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Unibody MacBook Pro Q&A
Update Published January 29, 2019
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Are SD Card storage expansion options available for the "Unibody" MacBook Pro models? Which are compatible? Is this type of storage a good idea for these models?
For most of those interested in increasing the storage capacity of a "Unibody" MacBook Pro, the best idea is to upgrade the internal hard drive -- which by default is relatively small and slow -- and replace it with a much larger hard drive for greater capacity or a larger capacity and much faster SSD.
Swapping out the hard drive with an SSD in these notebooks often increases performance enough to practically feel like buying a new computer.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Unibody MacBook Pro Models)
All "Unibody" MacBook Pro models -- whether its the original models released in 2008, the later models sold from 2009 through 2012, or any of the 17-inch models -- are designed to be easy to upgrade. Upgrades are affordable, too.
Consequently, using an SD card for data storage is less necessary for these models than it could be for the MacBook Air and Retina Display MacBook Pro models, but they still could be convenient for some users with a compatible notebook.
"Unibody" MacBook Pro Identification Help
Not all "Unibody" MacBook Pro models have an SD card slot. Specifically, systems released before the "Mid-2009" series, regardless of screen size, do not have an SD card slot. Likewise, no 17-Inch models have an SD card slot, either.
Additionally, the SD card storage expansion option that EveryMac.com recommends considering does not support the "Mid-2009" line, either. You could use a standard SD card for storage with "Mid-2009" models that have an SD card slot, but for a product specifically designed to be held neatly, the following "Unibody" MacBook Pro notebooks are compatible.
These systems can be readily identified in software by Model Identifier:
MacBook Pro |
Subfamily |
Model ID |
Mid-2010 |
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Mid-2010 |
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Mid-2010 |
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Mid-2010 |
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Mid-2010 |
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Mid-2010 |
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Early 2011 |
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Early 2011 |
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Early 2011 |
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Early 2011 |
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Early 2011 |
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Late 2011 |
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Late 2011 |
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Late 2011 |
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Late 2011 |
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Late 2011 |
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Mid-2012 |
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Mid-2012 |
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Mid-2012 |
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Mid-2012 |
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Mid-2012 |
EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature also can uniquely identify these models by their Serial Number, which is listed on the underside near the model number and within the operating system alongside the model identifier. More details about specific identifiers are provided in EveryMac.com's extensive Mac Identification section.
Best "Unibody" MacBook Pro SD Card Storage Solution
No doubt because the systems are older and demand for such a product is lower for the "Unibody" MacBook Pro, a well-respected memory company like Transcend does not offer a solution for these models like it does for the newer MacBook Air and Retina Display MacBook Pro models.
However, one quality product worth considering is the Nifty MiniDrive Pro. Although it is no longer available new, it still is possible to track it down on the used market.
The Nifty MiniDrive MK5 Pro is a simple aluminum and plastic adapter designed to hold any microSD from a company of your choosing. It slides gently into the SD card slot on these models and sits flush with edge of the MacBook Pro. It ships with a small "hook" tool to remove it, too.
This brief commercial from Nifty demonstrates their product in use:
Essentially, the Nifty MiniDrive functions like a more compact high capacity USB stick or a tiny version of an "old school" floppy disk. Slide it in the SD Card slot and it shows up on the desktop like any other removable storage. Quick and easy.
So, is it a good idea to use SD card storage for the "Unibody" MacBook Pro?
It's fine to use high quality SD card products for storage with a "Unibody" MacBook Pro. If you buy a Nifty MiniDrive Pro adapter, make sure that you use it in conjunction with a quality microSD card from a trusted brand.
However, if storage is an issue, you really should first consider upgrading the interior storage in these models as it is straightforward and inexpensive (EveryMac.com has helpful instructions, as well).
An SD card is not as protected as an internal hard drive or SSD and should not be thought of as permanent storage, but rather removable storage that can be more convenient than internal storage or physically larger external storage in many situations.
There is at least one product from an unproven startup that uses flash memory of unknown quality as well as proprietary software of unknown quality to "pair" the storage from your internal hard drive or SSD and the SD card together on a "permanent" basis. This is not a good idea and this type of product should be avoided, particularly from an unknown company, as the risk of data loss is not insignificant. This "pairing" method has been shown to cause problems with macOS updates, as well.
Regardless of which type of storage you use -- whether a hard drive, an SSD, or an SD card -- be sure to backup your data regularly, too.
Also see:
- How do you upgrade the hard drive in the "Mid-2009" through "Mid-2012" MacBook Pro models? What type of hard drive do these models support? How do you replace the hard drive with an SSD?
- How do you upgrade the hard drive in the 15-Inch "Late 2008/Unibody" MacBook Pro?
- How do you upgrade the hard drive in the 17-Inch "Early 2009/Unibody" MacBook Pro?
- How do you replace the optical drive in the "Unibody" MacBook Pro models with a hard drive or SSD? Is it possible?
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