Identifying the correct external enclosure for Apple's proprietary flash PCIe SSD

Identifying the correct external enclosure for Apple's proprietary flash PCIe SSD

This article explains the differences in Apple's proprietary SSD connectors, which is essential to know when choosing the correct external enclosure. 

Apple first introduced proprietary flash SSD with MacBook Air 2010 and 2011 and then in 2012 machines. It continued with Macbook Pro and iMac late 2012 and early 2013. All three above have different shapes and connectors and are SATA based. From Mid 2013, PCIe AHCI and later NVME-based flash SSDs were used with MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Mini and Mac Pro.

These were all the same shape and connector except for the late 2015 iMac, whose SSD is slightly smaller. I only know about OWC, which manufactures external enclosures for the above SSDs. I break it down by machine and year of make below with direct links to compatible products. There are two main reasons why you may need enclosure.

1. To transfer data from your old SSD to new one

2. Re-use your old SSD as an additional external storage

  • Enclosure for SSD from MacBook Air 2010-2011 

SSD from the above has a 6 + 12 pin connector, and you can find the link to a compatible enclosure below.

Link: Click here

  • Enclosure for SSD from MacBook Air 2012

SSD from the above machine has 7 + 17 pins, and you can find the link to a compatible enclosure below.

Link: Click Here

  • Enclosure for SSD from MacBook Pro and iMac late 2012 to early 2013

SSD from the above machine has 8 + 18 pins, and you can find the link to a compatible enclosure below.

Link: Click Here

  • Enclosure for SSD from MacBook Pro late 2013 to mid-2015, MacBook Air Mid 2013 to mid-2017, Mac Mini 2014, Mac Pro 2013 and iMac from late 2013 to early 2019

SSD from the above machine has 12 + 16 pins, and you can find the link to a compatible enclosure below.

Link: Click Here

Note: SSD from iMac Late 2015 (model identifier iMac17,1) is incompatible with this enclosure. As far as I know, no enclosure is available for this iMac SSD.