OWC Aura Pro X2 2TB Review — Maximum-Capacity NVMe SSD for MacBook
The OWC Aura Pro X2 2TB is the ultimate storage upgrade for 2013–2017 MacBooks — two full terabytes of PCIe 3.0 NVMe performance in Apple's proprietary connector, with the highest endurance in the lineup.
The Aura Pro X2 2TB packs the most NAND dies into the SM2262EN controller's eight channels, delivering the highest sustained write performance in the entire Aura Pro X2 family. The Silicon Motion SM2262EN controller, IMFT 3D TLC NAND, and 512 MB DRAM cache are shared with the smaller capacities, but the 2 TB variant's sheer NAND density means the SLC cache is the largest and the controller can maintain peak write speeds through the most demanding sustained workloads. The 7% over-provisioning reserves roughly 140 GB of space for wear leveling and garbage collection — more than most users will ever see, but it keeps the drive performing like new even when nearly full.
At 2 TB, this drive is overkill for casual users but essential for professionals who depend on their MacBook as their primary machine. After macOS and essential applications, roughly 1.8 TB remains — enough for multiple 4K video projects, extensive photo libraries, large audio sample collections, and development environments with multiple virtual machines. For photographers shooting RAW, video editors working on location, music producers with large sample libraries, and developers running VMs, the 2 TB capacity eliminates the need for external storage during active projects.
The drive uses Apple's proprietary 12+16 pin SSD connector for MacBook Pro (Late 2013–Mid 2015), MacBook Air (Mid 2013–Mid 2017), Mac mini (Late 2014), and Mac Pro (Late 2013). OWC includes the Envoy Pro external USB 3.0 enclosure for data migration. At this capacity and price point, the Aura Pro X2 2TB has few direct competitors — the Transcend JetDrive 850 tops out at 960 GB, and the Sabrent Rocket for Mac 2 TB is one of the few alternatives.
The 2 TB Aura Pro X2 commands a premium price, but for users who need maximum internal storage in a compatible MacBook, the options are limited. The five-year warranty, 713 TBW endurance, and included Envoy Pro enclosure make it a complete — if expensive — upgrade package.
✅ Storage Comparisons:
🚀 Performance and benchmarks
The OWC Aura Pro X2 2TB is rated at up to 3,200 MB/s sequential reads and 2,400 MB/s sequential writes over its PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe interface. The read speed is consistent across the Aura Pro X2 lineup, but the 2 TB variant delivers the best sustained write performance of any capacity — with the most NAND dies addressing the SM2262EN's eight channels, the drive can stripe data at maximum parallelism and maintain its rated write speeds through the longest sustained transfers. The SLC cache on the 2 TB model is the largest in the family, absorbing the most data before falling back to direct TLC writes. For users moving tens or hundreds of gigabytes of video footage, disk images, or database dumps, this sustained performance is the 2 TB variant's primary advantage over smaller capacities. Random 4K performance on the SM2262EN reaches 180,000–200,000 IOPS reads and 170,000–190,000 IOPS writes, delivering fast application launches and responsive multitasking. The 7% over-provisioning (roughly 140 GB of reserved blocks) is most impactful at this capacity — it gives the controller enormous room for garbage collection even when the drive is 90% full. Independent reviewers testing high-capacity Aura Pro X2 drives in MacBook Pro configurations found the drive delivers a significant upgrade over original Apple SSDs. The SM2262EN's favorable thermal profile — running cooler than competing controllers like the Phison E12 — is critical at 2 TB, where sustained workloads generate the most heat. In the MacBook's thermally constrained chassis, the drive operates within safe limits under typical professional workloads. For 4K and 6K video editing, the 2 TB provides enough sustained throughput and capacity for on-location editing without external drives.
OWC Aura Pro X2 2 TB vs M.2 3.0 x 4 peers
Switch between sequential throughput and random IOPS to see how this drive stacks up against other M.2 3.0 x 4 SSDs in our database. The highlighted bar is the drive on this page — click any other bar to open that drive.
- ADATA SX 8800 Pro 512 GB: 3,500 MB/s read, 2,700 MB/s write
- ADATA SX 8800 Pro 1 TB: 3,500 MB/s read, 2,700 MB/s write
- ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G RGB 256 GB: 3,500 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G RGB 512 GB: 3,500 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- OWC Aura Pro X2 2 TB (this drive): 3,200 MB/s read, 2,400 MB/s write
🖥️ Endurance and warranty
OWC backs the Aura Pro X2 2TB with a five-year warranty and a 713 TBW (terabytes written) endurance rating — the highest in the Aura Pro X2 family. The 713 TBW on a 2 TB drive works out to roughly 390 GB of writes per day over five years, which is dramatically more than any typical MacBook workload. At a professional usage rate of 50–100 GB per day (video editing, photo processing, software development), the drive would take 19–39 years to reach its TBW limit, far exceeding the warranty period. The 7% over-provisioning (approximately 140 GB of reserved blocks) extends the effective lifespan further by providing the largest pool of spare cells for wear leveling and bad block replacement in the lineup. At 2 TB capacity, users are more likely to fill the drive with large media files, and the over-provisioning ensures the controller has room to manage garbage collection efficiently even at high utilization. OWC's warranty support is US-based with international shipping options, and the company's strong reputation in the Mac upgrade community means warranty claims are handled promptly. An MTBF figure is not published, which is standard for consumer SSDs. The five-year warranty and 713 TBW endurance are competitive with enterprise-adjacent consumer drives, making the Aura Pro X2 2TB the most durable MacBook storage upgrade available for compatible models.
📊 Specs
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Capacity [?] | 2 TB |
| Interface [?] | M.2 3.0 x 4 |
| Controller [?] | Silicon Motion SM2262EN |
| Memory type [?] | IMFT TLC |
| DRAM [?] | 2 X 256GB |
| Read speed (MB/s) [?] | 3200 |
| Write speed (MB/s) [?] | 2400 |
| Read IOPS [?] | n/a |
| Write IOPS [?] | n/a |
| Endurance (TBW) [?] | 713 |
| MTBF (million hours) [?] | n/a |
| Warranty (years) [?] | 5 |
Conclusion
The OWC Aura Pro X2 2TB is the maximum internal storage upgrade for 2013–2017 MacBooks — two terabytes eliminates any capacity concern, the 3,200 MB/s reads hit the PCIe 3.0 ceiling, and the 713 TBW endurance is the highest in the lineup. It's expensive, but for professionals who depend on their MacBook as their primary machine and need maximum internal storage for active projects, there are few alternatives. The included Envoy Pro enclosure, five-year warranty, and OWC's Mac-specific expertise make this a premium upgrade package. Most users are better served by the 1 TB variant, but for those who need every gigabyte, the 2 TB Aura Pro X2 has no equal in the Mac upgrade market.
+ Pros
- 2 TB eliminates all capacity concerns
- Best sustained writes in the Aura Pro X2 family
- SM2262EN controller with 512 MB DRAM
- Envoy Pro enclosure included for migration
- 713 TBW endurance — highest in lineup
- Cons
- Premium pricing — most expensive option
- Apple proprietary connector — not standard M.2
- Overkill for most users
- Limited to 2013–2017 Mac compatibility
🛒 Buy this or similar SSD Storage:
✨ Video Review
Macbook Pro Hard Drive Replacement / Upgrade Test: OWC Aura Pro X2 SSD Review
