Apple’s latest Mac mini models, the M6 and M5 Pro, have reverted to soldered SSD storage, eliminating the aftermarket upgrade path that existed for the M4 Mac mini. Expand Mac mini, which previously sold upgrade modules for the M4 and M4 Pro, now says support for the newer models is unlikely. The change means users cannot swap or expand internal storage, a step backward from the earlier M4 design where the SSD was removable.

Pricing highlights the cost difference: Expand’s 1TB module for the M4 costs $300, while Apple charges $500 for a similar upgrade on the M6. The 2TB option from Expand is $420 versus Apple’s $1,000 upgrade fee. Meanwhile, the Mac Studio still shows removable SSDs in its repair guide, though no teardown yet confirms this.

For M4 owners, 9to5Mac’s Jeff Benjamin offers a tutorial on upgrading storage, and accessories like Satechi’s SSD enclosure provide external expansion options for the new M6 Mac mini.