M2 MacBook Pro uses 4 SK Hynix 4GB LPDDR5 RAM module
Apple updated the M2 series SoC for Mac mini and MacBook Pro some time ago. From the outside, they are not significantly different from the previous generation, so what about the inside? A few days ago, iFixit disassembled the 14-inch MacBook Pro (2023), which is equipped with an M2 Pro chip, 16GB of memory, and a 512GB hard drive.
Through dismantling, iFixit said that most parts of the M2 MacBook Pro are similar to the M1 version, such as the touchpad. Except for a few components that differ between the two versions, the shape, design, and slots of the M2 and M1 versions are the same. But iFixit didn’t say whether the two are interchangeable.
Left: M1 Pro SoC / Right: M2 Pro SoC. Image: iFixit
The difference between the two versions is mainly reflected in the motherboard. The first is the SoC. Four SK Hynix 4GB LPDDR5 memory modules are arranged on the M2 Pro substrate, while two Samsung 8GB LPDDR5 memory modules are arranged on the M1 Pro substrate. In terms of size, the M2 Pro is slightly wider than the M1 Pro, but the length is much shorter. Overall, the area is smaller than the M1 Pro. Therefore, the radiator of the M2 version is also significantly smaller than that of the M1, but it is still unclear to what extent the change in the radiator size will affect the performance.
In this regard, Dylan Patel, chief analyst of SemiAnalysis, said that by replacing the memory particles, Apple can reduce the complexity of the connection between the chip and the memory, thereby reducing the number of layers of the substrate. In view of the current shortage of ABF substrates, Apple’s move can use limited substrates to produce more products, which is a cost-saving design.
On the storage particles, the M2 version also has a little change. The hard drive of the M1 version consists of four 128GB NAND chips, while the M2 version has two 256GB chips. Similar to the M2 MacBook Air, this change will lead to a decline in read and write performance, but after all, the MacBook Pro is equipped with two NAND chips, and the performance will still be much better than the M2 series models equipped with a single 256GB NAND chip. This change is mainly caused by the development of the storage industry. With the increase in storage density, 128GB NAND chips have become rare and their prices have also risen.
In general, the appearance and interior of the M2 MacBook have not changed much, at least at the level visible to the naked eye. The improvement of user experience mainly comes from the upgrade of SoC, which is also Apple’s traditional approach.
