It seems that Chinese technicians have managed to update the memory and storage of the M1 chip, suggesting that Apple’s integrated custom silicone for Mac could be more flexible than previously thought.
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Reports of maintenance technicians who can expand the memory and storage of Macs M1 have started circulating on Chinese social networks over the weekend, but now international reports have begun to clarify the situation.
Technicians in Guangzhou, China have discovered that it is possible to detach the RAM from the M1 chip and its nearby SSD module and replace them with larger capacity components, which are correctly recognized by macOS without breaking the device.
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As proof, a large number of images showing the process of a basic model M1 MacBook Air with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage being updated to 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage, and this change is displayed correctly in macOS Big Sur, they were shared online.
The RAM and SSD components on Apple’s M1 Mac computers are glued in place, making the procedure extremely difficult and there seems to be a high chance of failure. This invasive unofficial update also undoubtedly violates Apple’s warranty.
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Apple has made it increasingly difficult for users to upgrade their own Macs over the years, and it was believed that the M1 Mac was a final solidification of this move, with all computing components of the M1 Mac being strongly physically integrated. The possibility of updating the memory and storage of M1 Mac Macs, although in an invasive and risky procedure, therefore seems to be a significant discovery.
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Due to the difficulty of upgrading your RAM or SSD, almost all owners of M1 will likely have to rely on the memory and storage configuration they have chosen at the point of purchase, with upgrades being limited to a minority of enthusiasts, although It has been suggested that Asian Mac memory and storage updates will be available through unofficial channels.
OwnersM1 Mac owners may be eager to see if the process behind these upgrades is refined over time and becomes a more viable option.