Upgrading internal storage on a Mac is not only ludicrously expensive nowadays, it’s pretty much impossible after purchase on most models.
Apple has locked down Macs so much nowadays that you can’t upgrade the internal storage at a later date. You have to purchase as much as you can possibly afford when you buy a Mac from new and then hope that it’s enough.
However, with the latest Thunderbolt 5 (T5) technology, there’s now less reason than ever to fork-out extra cash and feel stuck with the storage space you bought the Mac with.
Up until now, even the best Thunderbolt external drives could never quite match-up to the speed of a Mac’s internal drive but Thunderbolt 5 now offers pretty much the same read-write speeds (around 6,500MB/s).
This now makes them a viable option for even the most demanding software such as video editing software, graphic design suites and CAD applications allowing you to work directly from an external drive just as fast as your internal drive.
So if you’re wondering whether to buy more internal SSD storage or use a Thunderbolt 5 external drive, the answer in 2025 is clear: go external.
Here’s why.
Table of Contents
- 💸 Internal Storage Upgrades: Apple Tax in Full Effect
- 💡 Best Thunderbolt 5 Drives: Blazing Speed, Lower Cost
- 🧩 A Flexible Alternative: Thunderbolt 4/5 Enclosures
- 🔍 Real-World Benefits of Going External
- 🌟 Thunderbolt 5 = A Tipping Point For Macs
- ⚠️ Downsides to Consider
- 🔹 Verdict: Don’t Let Apple Upsell You
- 🎨 Visual Summary
💸 Internal Storage Upgrades: Apple Tax in Full Effect
Apple charges eye-watering prices for internal storage upgrades which you can only add when you purchase a new Mac directly from it.
Below, you can see approximately how much it costs per TB (Terabyte) to upgrade storage at the point of purchase with Apple.
| Model | Base Storage | Upgrade to 2TB | Apple Upgrade Cost | Cost per Additional TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air M3 | 256GB | 2TB | $800 | ~$470 |
| MacBook Pro M4 | 512GB | 2TB | $600 | ~$375 |
| Mac Studio (M2 Ultra) | 1TB | 4TB | $1,200 | ~$400 |
Now let’s compare this with the cost of Thunderbolt 5 SSDs…
💡 Best Thunderbolt 5 Drives: Blazing Speed, Lower Cost
Modern Thunderbolt 5 SSDs nearly match the internal NVMe performance of Apple Silicon Macs.
Although there still aren’t many T5 drives on the market, here are the best external Thunderbolt 5 drives for Mac users and you can see just how much cheaper they are per TB.
| Drive | Capacity | Price (Approx.) | Speed (Read) | $ per TB |
| OWC Envoy Ultra | 2TB | $499 | 6,000MB/s+ | $250 |
| Sabrent Rocket XTRM 5 | 4TB | $599 | 6,500MB/s | $149 |
| LaCie Rugged Pro5 | 2TB | $529 | 5,300MB/s | $265 |
🔄 Thunderbolt 5 delivers speeds up to 80Gbps (and bursts up to 120Gbps for video workflows), narrowing the gap with internal SSDs to near zero.
🧩 A Flexible Alternative: Thunderbolt 4/5 Enclosures
While pre-built Thunderbolt drives are convenient, many users are turning to Thunderbolt 4/5 enclosures paired with high-speed NVMe SSDs as a more flexible, often cheaper alternative.
🔧 What Are They?
These enclosures let you insert your own NVMe M.2 SSD, creating a custom external drive that’s often:
- Cheaper per terabyte
- More upgradable
- Easily swappable
🚀 Performance?
With Thunderbolt 4/5 bandwidth, many enclosures like the Acasis TB5 M.2 Enclosure or ANYOYO M.2 Enclosure deliver speeds upwards of 3,000MB/s to 6,000MB/s, rivaling or exceeding most pre-built options.
💰 Example:
| Enclosure | NVMe SSD | Combined Price | Speed (Approx.) |
| ANYOYO M.2 Enclosure ($250) | Samsung 990 Pro 2TB ($160) | ~$410 | ~7,000MB/s |
| Acasis TB5 Enclosure ($260) | Crucial T500 4TB ($310) | ~$570 | ~6,600MB/s |
💡 This modular route can save money and allows future upgrades without replacing the whole unit.
🧠 Best For:
- Tech-savvy users who want maximum control
- People with spare NVMe drives
- Creators needing ultra-fast scratch disks on a budget
🔍 Real-World Benefits of Going External
✅ Massive Savings
Save hundreds (sometimes over $1,000) just by choosing external storage.
🚗 Portability & Flexibility
Work on your projects on a MacBook Pro, Mac Studio or any other model of Mac with zero hassle.
⚖️ Modular & Upgradable
Unlike Apple’s soldered-in SSDs, Thunderbolt drives can be replaced, expanded, or repurposed.
🛠️ Less Heat, More Reliability
High-end enclosures (like OWC’s) are fanless and aluminum-clad to dissipate heat better than crammed internal storage.
🌟 Thunderbolt 5 = A Tipping Point For Macs
With Thunderbolt 5, external SSDs are finally fast enough that you don’t have to sacrifice performance for price.
With the ability to do things such as edit 6K video footage directly from a Thunderbolt 5 SSD with zero lag, why would you want to pay Apple for more storage?
However, it’s not all rosy – there are a few drawbacks to be aware of.
⚠️ Downsides to Consider
While Thunderbolt storage has many advantages in our opinion, it’s not completely without compromises:
🔌 Requires an External Device
You’ll need to carry and plug in an external drive. This adds bulk and can be inconvenient if you’re always on the go. Most don’t require an external power source though as they draw power from your Mac.
🔒 Ejecting Properly Is Important
Improper ejection or sudden disconnection can risk data loss or corruption.
🔋 Slightly Higher Power Draw
While most drives are bus-powered, they still consume more energy than internal storage and may slightly impact battery life.
💻 Boot Limitations
You can’t boot macOS from a Thunderbolt 5 drive on Apple Silicon Macs unless using special third-party tools.
🧳 Risk of Loss or Theft
Portability is a plus—but it also means it’s easier to misplace or lose your data if not backed up.
Despite these trade-offs, we think the flexibility and value of Thunderbolt 5 drives far outweigh the minor downsides.
🛠️ Doesn’t Work with Apple Intelligence
If you’re a big fan of using Apple Intelligence on your Mac, it’s not compatible with external drives yet so anything stored on them won’t be accessible to Apple’s AI assistant.
🔹 Verdict: Don’t Let Apple Upsell You
Buying external Thunderbolt 5 storage is not just cheaper—it’s smarter. You keep your flexibility, avoid overpaying, and get speeds that keep up with even the most demanding software on your Mac.
Recommendation: Buy the base storage model Mac, then invest in a Thunderbolt 5 SSD like the OWC Envoy Ultra or Sabrent Rocket XTRM 5.
🎨 Visual Summary
| Option | Internal SSD (Apple) | Thunderbolt 5 SSD |
| 2TB Upgrade Cost | $600–$1,200 | $499 (OWC Envoy Ultra) |
| Max Speed | ~6,500MB/s | ~6,500MB/s |
| Replaceable/Upgradeable | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Portability | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Value per TB | ❌ Poor | ✅ Excellent |
If you’re a power user, creator, or just want better value for your money: Don’t upgrade internal Mac storage. Use Thunderbolt 5 instead.