The Mystery of M3 Ultra's 16TB, NAND Performance in MacBooks, and the Possibility of a 2TB iPhone 17
- Nuri Can PEHLİVAN
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
The Effect of NAND Chips on Storage Speeds in MacBook Models
The SSD storage solutions used in Apple’s MacBook series may vary depending on the model and capacity. In particular, differences in the number of NAND chips create significant differences in read and write speeds. In this article, we will examine the performance effects of NAND configurations on different MacBook models.
MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 13" (M2 Chip) NAND Differences
NAND configuration on MacBook Air (A2681) and MacBook Pro 13" (A2338) with M2 chip varies depending on capacity:
The 256GB SSD models use a single NAND chip . This slows down read/write speeds to 1500MB/s read and 1400MB/s write .
Models with 512GB and above have two NAND chips , which increases speeds to around 3000MB/s read and 2200MB/s write .
The main reason for this difference is that the single NAND chip used in the 256GB versions allows for less data transfer at a time. On the other hand, the 512GB and above models have two NAND modules, which provide increased performance thanks to parallel data access.
Note: The MacBook Air with M1 chip (A2337) and MacBook Pro 13" with M1 chip (A2338) have dual NAND chips even in 256GB SSD configurations . Therefore, they can deliver higher speeds compared to the M2 models.
MacBook Pro 14" and 16" (M Pro / M Max) Storage Structure
The storage solution is different for professional MacBook Pro models with larger screens. The 14" and 16" MacBook Pros with M Pro and M Max chips have two separate SSD lanes (SSD00 and SSD01).
Each line supports up to 4 NAND chips, a total of 8 NAND chips can be used.
In this way, higher reading and writing speeds are achieved.
In these models, even smaller capacities like 512GB and 1TB use dual NAND chips, delivering higher performance than the single-chip architecture in the M2-powered Air and 13" Pro.
Apple's Dual-Line, 8 NAND Technology That Has Been Using for Years
In fact, dual SSD lanes and a total of 8 NAND chips have been supported in many Apple devices for years. Examples include the iMac Pro, Mac Studio, and 16" Intel MacBook Pro models. This structure supports professional workflows by providing high data speeds.
*This image was taken from the iBoff RCC YouTube account.
M3 Ultra and the 16TB Storage Mystery
The latest M3 Ultra Mac Studio offering 16TB storage support is a remarkable and intriguing development. Here, two possibilities come to the fore:
Apple has created an 8x2TB configuration using next-generation NAND chips.
Since the M3 Ultra is formed by combining two M3 Max chips, it can support a total of 16 NAND chips.
If this is due to the new generation of NAND technology , it increases the possibility of the iPhone 17 coming with a 2TB storage option in the future .
Conclusion and Recommendations for Users
If high-speed SSD performance is important, choosing at least 512GB of storage capacity when purchasing a MacBook is a critical decision. Especially if a 512GB or higher model is chosen instead of the 256GB option for M2 and above MacBook Air and 13" MacBook Pro models, higher data transfer speeds can be achieved with the increase in the number of NAND chips. The advanced NAND configurations offered by the MacBook Pro 14" and 16" models for professional use provide great advantages in terms of performance.
It will be interesting to see how Apple changes its NAND configurations in the future and how these differences evolve in the next-generation MacBooks.
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