Whether you want to improve the performance of your MacBook Pro or just to replace the old HDD, buying a new solid-state drive (SSD) is definitely the best solution. First of all, compared to its older relative called hard disk drive (HDD), SSD is much faster. We believe that the experience of working with hard disks isn’t best especially after several years of use. Simple, the HDD has mechanical parts that move and make noise.
Also, these devices take significantly longer to boot or save or copy a file to an external drive. Using an SSD makes it completely quiet and fast. So, don’t think about whether or not you should buy a new solid-state drive, but do it. You can buy a version that goes inside of your portable PC, but there are external variants if you are a beginner and do not want to experiment. In any case, if you haven’t had experience with SSDs so far, trust us, it will improve your laptop experience and make your life easier.
Therefore, check out the following list of the top 7 SSDs for MacBook Pro and choose one that you think is best for you.
7. Seagate Fast 250GB External SSD
Definitely one of the best SSDs for MacBook Pro is this one by Seagate. This company is a well-known manufacturer of not only SSDs but also HDDs and other storage drives. So, this is a reliable manufacturer. Unlike standard storage drives that are inserted inside a computer, this one can be connected externally via a USB port. There are two options, USB-A or USB-C type, and both cables come bundled with your new device.
In terms of performance, the read speed is 528MB/s while the write speed is 478MB/s. This is really impressive compared to the average results achieved by HDDs. Also, you get a one-month free use of Creative Cloud Photography by Adobe as a gift. That’s great if you’re a photographer. Lastly, the price of this device is currently around $80 on Amazon.
6. Samsung 860 EVO 500GB
If you need more than the 250GB that Seagate fast SSD offers, then consider this one by Samsung. The Samsung 860 EVO belongs to the best-selling SSDs series. The people who worked on the design and development of these devices have kept in mind the performance improvements of laptops so this is definitely one of the best choices for your MacBook Pro. Whether you use a SATA 1.5 GB/s or SATA 3 GB/s interface, this SSD will be fully compatible. What particularly fascinated us was the constant speed for writing (520 MB/s) and read (550 MB/s), even when multitasking. This is made possible by the fantastic Intelligent TurboWrite technology. Also, it is interesting that each device even has a 5-year
warranty so we believe it is worth spending about $130 for one like this.
5. Transcend 480GB JetDrive
However, if you need something faster, our recommendation is definitely the Transcend 480GB JetDrive. Thanks to the PCIe Gen 3×2 interface, this disk can achieve speeds of 950 MB/s for both writing and reading. This is possible thanks to advanced 3D NAND flash technology. It’s also important to note that you also get the JetDrive toolbox so you can easily keep track of your new SSD status. In addition, we would add that MacBook Pros manufactured from 2013 to 2016 are compatible with this Transcend 480GB JetDrive. The current price is a bit higher and is $227 on Amazon, but we have to consider the great speeds so we can say this is the best buy.
4. Samsung 860 EVO 250GB
If you don’t want to spend too much money on a new SSD, then we suggest you consider the Samsung 860 EVO, which has 250GB of storage. Also, if your MacBook Pro was manufactured before 2012, this is definitely the best option. The write speeds (550 MB/s) and read speeds (520 MB/s) are really great for this price tag. SATA 3.0 connection interface is also represented. So, for a price of just $55, you get a lot of storage space and a reliable device that has an estimated duration of as much as 1.5 million hours. It is an eternity.
3. OWC 1.0TB Aura SSD Flash
Although OWC may not be the most well-known brand when it comes to computer components, it doesn’t mean that their products are of a lower quality than their competitors. This solid drive is based on the PCle interface and as such is recommended for MacBook Pros manufactured after 2013. Write and read speeds are 726MB/s for both while the maximum storage capacity is as much as 1TB. However, what impressed us most was the $130 price tag. We believe that there is no cheaper SSD with 1TB storage space currently available on the market that can match this performance with this price tag.
2. WD Blue 3D NAND 1TB
Well, there is a cheaper 1TB SSD and this one is by WD (Western Digital). However, while cheaper than OWC, the speeds are significantly lower at 560 MB/s for writing and 530 MB/s for reading. So, the OWC is still invincible. If your MacBook Pro uses a SATA 6.0 GB/s interface, then this is the right choice. 1TB storage space priced at just $115 is really something anyone can afford to improve its laptop performance.
1. SanDisk SSD PLUS 480GB
Lastly, we present you a great SSD by SanDisk. This solid-state drive is the right solution for anyone who wants to invest in upgrading its own MacBook Pro rather than buying a new one that is incomparably more expensive. Thanks to the SATA Revision 3.0 interface, this 480GB SSD offers you a write speed of 535MB/s and a read speed of 445MB/s, which we believe is many times faster than the existing HDD inside your laptop. Therefore, if you buy this device by SanDisk, it will definitely be the best spent $60 for the computer components in your life.
