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# New Mac mini M6 and M5 Pro Have Unremovable SSDs.
- URL: https://macanorak.com/new-mac-mini-m6-and-m5-pro-have-unremovable-ssds/
- Published: 2026-09-25T15:39:32.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-28T18:13:47.000Z
- Description: Apple has removed the removable SSD module that was present on the M4 / M4 Pro. The NAND is soldered directly onto the logic board.
- Author: MacAnorak
- Tags: Sightings

This story is a real shame. [Expand Mac mini](https://expandmacmini.com/blogs/news/mac-mini-m6-m5-pro-soldered-storage?ref=macanorak.com) (no affiliation), who make SSD expansion modules for the Mac mini M4 and M4 Pro, opened up the new M6 and M5 Pro Mac minis and discovered that Apple has *removed* the removable SSD module. On both machines, the NAND is soldered directly onto the logic board, just as it was on the M1, M2 and M3 models.

Expand Mac mini storage modules were basically plug-and-play for the Mac mini M4 and M4 Pro, letting the tinker-inclined among us upgrade our SSD storage for [significantly less](https://9to5mac.com/2026/09/22/m6-mac-mini-upgrade-storage-change/?ref=macanorak.com) than Apple charges directly.

I'd held up some vague, perhaps quixotic hope that this signalled Apple moving back towards a bit of modularity. I remember my old [white polycarbonate MacBook](https://tidbits.com/2006/05/22/macbook-fills-out-laptop-line/?ref=macanorak.com) — being able to change the battery, add more RAM, increase the internal storage — what a time to be alive! It was a genuinely nice feeling, but it looks like the M4 and M4 Pro generation of Mac mini was just an aberration, not a sign of any real direction. Apple has closed shop again.

I do wonder though, might Apple ever consider selling proprietary SSD modules themselves? Someone buys a product then decides down the line they want more storage, Apple could sell it as *"here's the module, here's the fitting cost, we'll even do it for you if you'd rather not"*. This scenario is extremely unlikely though, I admit. Apple's storage markups are some of its highest margin line items precisely because the decision happens once, under pressure of having to make the right purchasing call at checkout. If Apple removed that pressure by letting people add storage later, they would likely lose more in upsells than they would make selling modules afterwards. Apple did sell user expandable storage in the recent past though — on the Mac Pro, at extraordinary markups (although you could buy your own PCIe expansion modules ). Apple discontinued the Mac Pro in March 2026.

There are some encouraging signs Apple is at least making some products more repairable. Look at the [MacBook Neo](https://www.notebookcheck.net/MacBook-Neo-teardown-iFixit-gives-Apple-s-most-repairable-laptop-in-14-years-a-6-10-score.1251148.0.html?ref=macanorak.com), where you can swap out the trackpad, display, battery and even the touch ID sensor yourself! Tellingly though, Apple still solders the storage on the Neo.

It doesn't look like Apple's going to let us upgrade our own SSDs anytime soon.

What a shame.