M1 upgrades are possible (sort of)
The M1 chip used in Apple’s latest Macs is an integrated system on a chip (SoC), which means its memory, storage, processor and graphics components are all housed in one combined unit. Yet that has not stopped some enterprising engineers in China from discovering the memory and storage can be upgraded with new parts that are then recognised by macOS. The technicians replaced the 8GB of memory and 256GB SSD in their test MacBook Air with 16GB and 1TB equivalents and macOS did not reject them as illegitimate.
The problem? All of these components are soldered in place, meaning the engineers had to dismantle the SoC, which is highly risky and voids the MacBook’s warranty. While it shows that the M1 chip can be upgraded after you have bought it, the process is likely to be out of reach of all but the bravest Mac enthusiasts. Everyone else should ensure they buy exactly what they need at the point of purchase.