use the Internet and document editing functions on your Mac and do not make use of heavier applications.
- You use your Mac fairly carefully or do not keep important or sensitive files on the drive.
- You are using a new MacBook (with Retina display), because 'removing the SSD is possible, although it's not an easy job. For starters, the bottom aluminum side is harder to remove. Then, the SSD is kept in place under the speaker module and has a very strong tape covering the interface port.' as pointed out in BGR.
Internal SSD Upgrade for MacBook Pro: What to Consider?
Capacity
When making a purchase, you may find yourself willing to compromise on storage capacity because of the cost compared to an HDD. Don't do this! Because storage capacity is a key factor that determines how much use you get out of your new drive, and as computers progress, you're going to want to have the space to keep up. Additionally, using external drives can slow down your Mac, so it's best to splurge for extra space now rather than regret it later.
Reading and Writing Speed
Every disk drive is rated with a certain set of speed that describes how fast it can read and write files. The range of a good product usually stays between 500MB/s and 550MB/s. The higher these numbers are, the better. Please note that the advertised numbers are not representative of real-world conditions though, in which you'll probably experience speed about two-thirds of those rated.
Memory Type – MLC and SLC
Does the macbook air have a webcam. SSDs have two types of memory: multi-level cell and single-level cell. The first is cheaper to make and stores more information, but the later has a lower rate of error. However, some SSDs come with error-correcting features to minimize this difference, so it's up to you to decide which best fits your needs.
Reliability
While judging a book by its cover is generally frowned upon, when it comes to flash storage, it's perfectly acceptable to judge performance and reliability from the brand name alone. American casino guide video poker strategy. Well-known companies usually have good reputations for reliability and quality control of their products, and you'll want that name-brand security when it comes to something as critical to daily functions.
Best SSD for MacBook Pro (Internal Upgrade): Our Picks
Note that the SSD drives we recommend below are rated based on our own opinions and preferences. They are by no means made in this order.
1. Crucial MX500 250GB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD
If you are on a budget and need dependability and security for your data, this drive from Crucial fits the bill. Its energy efficient features will protect your MacBook from overheating or draining of the battery. This is an SSD that should meet most users' needs. In our opinion, 250 GB is the best choice, but you may also choose a larger one such as 2TB.
Ssd For Macbook Pro 2011
- Pros: It has four different capacities available for you to choose from. The drive is speedy as it's rated for read and write speed of 560MB/sec and 510 MB/sec respectively. Also, the drive includes energy adaptive features to prevent overheating and excessive battery use — this is especially helpful if you're still using an old MacBook with a battery under fairly poor conditions.
- Cons: It's not the fastest drive on the market and some users may need a spacer to make this fit correctly inside their MacBook.
2. SanDisk Ultra 3D NAND 500GB Internal SSD
SanDisk is a world-famous storage solution provider that offers many types of products especially memory cards, flash drives, etc. If you're a photographer, chances are you're using or have used an SD card manufactured by SanDisk. What you may not know is that the company also offers solid state drives. If you need a drive that will perform well under pressure, then Ultra 3D NAND SATA III from SanDisk can definitely fill that need. With lightning-fast read and write speeds, improved startups, and shorter loading times all around, this drive will keep up with you throughout a busy working day.
- Pros: It's very fast as rated at 560 MB/sec in reading and 530 MB/sec in writing. The drive also comes with specialized caching methods to enhance performance while maintaining a cool and quiet operation. Plus, there are a variety of available storage capacities to choose.
- Cons: It doesn't come with a cloning software which means you need to take some time to transfer the data from the old drive to the new one.
3. Samsung 860 PRO V-NAND 1TB SSD
Boasting a 5-year warranty, cloning software, and a respected name, it's hard to know where to start with this Samsung drive's best attributes. You'll benefit from increased speeds for loading applications and saving files, as well as a variety of options for storage capacity to meet your specific needs.
- Pros: It's extremely dependable and known for use among heavy users, will work efficiently with your MacBook (reads 560 MB/sec, writes 530 MB/sec), and includes an outstanding warranty. Also, it uses 3D V-NAND to increase speed and rated for 150 terabytes written — more than enough to outlast your MacBook Pro itself.
- Cons: Some users reported that they had problems with the built-in data migration software.
Useful Tips and Resources
Whenever you consider making any significant changes to your MacBook Pro, it's always a good practice to make sure you have a recent backup of all the important files. See this Apple guide for different ways to back up a Mac machine. Therefore, when it comes to replacing your Mac's internal hard drive with a new SSD, you'll want to make sure that everything is backed up properly in case any potential risk.
Best Ssd Disk For Macbook Pro Download
The SSD installation process is fairly simple to computer geeks, but general users may find it challenging. That's why this guide from CNET is worth checking out, it features a step by step tutorial on how to upgrade the internal drive and walks you through the precautions and help you stay on your feet.
Using a MacBook Pro with Retina display (most models after the year 2013)? These Macs don't officially support being taken apart so you should consider carefully whether or not you want to go through with it. However, if you do decide to take a look under the hood, LaptopMag has a great tutorial on how to do so without jeopardizing your Retina MacBook in the process.
Also, if you decide to replace the old drive and install a new SSD all by yourself (aka, DIY), make sure you get the right screwdrivers ready as you need them to open the bottom case of your MacBook Pro. The RION Pentalobe 6 Pentalobe 5 Phillips Tri-wing Screwdrivers is a great choice.
Final Words
It may seem like SSDs have been slow to take off, but they really are the drives for many laptop computers in the future. They're generally faster, more durable, and more efficient than any similar-sized HDD, and you can count on them to store your files and applications safely.
If you've decided to make the internal SSD upgrade for your Mac, tell us what your experience was like. We'd love to hear which drive you chose and how your MacBook Pro functioned afterward.