Need an SSD upgrade for your MacBook Pro 13-inch Unibody? We carry out this work in-house at our London workshop, with a fixed quote before we start.
Remove ten screws from the base and the 2.5-inch drive is right there, which makes the A1278 the easiest MacBook Pro to upgrade. The 2011 and 2012 models run SATA III at 6Gb/s so an SSD transforms them. We replace the hard drive cable at the same time on 2012 units because it’s a known failure point, and we can put a second drive in the optical bay if you want more space. We clone your data across as part of the job.
About this model: The 13-inch unibody MacBook Pro (A1278) is one of the most repairable and long-lived Macs Apple ever made. It has a user-accessible hard drive and two RAM slots, a removable optical drive and a screwed-in battery.
Signs it needs an SSD upgrade
- Folder with question mark at start-up
- Slow boot and spinning beach ball
- Clicking hard drive
- Needing more storage (dual-drive with optical bay caddy)
How we do it
We use quality SATA SSDs from established brands, fitted with a bracket or adapter where the bay was designed for a larger drive. If your old drive still reads, we clone it so your apps, files and settings carry across unchanged.
Once fitted, we either restore your existing system or install the newest macOS your model supports, then run a full read/write test and check the drive’s health reporting before handing it back.
If you’d rather move to a new Mac instead, our data migration service (from £79 + VAT) transfers everything across.
At a glance
| Years | 2009–2012 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo, then Core i5/i7 |
| Storage | Standard SATA drive |
| Memory | Socketed, upgradeable |
| Battery | Screwed in (no glue) |
| Power / charging | MagSafe 1 |
Before you bring it in
Tell us how much data is on it now and how much you expect to add, so we can recommend a sensible capacity. Bring your Apple ID and login passwords; we need them to check everything works after the upgrade.
Which model do you have?
This page covers the MacBook Pro 13-inch Unibody (2009–2012) (MacBookPro5,5 / 7,1 / 8,1 / 9,2; A1278). Look under Apple menu > About This Mac, or check the small print on the bottom case for the A-number. Not sure? Bring it in and we’ll identify it for you.
Price
SSD upgrade: 250GB SSD: £165 + VAT + £95 + VAT labour; 500GB SSD: £195 + VAT; 1TB drive: £185 + VAT. Other capacities quoted on request. All prices are subject to inspection, and nothing is done without your approval.
Questions we’re often asked
Will I lose my files?
No. We clone or back up your data before any upgrade and check everything is in place afterwards.
Is it worth upgrading this model?
If the machine is otherwise healthy, yes. Storage and memory upgrades are the cheapest way to make an older Mac noticeably quicker, and we’ll tell you honestly if we think a replacement would be better value.
How much does it cost?
See the price section above. We always quote before starting, and if we can’t fix it, you don’t pay for the repair.
Book a repair
For a free, no-obligation quote, call 020 7394 2528 or email info@mac-repair.london.