It turned out that MacBooks on Apple M1 processors load SSD too much – durability is questionable
Many users value Apple computers for their reliability and long-term support, which allows them not to think about replacing the device for many years. However, according to the latest data, Macs based on Apple’s proprietary ARM-based M1 chipset will not be able to boast of durability. Complaints began to appear on the web that M1-based devices are overloading the solid-state drive, which will lead to faster wear and tear.
SSDs are increasingly preferred over conventional hard drives because they are much faster and are not afraid of physical influences. However, solid-state drives have a limited lifespan. The SSD will gradually wear out as the data is overwritten. Ultimately, the drive fails and has to be replaced. However, this process usually takes quite a long time, and macOS also further optimizes writing data to an SSD to extend its lifespan. However, with computers based on M1, the situation seems to be different.
The first to notice that something was wrong was a Twitter user hiding under the nickname Longhorn. He posted screenshots showing a drive usage report on his new Mac, just two months old. This prompted many users to test the drives of their M1-based computers, which also showed similar results. For example, one of the users noted that in just 3 months, the MacBook Air based on the Apple M1 read and wrote about 15–20% of the amount of data that the 2017 iMac read and wrote over 3.5 years of use.
Of course, there is some possibility that such high SSD utilization rates are just the result of a bug in the drive reporting tool. That said, don’t discount the possibility that the system is actually overloading the SSD. If so, then this is a cause for concern, since in new Apple computers, the drive is soldered directly to the motherboard, and it is not possible to replace it yourself. Apple has yet to comment on the situation.
