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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Not proven. A 2023 teardown of a low-cost ShineDisk SSD identified its NAND packages as allegedly SK hynix E2NAND associated with Apple devices, but the chips’ origin was unknown. There is no evidence establishing that Apple rejected, owned, or supplied the specific chips. The case is a useful warning about buying storage on price alone—not proof that every cheap Chinese SSD uses rejected Apple flash.
What the ShineDisk teardown found
On August 20, 2023, Tom’s Hardware reported on a teardown by a Chinese data-recovery YouTuber of the ShineDisk M667, model M667-120G: a 120GB SATA SSD selling for about $13 in China. The creator pointed to unusually thick NAND packages and identified them as allegedly SK hynix E2NAND associated with Apple devices. Tom’s Hardware could not find public SK hynix documentation confirming E2NAND, and said the NAND’s origin was unknown. Read Tom’s Hardware’s report.
The drive used a Silicon Motion SM2258XT controller, a legitimate DRAM-less SATA III controller also found in older mainstream SATA products. That identification does not establish the identity or quality of the NAND. A familiar controller does not authenticate the NAND, firmware, stated capacity, or seller’s quality control.
What “Apple-rejected” does—and does not—mean
The teardown supports a limited claim: the creator believed the NAND packages were SK hynix E2NAND associated with Apple. It does not establish that Apple rejected the chips, owned those particular chips, or supplied them directly to ShineDisk. Tom’s Hardware described several possible routes, including factory surplus, a third-party vendor handling defective devices, or another surplus or reprocessing channel. As the report put it, “The origin of the NAND is unknown.”
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Those distinctions matter. A chip associated with a supplier that serves Apple is not necessarily an Apple-owned component, and an allegation about a package’s identity is not a supply-chain record. The report did not publish documentation tracing these chips from an Apple order to this SSD.
Why reused or de-identified flash can be risky
NAND that does not meet a client’s requirements or quality-control standards may be recycled into lower-cost products. That possibility does not mean every recycled chip is unusable; it does mean a very low price and a recognizable controller cannot stand in for evidence about the flash or the drive’s quality controls.
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In a separate investigation, CBL Data Recovery found reputable-brand NAND in cheap flash products with manufacturer markings abraded or covered, and sometimes found repurposed microSD cards. The chips it tested showed reduced capacity and reliability. That broader finding concerns other products; it was not a test of the ShineDisk M667. Ars Technica’s report on the CBL investigation explains the distinction.
Tom’s Hardware warned specifically that the roughly $13 ShineDisk M667 could fail unexpectedly. The report did not include a controlled lifetime test of that exact sample, so it cannot establish how long a particular M667 would last or how often units fail.
What Apple’s YMTC episode tells us
Apple’s earlier consideration of NAND from China’s YMTC is a separate, documented supply-chain episode. Tom’s Hardware reported that the plan was cancelled after U.S. export-control scrutiny, and that YMTC products had not appeared in Apple hardware at that time. This shows Apple had evaluated alternative NAND suppliers; it does not verify the ShineDisk allegation or connect YMTC to the M667. See Tom’s Hardware’s YMTC report.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to assess a low-cost SSD before buying
For a drive that will hold important files, compare more than the advertised capacity and price:
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- Model and seller traceability: Look for a clearly identified model and a seller with a meaningful return path. Vague listings make it harder to verify what you are buying or get recourse if it fails.
- Warranty and support: Check the warranty terms and whether the manufacturer offers firmware support. A warranty does not guarantee reliability, but it gives you a defined remedy if the drive fails within its terms.
- Independent testing: Prefer testing that checks usable capacity and sustained writes, not just a brief speed claim or the listing’s headline number.
- Drive design: Compare the NAND type and provenance, controller, and whether the design uses DRAM or host memory buffer (HMB). These details help describe the drive, but none alone proves quality.
- Data importance: Keep another copy of important files. No SSD should be treated as the only copy of irreplaceable data.
For a primary drive or important files, a reputable, warranty-backed SSD with a clear model, support, and return route is a safer choice than an anonymous ultra-cheap listing. Treat price as a cost, not a reliability rating.
Quick Recap
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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