2011 MacBook Air SSD Features the Same Controller as Samsung 470

Like we suspected in April, the Samsung SSD found in some 2010 and 2011 MacBook Airs is indeed using the same controller as Samsung 470 series. The controller carries a model number of S3C29MAX01-Y340. The firmware is most likely different as Apple customizes the firmwares to integrate the best with OS X but the actual controller is still the same. According to Samsung, the 470 series is good for up to 250MB/s read and 220MB/s write but the earliest tests with 2011 MBA show up to 270MB/s read and 252MB/s write, which is considerably more than what Samsung claims. 

Our review of the 2011 MBA is also up with more thorough testing of the SSDs. Turns out that the Samsung has much greater random reads and writes as well. Apple still uses Toshiba SSDs along with Samsung SSDs, but there is no way of knowing which one you get before booting up the machine for the first time - it's laptop lottery. 

Thanks to iFixit for the image above.