Optane, this is the name with which Intel has baptized this new line of SSD with 3D XPoint technology which represents a quantitative and qualitative leap compared to the already traditional SSD with NAND memories. In addition to this, we already know that it is fully compatible with the NVMe storage protocol that Apple already uses in some of its MacBooks, this means that it could be relatively easy for Apple to carry out an adoption of this technology in the next Mac computers and so on. gain some advantage from this new technology.
The use of 3D XPoint technology will mean a speed increase of up to 1000 times over the most common NAND memory and also up to 1000 times more durable. This is because, according to Intel, it is 10 times more dense than DRAM.
To understand the importance to Apple of your NVMe storage protocol (Non-Volatile Memory Express) had to release a software update to support it on the 12-inch MacBook in April of last year.
This clearly indicates that NVMe is intended to replace the old AHCI technology, which was designed to maximize system performance using conventional hard drives. However, NVMe is optimized for very low latency storage drive operations that are commonly offered by SSDs with non-volatile memory.
Compared to AHCI, NVMe reduces latency by 50 percent. For example, Intel marks a latency in the 6 nanosecond SCSI / SAS systems at 19.500 cycles, but NVMe manages to do it in 2,8 nanoseconds and 9.100 cycles.
NVMe is clearly designed to be the reference protocol for at least the next decade, roughly the comparable life cycle to AHCI, which debuted in 2004. Also since 2011, Apple has been using the PCIe bus to increase bandwidth in your units, so you are in a good position to support the entire Mac line with NVMe and thus integrate Intel Optane SSDs in upcoming renovations.