OWC updates ‘the fastest production drive in the universe’ with new 2,949MB/s RAID5 ThunderBlade X8 at CES 2024

OWC ThunderBlade RAID drive

After the launch of its new modular Express 1M2 portable solid-state drive, OWC is ready to expand its “best-in-class ThunderBlade portable storage line” for CES 2024. The brand is looking to provide content creators and professional-grade video setups with what it refers to as as a new version of its ThunderBlade RAID drive that “continues to set the bar for what is possible in the realm of production drives” with increased RAID 5 performance and expanded capacity options. Head below for a closer look. 

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Best portable SSDs of the year: Samsung, OWC, Crucial, WD, and more

2023 From $60

We are now rounding up all of our favorite on-the-go storage options in our 2023 collection of the best portable SSDs. While we didn’t see a ton of big-time standout new releases in 2023, there have been some next-generation releases from major brands worth consideration. Something like the new Samsung T5 Evo with up to 8TB capacities is going to be far less universally appealing to most folks, but its new T9 and mainstay T7 series is quite the opposite, much like the new X9 and X10 Pro models from Crucial. This year has also seen some unfortunate controversy in the portable SSD space with some issues arising among the formerly quite popular SanDisk Extreme lineup – my units work just fine, but there have been a ton of failures reported across the interwebs – however there are plenty of reliable solutions out there and we are breaking down our favorite options right now in our 2023 collection of the best portable SSDs to close out the year. Check them out below. 

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OWC launches its fastest portable SSD yet with the new heatsink-equipped 3,151MB/s 1M2

Today, OWC is launching its fastest portable SSD system yet. The launch of the new Express 1M2 also marks the first of its kind from the brand, delivering a DIY solution for USB4-equipped Macs and PCs in the form of the “fastest single blade NVMe OWC has ever offered.” Much like its solid metal 2,800MB/s OWC Envoy PRO portable SSD and its 11-port Thunderbolt 4 Go Dock that’s built like a tank, it features a solid metal design and can be loaded up with range of internal SSD solutions from the brand or to repurpose the drives you might already have laying around. Head below for more details. 

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Tested: Make sure this solid metal 2,800MB/s OWC Envoy PRO portable SSD is on your radar

We feature loads of different portable SSD options around here, but there are so many out there a few models will inevitably slip between the cracks and the OWC Envoy PRO portable SSD is one of them that really shouldn’t. Clocking in with pro-grade speeds faster than most of the competition out there and a build quality reminiscent of the robust metal offerings we have seen from the brand time and time again, the OWC Envoy PRO portable SSD should be on your radar and we have recently been giving it a run for its premium price tag to see if it’s worth the cash. 

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Tested: OWC’s 11-port Thunderbolt 4 Go Dock is built like a tank and performs even better

First unveiled at CES 2023 earlier this year, it’s time to take a closer look at the OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock – the “first full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power adapter.” OWC is one of the better Apple gear accessory brands out there, from docks and hubs to memory solutions, portable storage, and more. Much of its gear borders on enterprise-grade quality that carries over to its consumer and prosumer lines in the best way possible. Just about every piece of kit from the brand I have got my hands on over the years has impressed me in terms of overall build quality and performance, and the Thunderbolt Go Dock is no exception. But now, after getting a few weeks to put it through its paces, let’s dive in and take a closer look to see if it’s right for your setup. Head below for our hands-on review of the OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock as part of the latest entry in the Tested with 9to5Toys series. 

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OWC unveils ‘first full-featured’ 11-port 8K Thunderbolt Dock with integrated power at CES

OWC is heading to Vegas for CES 2023 with its new Thunderbolt Dock. Known as the OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock, it is described as a first-of-its-kind solution delivering an 11-port hub to expand the I/O potential of Thunderbolt and USB-C compatible Macs, PCs, iPads, Chromebook, and even Android devices. Designed for professionals, students, and content creators alike, the Thunderbolt Go Dock is looking to streamline your setup with an integrated power supply without the limitations of a bus-powered dock alongside its usual higher-end and robust build quality. Head below for a closer look at the new OWC Thunderbolt dock. 

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Tested: Hands-on with OWC’s machined metal USB-A/Thunderbolt flash drive-sized mini SSD

Update: We are are now tracking a new all-time low on the OWC Envoy Pro Mini USB-C + USB-A 10Gb/s Portable SSD flash drive with the 1TB variant now at $149 shipped – the 500GB model is still at $99. Regularly $179 and $109, these prices are the lowest we have tracked.

After launching a few months back, we’ve now had a chance to get a closer look at OWC’s new Envoy Pro mini SSD. Delivering one of the more compact and high-performance models on the market, we couldn’t wait to get our hands-on the new Envoy. The brand has been well-known for creating some of the more notable storage devices out there for a while now, and the machined aluminum housing as well as the overall attention to aesthetic details on its latest miniature flash drive-sized solid-state immediately caught our eye. Head below for our hands-on Tested with 9to5Toys review for more details on the user experience. 

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OWC launches new aluminum bootable USB-A/C portable SSD the size of a flash drive

OWC – known for everything from enterprise tech solutions to consumer storage and Apple gear accessories – is introducing its brand new mini SSD. Positioned as a “pocket-sized SSD with full-sized SSD performance,” the new OWC Envoy Pro mini is essentially a fully-featured solid-state drive that fits in a housing the size of a typical flash drive. Reaching impressive speeds with basically universal compatibility, it is designed to work with everything from the latest Apple gear right back to legacy devices from over the last 15 years as well as game consoles – it can even be configured as a boot drive. Head below for a closer look and more details on the new OWC Envoy Pro mini SSD. 

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OWC debuts first Thunderbolt 4 Dock for M1 Macs alongside new SSDs, more

OWC is starting off the year by launching its latest Mac peripherals, this time geared towards Apple’s latest M1 machines. Headlined by its very first Thunderbolt 4 dock, OWC has a stable of new hubs and accessories on the way for upgrading your workstation. Head below for a closer look at the new OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock and everything else on the way.

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OWC’s new Elektron USB-C SSDs offer 1,011MB/s speeds with a miniature design

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OWC is out with its latest, and by far, most compact portable storage solution to date. Its new Envoy Pro Elektron Solid-State Drive lineup leaves the gate with a miniature form-factor that’s backed by an IP67 waterproof rating, 1,011MB/s transfer speeds, and aluminum housing. Head below for all of the details on the OWC Elektron SSD, which are now available for purchase.

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OWC launches Mercury Elite Pro Dual USB-C system with up to 32TB of storage

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OWC is debuting its latest Mac-focused storage system today in the form of the new Mercury Elite Pro Dual. Armed with USB-C connectivity, the new system touts support for up to 32TB of storage while also supplementing your machines I/O with three additional ports. And there’s of course a matching aluminum finish to fit in nicely with your Mac setup. Head below for all of the details, including pricing, availability, and more.

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New OWC Thunderbolt 3 Mini Dock kicks external power to the curb

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Just 3-weeks after OWC debuted a bus-powered Thunderbolt NVMe enclosure, the company is back at it again. This time around, it is adding the Thunderbolt 3 Mini Dock to the OWC lineup — a fresh offering that turns one port into five. Two HDMI inputs make it simple to plug in dual displays, and there’s enough power here for both to operate at 4K60. Like the NVMe enclosure referenced above, this unit is also bus-powered, meaning you won’t need to plug it into anything more than a Thunderbolt-ready PC or Mac. Continue reading to learn more.

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OWC ThunderBay Flex 8 holds up to 128TB, has a PCIe slot, 85W charging, more

OWC is well-known for its high-end storage solutions. Announced back at CES 2020, the ThunderBay Flex 8 is a powerful storage solution that offers Thunderbolt 3 RAID storage, docking, and PCIe expansion in one slim package. That’s right, it can hold up to eight drives, acts as an I/O dock, and even sports a PCIe x16 expansion slot, plus it can charge at up to 85W, all through a single cable.

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OWC Envoy Express debuts as “first” bus-powered Thunderbolt 3 NVMe enclosure

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When it comes to Thunderbolt 3 solid state drives, pricing tends to be much higher than those that stick with slower USB 3.x speeds. Thankfully a new solution dubbed OWC Envoy Express is here to turn up the heat on competition while allowing consumers to affordably embrace blazing-fast performance. As “the world’s first Thunderbolt-certified bus-powered” enclosure, OWC Envoy Express operates using a single cable and owners can upgrade to larger NVMe storage as their needs change. Continue reading to learn more.

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