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Apple Silicon MacBook Pro Q&A
Update Published December 10, 2024
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What external storage options are available for the Apple Silicon MacBook Pro? Which is the best?
All Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models have Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, or Thunderbolt 5 ports with a USB-C shaped connector.
The majority of models have Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 ports (both of which pop out up to 40 Gb/s transfer speeds), whereas the latest "2024" MacBook Pro models with "M4 Pro" or "M4 Max" processors have even faster Thunderbolt 5 ports (up to 120 Gb/s).
Accordingly, to maximize performance, you will want to purchase external storage that offers the fastest standard your notebook supports.
You still can use older Thunderbolt 2 or USB 3.0 (USB-A) drives with a compatible adapter, like the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C to Thunderbolt 2) (MMEL2AM/A) or Apple USB-C to USB (MJ1M2AM/A), respectively. However, these older hard drives will be slow compared to more modern Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, or Thunderbolt 5 storage.
Fast Portable Thunderbolt Storage Options
The best external storage for the Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has Thunderbolt 3 or newer connectivity.
Although there are no shortage of options, a couple of good choices from site sponsor Other World Computing include the fast OWC Express 1M2 (Thunderbolt 4) for Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models with any flavor of M1, M2, or M3 processors -- as well as the "regular" M4 processor -- or the even faster OWC Envoy Ultra (Thunderbolt 5) for Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro or M4 Max processors.
Photo Credit: OWC Express 1M2
The OWC Express 1M2 contains an upgradable NVMe M.2 SSD and can be configured with up to 8 TB of storage.
The OWC Envoy Ultra cannot be internally upgraded after purchase, but it can be up to 2x faster than Thunderbolt 4. It can be configured with up to 4 TB of storage.
Larger Capacity Desktop Thunderbolt Storage Options
For those interested in higher capacity storage at a lower price point per gigabyte, you might also want to evaluate options that are physically larger and not intended to be carried around.
Photo Credit: OWC Express 4M2 (Left), Thunderbay 4 (Right)
Two ideal choices for use on a desk include the OWC Express 4M2, with transfer speeds up to 2800 MB/s, and the OWC Thunderbay 4, with transfer speeds up to 1527 MB/s.
The OWC Express 4M2 supports as many as four industry-standard M.2 NVMe SSDs, like the OWC Aura Ultra III NVMe M.2 SSD, so it is affordable to start with a single SSD and add as many as three more when needed.
The Thunderbay 4 supports four physically larger 2.5" or 3.5" SSDs or hard drives. It is slower than the Express 4M2, but it is relatively inexpensive to add as much as 96 TB of storage.
Installation Videos
You might find these videos that explain how to install storage in the Express 1M2, Express 4M2, and Thunderbay 4 helpful, as well:
Site sponsor Other World Computing sells all of these Thunderbolt external storage options in addition to others.
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