The MacBook Neo may not officially support storage upgrades, but that hasn’t stopped determined modders from pushing its limits.

According to a new experiment (via Apple Inside), it’s technically possible to boost the base 256GB model all the way up to 1TB. However, you shouldn’t expect it to be easy.

The MacBook Neo doesn’t include a removable SSD. Instead, storage is tied closely to the board. That makes upgrades far more complex. Nevertheless, that didn’t deter YouTuber dosdude1. He managed to replace the onboard storage using NAND chips similar to those found in the iPhone 16 Pro.

The process, however, is anything but straightforward. It involves fully disassembling the laptop. In addition, you need to prepare blank, unused NAND chips on a separate machine. Then you must perform delicate soldering work to attach them to the board. Even sourcing the right components isn’t entirely simple. However, they’re said to be relatively accessible, with costs hovering around $200.

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That price point is notable. Apple typically charges around $100 to step up from 256GB to 512GB at purchase. However, it doesn’t offer a 1TB configuration for the MacBook Neo at all. In that sense, the DIY route unlocks a higher ceiling.

It’s also worth noting that this kind of upgrade is limited strictly to storage. Memory remains off-limits due to the integrated nature of Apple’s system-on-a-chip design. This means RAM can’t be swapped or expanded in the same way.



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A WD Black SN850P SSD on a blue background

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High SSD prices got you down? Right now during Best Buy’s Tech Fest sale, you can save up to $2,800 on the WD Black SN850P storage drive. And while it’s officially licensed for use with PlayStation 5 consoles, it’s easy to reconfigure for use in gaming laptops and desktops for a boost in storage capacity. 

Also: The best Amazon Spring Sale deals: Save on streaming, Apple, Samsung, and more

Available in capacities from 1TB to 8TB, the WD Black SN850P can double, or even quadruple, your available storage space, giving you plenty of room for large game downloads, save files, screenshots, highlight reels, and more. With read and write speeds up to 7300 and 6600 MB/s, respectively, you’ll get much faster loading times than traditional HDDs as well as quicker access to your favorite apps, games, and programs.

Also: SSD vs HDD: What’s the difference, and which should you buy?

The integrated heatsink helps keep everything running at optimal temperatures to prevent data loss or corruption due to overheating. It can also be removed for easier installation in smaller PCs. 

By using flash memory rather than traditional mechanical platters, the WD Black SN850P can provide you with years of reliable data access with much less risk of internal damage due to shocks and bumps.

How I rated this deal 

Prices for RAM and SSD storage drives have skyrocketed as AI companies buy up available stock to power LLMs. And while this particular model is licensed for use with the PS5, you can quickly reconfigure it for use in laptops and desktop PCs. The 2TB model is marked down to $400, bringing it closer to pre-AI pricing, and the 8TB version is almost $2,800 off. While it’s still very expensive, it’s the lowest price I’ve seen on a high-end SSD in a long time. That’s why I gave this deal a 5/5 Editor’s rating.

Deals are subject to sell out or expire anytime, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We’re sorry if you’ve missed out on this deal, but don’t fret — we’re constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com


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