Macbook Pro Hard Drive Replacement / Upgrade Test: OWC Aura Pro X2 SSD Review

Will replacing your old Macbook Pro hard drive with an upgraded SSD make it feel like a whole new computer? I replaced the SSD in my 2015 macbook pro with the OWC Aura Pro X2 and tested the speed and performance before and after.
As a photographer & content creator I edit and export a LOT of photos and videos, so finding ways to speed up my old macbook pro is something I'm always on the lookout for. Hopefully these speed tests and review upgrading my macbook with the OWC Aura Pro 2 SSD will help you decide whether you should upgrade your old mac, or invest in a new one.

*DIY Hard Drive Replacement Tool links:*

(I receive a small commission if you purchase these, but feel free to buy whatever tools & paste you like - These are just what I used)

Isopropyl Alcohol - Buy this at a grocery store or pharmacy anything with an alcohol content over about 70% is fine. At $0.70 its WAY cheaper than buying the special electronic stuff for $15+!

Compressed Air - I recommend you buy this at a hardware store as its WAY cheaper than online. The one I got was about $5 at home depot. Just make sure its compressed air only, and doesn't have anything else in there.

🔥📸 **COMPLETE GEAR LIST** 📸🔥
Here Is My Complete List Of ALL The Gear & Software I'm Using 💪💪
If you click these links I might earn a little commission to fuel my coffee habit—no extra cost to you, just my appreciation!

📷 PHOTO GEAR

💻 **PHOTO BUSINESS SOFTWARE**

💻 **COMPUTER/EDITING**

🎨 **PRESETS**

🔒 **BACKUPS**

📹 **YOUTUBE GEAR**

**🎤 AUDIO**

💡** LIGHTING**

[SignatureEdits]

*DIY Hard Drive Replacement Tool links:*
(I receive a small commission if you purchase these, but feel free to buy whatever tools & paste you like - These are just what I used!)
*Isopropyl Alcohol* - Buy this at a grocery store or pharmacy anything with an alcohol content over about 70% is fine. At $0.70 its WAY cheaper than buying the special electronic stuff for $15+!
*Compressed Air* - Again buy at a hardware store and its WAY cheaper. The one I got was about $5 at home depot. Just make sure its compressed air only, and doesn't have anything else in there.

[jennyhoneypenny]

Thanks for the real life speed test with the photo export! That is a good enough difference for me. I will probably get this one.

[santiagorulo]

Hi! it works with Macbook Pro Retina Mid 2014?

[dandekan]

Over 3 years later, I did this update of SSD Hard Drive, Thermal Paste, and Batteries. My 2013 MacBook Pro isn't fastest, but still should be workable for a year or so.

[crewdogger]

Thank you for including ALL the missteps in your video. It makes me feel better to know that the problems I have aren't just because of me. Would you have had an easier time if you had cloned the SSD before you installed the new drive? I saw that you formated the new drive as macOS extended but Apple recommends using their newer APFS system for SSD performance.

[BatistaRX]

really thorough walk thru review of this SSD! appreciate for what you went through

[tomasjesko]

Good job. Thank you! You helped me a lot. I just changed my old ssd for Aura and it went smooth, no hassles. I didn't have to press cmdR...just after turning it on, I pluged in the time machine back up disk and it did all in 2 hours with no need to press anything...

[tomherbst]

Thanks for the video. Helped me finish a painful install.

[kamilmilewski]

This troubleshooting was really helpful. Thank you for that :)

[victormultanen]

It is very interesting experience!
thank you for sharing!

[stephencohen]

Hey, watched your video on switching out your SSD. I virtually have the same exact MacBook Pro that you do. I am now running Monterey 12.6.9 as an operating system. My question, do I need to format the SSD? I don’t know if my version of OS has the EFI firmware update. Reading from OWC instructions page It indicate Mac, OS 10.13 High Sierra or later must be installed. How am I to ascertain whether or not I’ve got the update? Does later me from High Sierra looking back or going forward? I look forward to your response!!!

Stephen

[marcofattorinipianist]

It's true. Waiting for almost 40 seconds more is a real drama

[xboxbml]

I’m wondering a couple things.. Now that you’ve had it for a bit, how is it working? Do you have wake from sleep issues after a day or so of it being asleep and are you experiencing more than normal battery drain during those sleep periods?. I’ve read many people having those issues and giving up and sending the drive back..

[RR-SF]

Hopefully you changed your battery since?! It looks bad lol.
Thanks for the review. Although the speed does not look to be substantially different, I do need a much larger storage and I think I’ll go with owc this time.

[andyking]

was your SSD encrypted before and after the upgrade? I am wondering if that impacts speed...thanks for the help

[geraldshields]

@Signature Edit You should have gotten the SSD with the External Case, then install the old SSD into the enclosure then install the latest OS and perform data migration with the data migration assistant at the end of the OS install.

[rubbanaya]

Hello mate, thanks for the video. Which SSD is the faster one? The aura Pro X2 or the original Apple SSD

[matto]

were you able to update to macOS monterey with this ssd? my macbook pro 13 (2015) tells me that it is not compatible with the archive

[tataygamesPH]

Thank you very much this is really a HELP

[ericn]

First, thank you so much for this thorough walkthrough!
At 6:45 you mention that you need to switch to Mojave. Is this an absolute requirement? I have music software and hardware that is only compatible up to High Sierra. Do you know if it's possible to NOT upgrade?
Otherwise, I'm looking at OWC's older "Aura N" model which might support older OS. Thank you!