Apple has always been known for its premium pricing, but with the latest Mac Pro, they have taken it to a whole new level. The base model alone starts at a staggering price of €8,399, and to make matters worse, it doesn’t even come with a graphics card. But the real shocker comes when you look at the cost of expanding the SSD storage on these machines—it’s literally ten times more expensive than it should be. And to add insult to injury, there’s a catch. Allow us to unveil the details.
While the price of SSDs has been steadily decreasing, making them more affordable for consumers across the board, Apple seems to be the exception to the rule, especially for those in the market for an Apple product. Allow us to shed some light on this perplexing situation.
Apple charges €3,220 for an 8TB SSD in the new Mac Pro
Apple has built a reputation for producing high-priced products, and this holds true for their internal hardware as well. While quality and performance are often cited as justifications for the cost, it’s important to remember that hardware is hardware. With that in mind, it’s hard to overlook the fact that Apple is charging a hefty €3,220 for a mere 8TB of storage. What’s more, this storage isn’t even a single 8TB SSD but rather two separate 4TB SSDs. Such exorbitant pricing for storage raises eyebrows and leaves consumers questioning the justification behind it.
sfdxshow@sfdxproThey are geniuses!!Apple: SSD 4Tb x2: 3220 eurosSSD last generation 8tb: 400 eurosIf you want it fine and if you don’t… f**k you! we changed the connector! https://t.co/LawI6u2yJm
June 6, 2023 • 2:15 PM1.4K30
Let’s imagine a scenario: According to the source we’ve provided, an 8TB SSD can currently be purchased for around €400, which is indeed true. However, it’s worth noting that Apple doesn’t actually install a single 8TB SSD, but rather two separate 4TB SSDs. Considering this, the price per unit would be even cheaper. Presently, you can acquire a 4TB Crucial P3 SSD for approximately €210, totaling €420 for both units (or €231 per unit if opting for the PCIe 4 P3 Plus variant).
Now, here’s the catch: Apple is charging a staggering €3,220 for this 8TB “expansion kit,” which is over 7.5 times more than what it would cost if users were given the opportunity to add an SSD to the Mac Pro themselves. This is where the previously mentioned trick comes into play.
The trick: use a proprietary connector
This practice is not new, and it seems that Apple excels at “doing it their way,” similar to what is often said about Chinese companies. They take an existing, almost universal system and modify it to become proprietary, exclusive to their own devices. This is precisely what they have done with the SSDs in the Mac Pro, introducing a different connector than the standard M.2 used in PCs. As a result, if you want to upgrade the SSD in your Mac Pro, you’re left with no choice but to buy it from Apple at an exorbitant price.
Consequently, the options become quite limited. If you desire a larger SSD for your Mac Pro, you’re forced to dig deep into your pockets and pay the absurd amount of money demanded by Apple. There is simply no alternative available (except for using external SSDs with a USB connection, of course).
