M1 Mac Users Report Excessive SSD Wear

[abhi182]

Even if these numbers are accurate, wouldn’t it stand to reason that any new system does a significantly higher amount of write operations in the initial stages?

You get a new machine and :
- Go through the initial setup
- install a bunch of apps
- Sync your icloud (or any other cloud) data folders
- All of that initial file indexing
- Photo Indexing

All these operations are bound to be very write intensive - and the list goes on.
Stands to reason that these bulk one time processes would skew the R/W operations in the initial few days and would settle down on a much lower rate going forward.

I personally think this whole thing is yet another eyeball grabbing post by some random redditer - but for the sake of science, I will tabulate my current numbers (after about 2 months of use) and incremental write usage numbers to see if my hypothesis is correct

Ok, I officially call BS on this eyegrab of a twitter/reddit/whatever post !

Here is a screenshot from a M1 - exactly 2 months old with many years worth of user data synced from iCloud (and associated extensive indexing of data/ photos) and used as a daily driver...
Vs
A 2.5 month old LG Gram (10th Gen Intel + windows) setup as a fresh machine with no past user data copying / indexing and very light/ intermittent usage

Both devices are 250GB though the LG has 16GB RAM

TL;DR, the M1 is ~3.6 TBW and the LG is ~2 TBW - the difference being exactly as expected given the heavier usage for the M1 + the past data/ photo indexing

 

[BaltimoreMediaBlog]

Shoddy cheap parts. I expect far more from Apple who charges a premium. This story will do more harm than any other story about Apple as far as sales of Apple Macs. And this is the kind of story that gives me no interest in junking my tricked out 2010 Mac Pro, which can still do more than all of these current M1 Macs. Apple makes nothing in that price range that would last as long and still be a pro machine of sorts for me.

 

[turbineseaplane]

They gotta' keep the margins up somehow! 😄

 

[grantew1]

Soooo should I cancel my 16gb/512gb MBA?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Soooo should I cancel my 16gb/516gb MBA?

There is no reason to cancel.

 

[grad]

Apple tries too hard to force leasing hardware and cloud storage, which goes so well with its planned obsolescence strategy. It might make sense for the US culture where you can probably find an Apple Store in every neighbourhood and get your Mac easily fixed or it is common to exchange your Mac every year without even caring about concepts like privacy and ownership, but it doesn't look as practical or acceptable in other parts of the world.

 

[cal6n]

How do you view the SSD lifetime status? I don't see that option on mine.

Click on the SSD icon in the menu bar. Then hover your mouse pointer over the individual entries to see expanded data.

 

[Lemon Olive]

It's. A. Bug.

The know-it-alls in this thread complaining about 8 GB and swap need to find something else to do.

 

[MowgliWolf]

Given Apple’s rumoured change of heart regarding MagSafe and more diverse ports, perhaps now is the best time for users to push for removable internal storage. I don’t expect it to yield fruit in the near future but hope springs eternal

 

[Ethosik]

Are people missing that this is also suddenly showing for Intel systems too? It’s probably just Big Sur and not M1 specifically. Or could be an app that is common

 

[Lukasz Rewerenda]

So many people trying to justify staying on intel. My M1's stats show 0% after 2 months of intense, professional usage, including doing 200-300gb database dumps, reindexing and backups. This machine is so wonderful in everyday use, compared to my past windows and intel mac high-end machines, that if it burst into flames right now my only concern would be how quickly can I get a replacement. The fact that I can do my programming, team meetings in total silence - is something I haven't experienced in years.

 

[NT1440]

Apple tries too hard to force leasing hardware and cloud storage, which goes so well with its planned obsolescence strategy. It might make sense for the US culture where you can probably find an Apple Store in every neighbourhood and get your Mac easily fixed or it is common to exchange your Mac every year without even caring about concepts like privacy and ownership, but it doesn't look as practical or acceptable in other parts of the world.

The fact that Macs run the longest with little user maintenance seems to conflict with this planned obsolescence notion.

My sisters 2009 MBP still runs, so does my friend’s 2010. I just overhauled a clients 2012 iMac, and I stuck an SSD in another’s 2009 iMac which now flies.

These things last, far longer than *most* PCs.

 

[bousozoku]

Nobody asked the specs or durability of the drives yet. Without this knowledge the discussion is like a waste of energy for people to lose their nuts about on the internet.

You also have to question the people who are seeing high “wear”. How much RAM do they have? Are they spending 20 hours a day on torrent and video streaming? Is there any slow down in the drive?

Eventually, some pattern should emerge.

I can't help but think that Apple put SSDs with higher durability into the M1 Macs than those they use with iPhone and iPad. As 1st generation products, they weren't expected to have exchangeable parts but it would be ridiculous to make them difficult to swap in case of a great many failures. Service centers would be overloaded.

 

[mi7chy]

The fact that Macs run the longest with little user maintenance seems to conflict with this planned obsolescence notion.

My sisters 2009 MBP still runs, so does my friend’s 2010. I just overhauled a clients 2012 iMac, and I stuck an SSD in another’s 2009 iMac which now flies.

These things last, far longer than *most* PCs.

2008 Thinkpad x200 8GB/256GB SSD running latest Windows 10 and Linux says hi. Those Mac PCs don't run the latest MacOS.

 

[dazz87]

Isn't this exactly what was predicted with inadequate RAM they put in stock models?

but but but but 8GB is enough tho...Like 4GB back in 2012

 

[Lukasz Rewerenda]

The fact that Macs run the longest with little user maintenance seems to conflict with this planned obsolescence notion.

My sisters 2009 MBP still runs, so does my friend’s 2010. I just overhauled a clients 2012 iMac, and I stuck an SSD in another’s 2009 iMac which now flies.

These things last, far longer than *most* PCs.

I'd also say that windows machines, especially 4-core laptops, seem to age much faster. Being a geek I have a bunch of computers -- including a 2011 mbp and a dell latitude 7510 (or sth, 4 core gaming machine with a geforce 960m). The mbp does a much better job with basic things like web browsing, vs. code and such. The dell is hardo to use. Starts, spins the fans at near full speed, and does it's "svchost.exe, 99% cpu" thing for hours on end. Having about 30 years of experience with windows pcs and about 15 years with macs - i think there is no contest when it comes to longevity, software support and basic usability of antiquated hardware.

 

[Lemon Olive]

Given Apple’s rumoured change of heart regarding MagSafe and more diverse ports, perhaps now is the best time for users to push for removable internal storage. I don’t expect it to yield fruit in the near future but hope springs eternal

It's not a change of heart. The M1 mini lost half of its TB ports. The same will be happening to the MacBook Pro. Something has to fill in the gap.

 

[NT1440]

2008 Thinkpad x200 8GB/256GB SSD running latest Windows 10 and Linux says hi. Those Mac PCs don't run the latest MacOS.

And my mom is running a 2006 Thinkpad, those are the gold standard of PC longevity. How does that counter what I wrote about the vast majority of PC’s? Unfortunately it comes down to chassis build quality most of the time.

 

[Internaut]

Does Apple Care cover the drive becoming unusable?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Click on the SSD icon in the menu bar. Then hover your mouse pointer over the individual entries to see expanded data.

I forgot I had purchased this a good while back off their website. The reason I didn't see what others were, is because the App Store doesn't offer the full version from their website. I wasted $6 before I found my old license. At least the mystery has been solved.

Thanks for helping out with the response. I see it now.

 

[Ethosik]

Apple Watch Series 4

I am still wearing my Apple Watch 4, I don't recall any serious issues being reported with it?

 

[Maconplasma]

Shoddy cheap parts. I expect far more from Apple who charges a premium. This story will do more harm than any other story about Apple as far as sales of Apple Macs. And this is the kind of story that gives me no interest in junking my tricked out 2010 Mac Pro, which can still do more than all of these current M1 Macs. Apple makes nothing in that price range that would last as long and still be a pro machine of sorts for me.

Keep dreaming. Sure sounds like that's what you want to happen. And this particular news article which I think is BS isn't serious enough to hurt Mac sales even if it were true. Please keep in mind that the majority of people buying computers don't frequent forums.

 

[jlocker]

This is why I buy AppleCare at the end of the three years I just trade in my old Mac for a new model by then all the issues with the M1 processor will worked out all the problems

 

[mi7chy]

And my mom is running a 2006 Thinkpad, those are the gold standard of PC longevity. How does that counter what I wrote about the vast majority of PC’s? Unfortunately it comes down to chassis build quality most of the time.

What you wrote is still false. PCs as old or even older are still supported by latest Windows 10 while Macs are abandoned and no longer supported by latest MacOS Big Sur.

 

[Dicelu]

Not to worry. Apple will have determined that only a small percentage of units are affected.

Right. I worry more about yellow journalism and the boneheads who jump to conclusions.