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Touch Bar MacBook Pro Q&A
Update Published January 11, 2021
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What external storage options are available for the Intel-based "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro? Are adapters required?
All Intel-based "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro models are equipped with Thunderbolt 3 ports. Thunderbolt 3 ports are size compatible with USB-C based external hard drives but USB-C hard drives cannot take advantage of Thunderbolt 3's additional speed.
It is necessary to use adapters to connect an older external hard drive or SSD to the "Touch Bar" MacBook Pro line. For example, an Apple USB-C to USB adapter (MJ1M2AM/A) is needed to connect hardware equipped with a USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 speed port ("traditional" USB-A size connector). Likewise, an Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C to Thunderbolt 2) (MMEL2AM/A) adapter is needed to connect hardware equipped with a Thunderbolt 2 port.
Portable Thunderbolt 3 Storage Options
For those interested in maximum performance, external Thunderbolt 3 storage is the way to go.
Photo Credit: OWC Envoy Pro EX (Left), Thunderblade (Right)
Two good options include the affordable, highly portable OWC Envoy Pro EX and the high-performance OWC Thunderblade, both from site sponsor Other World Computing.
Both models are entirely SSD-based. The OWC Envoy Pro EX is available in capacities ranging from 480 GB to 4 TB and the OWC Thunderblade is available with up to 16 TB of storage.
High-Capacity Desktop Thunderbolt 3 Storage Options
For those interested in higher capacity storage for use at a desk, you might also want to consider options that are physically larger but that cost less on a per gigabyte basis.
Photo Credit: OWC Express 4M2 (Left), Thunderbay 4 (Right)
Two good desktop options include the OWC Express 4M2 and OWC Thunderbay 4.
The OWC Express 4M2 supports as many as four industry-standard M.2 NVMe SSDs, so it is affordable to start with a single SSD and add as many as three more fast SSDs as needed.
The Thunderbay 4 supports four 2.5" or 3.5" SSDs or hard drives and is not as fast, but it makes it inexpensive to add as much as 64 TB of storage.
Installation Videos
You might find these videos that explain how to install storage in the Express 4M2 and Thunderbay 4 helpful, as well:
Site sponsor Other World Computing sells all of these Thunderbolt 3 storage options as well as others.
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