MacBook Neo Mod Unlocks 1TB Storage Using iPhone 16 Pro Parts [Video]

Apple's most affordable laptop has been shown to support a storage configuration the company doesn't officially offer, thanks to its shared architecture with the iPhone. Well-known Mac modder dosdude1 has successfully performed a soldered storage upgrade on the new MacBook Neo, boosting the device from its base 256GB capacity to a massive 1TB.



The upgrade is possible because the MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip, the same processor found in the iPhone 16 Pro. To achieve the 1TB capacity, the modification utilizes a 1TB NAND flash chip (model K8A5) used in the iPhone 16 Pro. While Apple officially only supports up to 512GB of onboard storage for the Neo, the shared architecture appears to allow the system to recognize and use the larger iPhone-sourced storage module.


The process requires a high degree of precision due to the soldered nature of modern Mac storage. Recent MacBook Neo teardowns have highlighted the laptop's modular internal design, but the NAND storage remains fixed to the logic board. The mod involves carefully clearing away the underfill surrounding the original chip, desoldering the 256GB module, and replacing it with a blank, unprogrammed 1TB iPhone NAND. Once the new hardware is in place, the machine requires a full DFU restore to initialize the storage.

Benchmark results following the upgrade suggest a slight improvement in performance alongside the massive increase in capacity. Before the modification, the stock 256GB MacBook Neo recorded disk speeds of approximately 1500 MB/s for both reads and writes. After the 1TB iPhone NAND was installed, those speeds jumped to roughly 1700 MB/s read and 1600 MB/s write. While the performance gain is modest, it brings the entry-level machine closer to the speeds found in more expensive models.

This modification highlights the unique hardware overlap created by Apple's decision to repurpose A-series silicon for the Mac. By sourcing parts from the iPhone supply chain, modders have effectively bypassed the storage limits Apple sets for its budget hardware.

You can order the MacBook Neo on Amazon or monitor the latest discounts on the entire lineup using the iClarified Mac Price Tracker.


Take a look at the full upgrade video below.