Nifty MiniDrive Retina in the new MBPs

[torontotim]

Well, I had some hopes but they were dashed. Perhaps the SD slot is deeper on the 16" model (I'll have to take my drive into an Apple store to test) but it doesn't fit flush in the 14" SD slot.

Have had this in the drawer since my 2015 15" MBP died, and hoped it might fit the new models but it sticks out.

Just a little tidbit of info for new MBP owners who might be thinking about expanding the base 512GB storage with a flush SD card. I'm sure there will be new options from JetDrive and whoever else made these things in the past.

 

[8CoreWhore]

There will be other ones that will go flush.

 

[caseyjones41]

Well, I had some hopes but they were dashed. Perhaps the SD slot is deeper on the 16" model (I'll have to take my drive into an Apple store to test) but it doesn't fit flush in the 14" SD slot.

Have had this in the drawer since my 2015 15" MBP died, and hoped it might fit the new models but it sticks out.

Just a little tidbit of info for new MBP owners who might be thinking about expanding the base 512GB storage with a flush SD card. I'm sure there will be new options from JetDrive and whoever else made these things in the past.

I'm coming from a 2015 13" MBP and mine fits perfectly. You may be able to pick up a 13" somewhere?

 

[beach bum]

I'm coming from a 2015 13" MBP and mine fits perfectly. You may be able to pick up a 13" somewhere?

What brand are you using?

 

[caseyjones41]

What brand are you using?

Nifty MiniDrive. When I look it up it just shows MiniDrive so not sure if it's the same company and they dropped the "Nifty" or what. Found a pic of the original packaging below

 

[beach bum]

Nifty MiniDrive. When I look it up it just shows MiniDrive so not sure if it's the same company and they dropped the "Nifty" or what. Found a pic of the original packaging below

Thank you! I wasn't able to find the Nifty MiniDrive, but I'm going to try the BaseQi adapter.

 

[anthonymoody]

Honest questions...why do you do this? Is it a cheaper way to expand storage than a larger SSD? If so I assume the r/w speeds would be slower, no? But maybe not enough to really matter?

 

[caseyjones41]

Honest questions...why do you do this? Is it a cheaper way to expand storage than a larger SSD? If so I assume the r/w speeds would be slower, no? But maybe not enough to really matter?

I just like having the extra storage for documents, random pics, etc. I've got a big library of ebooks and roms and things I don't necessarily want to delete. I'm not actively using the SD slot often so it's just an easy way of having another place to keep stuff.

 

[anthonymoody]

I just like having the extra storage for documents, random pics, etc. I've got a big library of ebooks and roms and things I don't necessarily want to delete. I'm not actively using the SD slot often so it's just an easy way of having another place to keep stuff.

Gotcha thanks. Occurs to me too you could use it for TM backup too.

 

[torontotim]

The 15" and 13" Nifty were different - the slot depth on the MacBooks for one reason or another were a little different.

Wonder if my 15" Nifty MiniDrive would fit the 16" MBP.

Will seek out a 13" MiniDrive. I'll rarely use the SD slot and wouldn't mind some onboard storage for Time Machine backups while I'm away from my Synology NAS.

All my files are on Google Drive and I periodically copy the lot onto iCloud as well (and my Google Drive syncs a copy to my Synology NAS) so I'm very well backed up for my documents, and frankly would never likely use Time Machine to restore my Mac - I'd just install from scratch and let Google Drive sync a new copy of my files onto the local drive.

But still nice to have some extra storage handy along with the 1GB SSD in my 14".

 

[alchemistics]

Could anyone please measure the depth of the sd card slot at the new 16" Macbook Pro?

 

[jlc1978]

I am currently using my old Nifty 15” model on my 14” MBP. Not quite flush but a lot better than an full size SD card adaptor. If a flush one comes out I’ll probably get one.

I use mine with CCC to make backups Every hour, just in case.

 

[hefeglass]

looks like they have the 13" version for sale on amazon but someone in the reviews said it fits the 14" but is impossible to get out without a set of forceps..so I guess thats a no go

 

[PeterJP]

The company that makes the MiniDrive is now found at theminidrive.com. I just sent them a message asking if they'll make a model for the 14" (which I'm getting).

On my retina 13", I used a Samsung Fit Plus USB drive. It sticks out maybe half a centimeter, which was just okay to fit it into my ACME cover. But with the 14", it needs an adapter so it's no good. Now, I don't think I'll need to expand my storage as fast as on my 13" (it had 256GB, the 14" will have 2TB) but it's good to know the options.

For large microSDCX storage, speed seems to be limited. The fastest card I can find tops out at 256GB (Adata Premier One, 275MBps). All the bigger ones top out at 170MBps max. I don't know if the new MBP SD card slots will go as fast as those fastest cards, though. There were rumours that the speed was nothing to write home about. Does anybody have data on this?

 

[caseyjones41]

looks like they have the 13" version for sale on amazon but someone in the reviews said it fits the 14" but is impossible to get out without a set of forceps..so I guess thats a no go

I'm currently using the old 13" MBP (Early 2015) version on my new 14" MBP and not having any issues with the fit. It's possible it's a bit more snug than usual but I haven't had any trouble removing it.

This person on Amazon might just have tiny muscles.

 

[MacModMachine]

I'm coming from a 2015 13" MBP and mine fits perfectly. You may be able to pick up a 13" somewhere?

Out of curiosity, What can you store on this?

I was considering this to at least hold my iCloud photos and move some directories over...what are the options? it would be nice to cache all iCloud stuff on it for instant access.

Right now I have the 500g 14" , I still have 370g avail. but I would like to keep it clear as possible. since my camera uses XQD/CFexpress I can't use the sd slot anyway.

thanks!

 

[jlc1978]

Out of curiosity, What can you store on this?

I was considering this to at least hold my iCloud photos and move some directories over...what are the options? it would be nice to cache all iCloud stuff on it for instant access.

Right now I have the 500g 14" , I still have 370g avail. but I would like to keep it clear as possible. since my camera uses XQD/CFexpress I can't use the sd slot anyway.

thanks!

Pretty much anything. I use it to store backups from CCC.

 

[CWallace]

I don't know if the new MBP SD card slots will go as fast as those fastest cards, though. There were rumours that the speed was nothing to write home about. Does anybody have data on this?

Apple has confirmed to The Verge's Dan Seifert that the SD card slot built into the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models supports UHS-II, and while this could theoretically allow for read and write speeds of up to 312MB/s with USH-II SD cards, Apple has since confirmed that the reader supports up to 250MB/s of data transfer.

SD Card Slot in New MacBook Pros Supports UHS-II With Speeds Up to 250 MB/s [Updated]

Apple has confirmed to The Verge's Dan Seifert that the SD card slot built into the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models supports UHS-II, and while this could theoretically allow for read and write speeds of up to 312MB/s with USH-II SD cards, Apple has since confirmed that the reader...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[alchemistics]

I'm still looking for a Drive that fits the new 16". If anyone finds one, please post it here.

 

[alchemistics]

I was a bit upset that there is actually no peculiar MBP 14" MicroSD Drive on the market.

So I picked up a used NiftyDrive for the 2012-2015 MBPR 13". It fits almost perfect and works as intended.

 

[torontotim]

I'm still looking for a Drive that fits the new 16". If anyone finds one, please post it here.

If someone can confirm the depth of the 16" SD card slot (where's Flossy?) then we could see if the old 15" NiftyDrive model would fit it. On the old 13/15 MBP for whatever reason the SD slot on the 15 was deeper than the 13 so there were two models of NiftyDrive needed. One might assume the 14/16 are the same depth, but who knows.

I have the older 15" NiftyDrive adapter here that I'd happily sell. It's too deep for my 14" MBP as per the original post in this thread.

 

[jlc1978]

If someone can confirm the depth of the 16" SD card slot (where's Flossy?) then we could see if the old 15" NiftyDrive model would fit it. On the old 13/15 MBP for whatever reason the SD slot on the 15 was deeper than the 13 so there were two models of NiftyDrive needed. One might assume the 14/16 are the same depth, but who knows.

I have the older 15" NiftyDrive adapter here that I'd happily sell. It's too deep for my 14" MBP as per the original post in this thread.

Is there an Apple store near you? They might let you test it on a 16" MBP.

 

[tmoerel]

I'm still looking for a Drive that fits the new 16". If anyone finds one, please post it here.

Here on MacRumors: https://www.macrumors.com/2022/03/03/transcend-jetdrive-expansion-cards-14-16-mbp/

 

[sibejan]

My 16" 2021 Macbook fits my old Nifty drive just as nice and flush as it did in my 13" MBP (Early 2015).
Unexpected happiness!

(and if I've known it, I perhaps hadn't ordered 2TB, but glad I did)

 

[grumplekey]

My 16" 2021 Macbook fits my old Nifty drive just as nice and flush as it did in my 13" MBP (Early 2015).
Unexpected happiness!

(and if I've known it, I perhaps hadn't ordered 2TB, but glad I did)

Sorry to beat a dead horse but what's the largest size microSD these can take? I have a 128gb in mine but would like to get a bigger card