French Team Successfully Reverses Apple's Mac Studio Exclusive Storage Module, Offering Affordable Upgrades Starting Next Year

Apple encrypts the storage modules in most of its devices, but the newly launched Mac Mini 2024 does not bind the hardware serial number. Currently, some businesses and professional repair technicians have managed to expand storage by replacing the flash memory chips, and soon, replaceable SSD modules might be offered directly.

In the Mac Studio, Apple also employs proprietary storage modules. Although these can be plugged and unplugged and swapped between two machines of the same storage capacity, using a non-Apple storage module results in errors that prevent the computer from booting normally.

For Apple users, this means having to choose the right storage capacity at the time of purchase, as neither memory nor storage is easily upgradable. Therefore, choosing a smaller version due to budget constraints means virtually no chance for future upgrades.

However, there's good news: the French team at Polysoft has successfully reverse-engineered the Mac Studio's exclusive storage module. From January 2025, the team will offer a storage module called Studio Drive, available in 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB versions.

In terms of pricing, Studio Drive will naturally be more affordable than Apple's official options: €399 for the 2TB version, €799 for the 4TB version, and €1099 for the 8TB version. Buyers will need to disassemble their Mac Studio to replace the storage module themselves.

To develop a compatible storage module, Polysoft sourced Apple's original proprietary modules and then used a laser to burn through the components layer by layer (Apple's circuit boards usually have several layers). They observed each layer's solder joints and circuitry, measured characteristics, and scanned each layer with a flatbed scanner.

After the preparatory work, Polysoft created their schematics and designed different circuit boards, finally using Crucial and SK Hynix TLC NAND flash memory to ensure compatibility and performance.

Polysoft's storage modules have been tested for use on the Mac Studio, with added overvoltage protection to prevent data loss due to potential voltage issues—a common problem in daily repairs, hence an added layer of security.

It's important to note that even if consumers purchase Polysoft's storage modules, disassembling and installing them remains a technical task. Disassembling a Mac Studio is not straightforward, and replacing the storage module may void Apple's warranty.

After installing a new storage module, the entire system needs to be reinitialized, which clears all data. Apple then encrypts the hard drive and installs a new system. Theoretically, only professionals are recommended to install these third-party storage modules.

Interested users can view the crowdfunding information here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/polysoftservices/studio-drive