by 86 reviews.
OWC 1TB Aura N2 NVMe SSD Upgrade Kit Review: A Game-Changer for Older MacBooks
If you’re still holding onto an older MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, you know how frustrating it can be to deal with sluggish performance. Enter the OWC 1TB Aura N2 NVMe SSD Upgrade Kit, a solution designed to breathe new life into your aging device. This kit is specifically tailored for MacBook Pro (Late 2013 - Mid 2015) and MacBook Air (Mid 2013 - Mid 2017) models, offering blazing-fast speeds and a seamless installation process.
The kit includes:
- A 1TB Aura N2 SSD with read speeds up to 2382MB/s and write speeds up to 1732MB/s.
- An Envoy Pro Enclosure for external storage versatility.
- A USB 3.1 Gen 1 Cable and installation tools for easy setup.
- A 3-Year OWC Limited Warranty for peace of mind.
Whether you’re upgrading your MacBook’s storage or reviving an old Mac mini, this kit promises to deliver a significant performance boost. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the pros and cons based on real customer experiences.
Pros: What Customers Love
1. Easy Installation Process
One of the standout features of the OWC Aura N2 SSD Upgrade Kit is its user-friendly installation process. Many customers praised the detailed installation videos provided by OWC, which walk you through every step. One reviewer shared:
“The manufacturer has installation videos at macsales.com, which walk you through the process. The hardest part is keeping track of the 8 tiny screws on the case and the one holding the hard drive in place.”
Another user highlighted how straightforward the process was, even for someone with limited technical expertise:
“Installation took less than 30 minutes. The hardest part was just making a bootable USB drive to load the Mac OS onto the new SSD drive.”
2. Significant Performance Boost
The most common praise for this SSD upgrade kit is the dramatic improvement in performance. Users reported that their devices felt like new after the upgrade. One customer with a 2014 Mac mini shared:
“It was like a different computer. Faster. Much, much faster. ‘Holy Cow!’ fast compared to what it was before the installation.”
Another user noted:
“This has revived a machine that seemed like it was destined for the scrap pile. Thanks OWC!!!”
The NVMe SSD’s read and write speeds make multitasking, app launches, and file transfers significantly faster, even on older hardware.
3. Compatibility and Reliability
Unlike generic SSDs, the OWC Aura N2 is specifically designed for older MacBooks, ensuring seamless compatibility. One reviewer emphasized:
“Apple's SSDs are not standard, so you can't just buy an NVMe SSD and expect it to work. This NVMe SSD was designed to work perfectly with my particular MacBook.”
The kit also includes an Envoy Pro Enclosure, allowing users to repurpose their old SSD as an external drive. This added versatility was a big hit among customers.
Cons: What Could Be Improved
1. Requires Additional Tools
While the installation process is straightforward, some users noted that additional tools are required. For example, a pentalobe screwdriver and tiny Torx bits are necessary to open the MacBook and secure the SSD. One reviewer mentioned:
“I also purchased a small toolkit (iFixit Moray) that had the necessary pentalobe and tiny Torx bits, since I didn’t have those.”
While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it’s something to keep in mind if you don’t already own the required tools.
2. Limited Compatibility
The OWC Aura N2 SSD Upgrade Kit is only compatible with specific MacBook models (Late 2013 - Mid 2015 for MacBook Pro and Mid 2013 - Mid 2017 for MacBook Air). If you own a newer or older MacBook, this kit won’t work for you.
3. Price Point
While the kit offers excellent value for the performance boost it provides, some users felt that the price was on the higher side compared to generic SSDs. However, most agreed that the compatibility and reliability justified the cost.
Conclusion: Is the OWC 1TB Aura N2 NVMe SSD Upgrade Kit Worth It?
The OWC 1TB Aura N2 NVMe SSD Upgrade Kit is a fantastic investment for anyone looking to extend the life of their older MacBook or Mac mini. Its easy installation process, significant performance boost, and seamless compatibility make it a standout choice.
However, the need for additional tools and the limited compatibility may be drawbacks for some users. Additionally, the price point might feel steep for those on a tight budget.
Final Verdict: If you own a compatible MacBook and want to revive its performance without buying a new device, the OWC Aura N2 SSD Upgrade Kit is a no-brainer. It’s a reliable, high-performance solution that delivers on its promises.
Specification OWC 1TB Aura N2 NVMe SSD Upgrade Kit w/Envoy Pro Enclosure Compatible with MacBook Pro w/Retina Display (Late 2013 - Mid 2015) and MacBook Air (Mid 2013 -Mid 2017):
Comments from Amazon:
I have a 2014 Mac mini with 4GB RAM. This is the bottom of the line Mac mini from 2014. It was unbelievably slow. It felt like using a computer from the nineties, as I would wait a minute or more for apps to open or web pages to load. Then I saw this easy to install solid state drive upgrade kit for the 2014 Mac mini that just snaps into place and secures with a few very small screws. It was less than $100 and I read reviews about how adding an SSD made the the 2014 Mac mini so much faster than it was with its standard spinning disc hard drive. But I was uncertain because my bottom of the line Mac mini only had 4GB RAM. Installation took less than 30 minutes. The hardest part was just making a bootable usb drive to load the Mac OS onto the new SSD drive. Thankfully there are so many instructional videos on YouTube about how to do this. So after less installing the drive, I loaded the Mac OS onto the new SSD and started it up. It was like a different computer. Faster. Much, much faster. “Holy Cow!” fast compared to what it was before the installation. I’m not a heavy computer user. The most challenging software I use is Evernote in which I add some simple sketches using a very cheap graphics tablet. So for me this upgrade is all I really needed in a computer. I watch YouTube videos, some Netflix and work on files on Evernote and some numbers spreadsheets all at the same time without any waiting anymore. This SSD kit is awesome!!!
When I wanted to work on my MacBook Pro (New batteries, larger Hard drive and speaker replacement), I thought I had the correct tools but I did not. These were perfect for the jobs I was doing. My Mac is older but better now thanks to these tools.
This was exactly as it describes. Straightforward, easy installation. I was even able to utilize the tutorial on the OWC website when I thought I hadn’t seated the drive correctly (and by watching the video, I found that I hadn’t). Once I corrected my mistake, the drive worked like a charm and is about 8.5x faster than the original 5400rpm HDD drive that shipped with the 2014 Mini. This has revived a machine that seemed like it was destined for the scrap pile. Thanks OWC!!!
Apple's SSDs are. not standard., so you can't just by an NVMe SSD and expect it to work. This NVMe SSD was design to work perfectly with my particular Macbook.
I watch this insulation it was really very easy and surprisingly.
My SSD in my mid 2014 Macbook Pro developed a problem. I inserted the new SSD and put the old SSD into the enclosure. Once I restarted my Macbook Pro, the procedure to reinstall the OS and my old files went without issue. When the laptop started, it asked for the internet connection. Once it had that, it installed the OS. Once that was finished, I connected the enclosure with my old SSD and was able to download my applications and data. I was up and running within a few short hours.
I purchased this to replace the SSD on my wife’s MacBook Pro, which had failed completely. And it works perfectly. I also purchased a small toolkit (iFixit Moray) that had the necessary pentalobe and tiny torx bits, since I didn’t have those. The manufacturer has installation videos at macsales.com, which walk you through the process. The hardest part is keeping track of the 8 tiny screws on the case and the one holding the hard drive in place. Fortunately, the toolkit had a handy lid/tray to hold the screws, and magnetic tips to hold onto them. I doubt it took me more than 15 minutes to do this, and I was moving slowly and showing my wife what I was doing at each step.