Apple’s new Mac mini appears to close the brief storage-upgrade window opened by the 2024 model. The company’s latest repair-parts documentation no longer lists an SSD module as a supported replaceable part for either the M6 or M5 Pro version.
Apple’s newly published Mac mini parts support table makes the difference unusually clear. The 2024 Mac mini has a checkmark for used SSD modules, while the Mac mini with M6 or M5 Pro has an empty cell. Antennas, the fan, power supply, housing, speaker, battery, and front USB-C ports remain supported across both generations.
Why the missing module matters
The M4 Mac mini used removable NAND storage boards. iFixit demonstrated a 256GB-to-512GB swap, although the proprietary design and restoration process meant it was never a normal M.2 upgrade. That modular layout still created room for repair shops and aftermarket suppliers to offer larger replacement boards.
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Apple’s table does not explicitly say the new storage is soldered, and a missing checkmark is not a teardown. It does establish that Apple does not support used SSD-module replacement on the 2026 models. Buyers should therefore choose their capacity assuming the internal storage cannot be expanded later through the supported parts system.
The decision is more noticeable because Apple says the new Mac mini delivers up to twice the storage performance. Our M6 versus M4 Mac mini comparison covers the broader hardware changes, while our September 22 launch guide lists current prices and configurations.
Plan storage before buying
The M6 model starts with 256GB and can be configured up to 2TB. The M5 Pro model starts at 512GB and reaches 8TB. External storage remains an option through Thunderbolt 4 on M6 or Thunderbolt 5 on M5 Pro, but it cannot replace internal capacity for every workflow.
For now, Apple has documented the loss of SSD-module support without explaining why it changed course. Until a detailed teardown establishes the physical design, the safest conclusion is narrow: the removable upgrade path supported on the 2024 Mac mini is not supported on the new generation.
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