If you haven’t already, stop reading this and check out Buster’s awesome review of the new MacBook Air. The machine is absolutely gorgeous. And powerful, too.
One of the MacBook Air’s main draws is its lightning-fast solid-state hardrive. An SSD outperforms traditional hardrives because all storage and data transfers happen virtually, instead of having to travel across a physical platter.
Apparently, Apple is shipping some of these brand new MacBook Airs with the same SSDs from older notebook models.
Electronista reports,
“An in-depth hunt through both 11- and 13-inch MacBook Air units has shown that Apple is still using some of its older solid-state drives. While one 11-inch model owned by tldtoday has the newer Samsung models that provide peak read speeds of 264MB per second, one example of the 13-inch ultraportable was using the earlier Toshiba X-Gale drive, where speeds dipped to 208MB per second.”
Using older SSDs should only result in a slight performance difference between different models of the MacBook Air. Electronista notes that Apple may not introduce new SSD storage for the Air until next-wave SSDs are introduced, which can transfer an upwards of 500MB/sec. The current SSD in the MacBook Air writes at about 264MB/sec.
Watch the video below to see which SSD model you have in your Macbook Air:
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
85 responses to “Check Your New MacBook Air! Apple Might Have Given You An Older, Slower SSD”
SM256C on 13″ here.
13 inch slower drive i am pissed sending back to apple
so….if I find out that I have a slower SSD…what am I supposed to do? Go to the store and whine that an 11″ has a faster one? ask them to open every box/machine till they find me a faster one? Demand a rebate because I “assumed” the new models will have faster drives? I don’t believe the specs list exactly which SSD comes in the machine.
13 inch with slower drive. sending back.
i have a 11″ and it has the sm128c!!
Newer drive on my 13″. I bought it in-store on Thursday.
i’ve got a 13″, got the faster drive.
The Samsung came out about 5 months ago when I bought my MBA 11. Having read a report of some MBAs being released with the new and faster Samsung, I quickly checked it when I bought it and when I saw it had a Toshiba I returned it.
The store manager went nuts when as soon as I bought it I opened it in the store and checked. When I saw the Toshiba drive I told him I wanted to return it. I did this 4 times, and all of them (in the LA area) had Toshiba drives.
I gave up and figured that my wife will inherit my Toshiba MBA 11 when I buy the new one next week.
13″ + 256GB, got the faster drive
edit: also bought in Apple Store
Does this only apply to the 128 GB drives? i.e. if you buy a 256 GB drive, it will be a SM256?
you might end up repeating this process.
I looked up 4 Airs mixed sizes the other day. 3 of the 4 were Toshiba’s
13″ +256GB and i7. I got the SM256.
13″ with the slower drive here…..this article put a damper on my day…….thanks for ruining it…now I have to decide if I want to send it back. I love it but I waited to buy the faster machine not the slower one and the drive speed is what makes this machine.
Just went to a Apple store – both on counter were SM128. Store employee said not a problem and they’d make sure you got the right one if you asked for it.
Still wondering though if the 256GB version of the 11″ would be affected since they didn’t make an 11″ 256 before.
To add insult to injury, my gals refurbished MBA 2010 runs at 213 write and 258 read and my new MBA only does 182 and 201……this is going back.
Simple enough, grab an MBA, check it out in the car/at the store, if it has the slower drive take it back in and demand a replacement.
When I get my I plan on asking which one it has.
Hi – I have the 13″ with a SSD SM256C. If I read this posting and the comments correctly, then that is one of the newer ones, correct? Thanks in advance.
Hi – I have the 13″ MBA with the SSD SM256C. If I read this posting and the comments correctly, then that is one of the newer ones, correct? Thanks in advance.
Can anyone confirm this?
They got me, 13 inch w/TS128, will be on phone with Apple first thing in the am.
11″ MBA 4gb 128 SSD – TS128C
I spoke with Apple Care and the Apple Store 800 number as well as the Chicago area Apple store manager. None of them have an answer. Currently it’s the luck of the draw.
I’ll be returning mine tomorrow.
13″ MBA 4gb w/256 SSD SM256C
Just received moments ago from UPS… Purchased from MacMall’s first batch. Very happy, but I hope you guys get your situation corrected.
11inch 256gb TS256C
:-(
FedEx just dropped of my Core i7 13″, has the SMC256C Drive. Looks like I dodged the bullet. :-]
UPDATE!!
I returned to the Apple Store (Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL) and spoke with a sales person about this issue. He was at first apprehensive and did not quite believe me that there is an issue with which SSD’s are being shipped in the MBA’s.
So, he went to do a little “research” (looked it up on google) while I waited. As I waited for him to return I checked out all of the 11″ MBA’s on display and every one of them had the Samsung SSD installed.
Long story, short, the sales person had another one brought out and he had me open it. We were both relieved to find that the newly opened MBA had the newer-faster Samsung SSD.
If you did purchase your MBA at an Apple Store return it! Explain to them the issue and that paying for new technology means getting new technology. I’ve had nothing but amazing service at Apple Stores and have found that as long as you’re not rude you’ll find most of these folks will bend over backward to help you.
In addition to my new MBA with the newer SSD the sales person gave me a $65 in store credit and $100 app store gift card.
Thanks Apple!
Thanks for the video. My 11″ MBA has the Samsung 128 (Bought in Phoenix)
13″ MBA with 256gb Samsung SSD. I got the upgraded i7, so it came via Fedex yesterday. Maybe the difference in manufacturer is in SSD sizes or processor speeds?
I checked every single macbook air they had on display and they all had the newer samsung SSD. But when I brought my new 256GB i7 MBA home I got stuck with the Toshiba crap one. Im going back to replace tomorrow.
Just purchased 11″ with Samsung 128 GB SSD. Very happy about it, too. What a bummer it would have been to have the slower drive. Purchased online, shipped from CA.
I have the 13″ with SSD SM256C. Faster right?
13inch .. SM128C model :)
Samsung 256 on my 13″ i7.
Bought my 13 in. 128GB today, asked the Genius if there was any way to make sure I was getting the faster one, he said they had no control, but if I got the one I didn’t want I could just bring it back and they’d give me a new Air. Got mine, took it out to the seats right in front of the store, and luckily it had the Samsung drive, no need to return it. If you get the Toshiba one, you have time to return it and try again! :]
Newer on my MacBook Air 13.3″ – 256GB. I got it at Amazon.com. FTW!
Thanks to the reviewer on Amazon who left a 2-star review re: this issue. I received my 11″ MBA 4GB 128 SSD from Amazon exactly one week ago today. I’ve been very happy with it. Lo & behold…read this review…do a search for the hardware on board- TS128C. Fudgenuggets. It was a pretty good deal ($1,140 + zero tax), but I don’t want old tech. Now wishing I’d have gone with my original plan and bought it at the Apple store in Madison, WI. I hate returning stuff bought online!
Just got my MBA 13”
Whew – it has the Samsung :-)
I have the 11″ and got the Samsung model
TS128C Bought after 8/22/11. 11.1″ model and Bought at Best Buy.
SM256C. Bought 13″ model custom configured at Apple.com last week and receive today, 9/12/11
SM256C bought on Apple.com and received today 8/12/11, 13″ model.
Just bought the 11″ and (thank you jesus) have the Samsung drive. Doesn’t it seem terribly unfair to leave this to the luck of the draw? It’s not like having a child and loving it however it comes out. It’s a product we purchase expecting the best!
SM128C 9/13/11 13.3″ i5
SM128C ow yeah! bought it beginning of september 2011
SM256C on a loaded 13-Inch Macbook Air