3 days ago
9
HyperDrive Next USB4 M.2 PCIe enclosure
ZDNET's cardinal takeaways
- The HyperDrive Next USB4 M.2 PCIe enclosure is simply a $200 accessory that lets you usage NVMe SSDs for information storage.
- It ensures fantabulous work and constitute speeds arsenic good arsenic effectual vigor absorption successful a durable design.
- Using this accessory requires a machine with a Thunderbolt 4 port.
Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source on Google.
As a laptop reviewer, I regularly trial accessories that heighten the idiosyncratic experience. Most of the time, these are docking stations oregon monitors. But I sometimes travel crossed thing wholly antithetic that changes the mode I usage a laptop. A lawsuit successful constituent is the HyperDrive Next USB M.4 PCIe enclosure.
It's an absorbing device. This enclosure has 1 use: to location SSDs and PCIe modules for information storage. With the close component, it efficaciously becomes a fancy flash drive. One that ensures speedy record absorption and, according to the company, the capableness to location instrumentality learning accelerators.
Why we similar it
By acold my favourite facet of the enclosure is its speed. The HyperDrive is built to present real-world show for professionals who often enactment with ample files. To spot however the accessory performs, I ran a bid of tests to measurement its information transportation speed.
For this scenario, I utilized the Acer Swift Edge 14 arsenic the cardinal computer. This laptop has a Thunderbolt 4 larboard disconnected to the side. Inside the enclosure was a 4TB Samsung 9100 Pro NVMe M.2 SSD. The cardinal numbers to ticker for regarding record transfers are work speed, which measures however rapidly a machine tin entree stored data, and constitute speed, which measures however rapidly a machine tin prevention caller files. Once everything was acceptable up, I ran these tests with CrystalDiskMark, an open-source benchmarking instrumentality that evaluates solid-state thrust performance.
With this setup, the Samsung SSD achieved work speeds of astir 4,000 MB/s and constitute speeds of astir 1,300 MB/s. Those are large numbers. Accessing files felt instantaneous. It took nary clip astatine each to unfastened the movie I stored wrong the drive. The work velocity besides shows that the enclosure isn't restricting the drive. It's making afloat usage of the Thunderbolt connection. Writing ample files is arsenic impressive, letting users prevention large files fast.
Also: As a Windows user, Samsung's archetypal Intel Panther Lake laptop is my sleeper deed of 2026
To enactment the constitute velocity into perspective, present are real-world record transfers that I performed. These numbers amusement that the HyperDrive enclosure supports accelerated large-file transfers, whether they're movies, video games, oregon multi-gigabyte media libraries:
- 10GB movie: 25 seconds
- 20GB movie: 50 seconds
- 22GB movie: 52 seconds
- 98GB video game: Four minutes and 9 seconds
- 50GB Google Takeout files: One infinitesimal and 36 seconds
Something to support successful caput is that show tin vary. It depends connected definite factors. For example, if your laptop has a Thunderbolt 5 port, you tin expect adjacent faster speeds.
The enclosure has a beauteous chill design, too, combining a sleek aluminum signifier origin with rugged durability. When placed successful its silicone sleeve, the accessory achieves an IP55 rating, protecting against particulate and tiny splashes of water. Along the enclosure assemblage are a bid of ridges. These summation the wide aboveground area, helping to merchandise vigor into the air. Customers besides person thermal pads that beryllium connected apical of the SSD to sorb much heat.
Also: This Lenovo laptop has nary concern being this bully for enactment - erstwhile it's made for gamers
Installation is precise straightforward. Pop unfastened the top, past descent the SSD oregon PCIe module into the receiving slot until it clicks into place.
Who the thrust is for
Typically, SSDs similar the Samsung 9100 Pro request to beryllium installed successful a PC to beryllium used. This enclosure efficaciously turns that thrust into a USB stick, similar the benignant you bargain astatine an electronics store. HyperDrive's accessory is meant for professionals who ain high-capacity, high-speed retention and request a mode to utilize it. I urge the instrumentality to videographers, contented creators, AI developers, and adjacent multimedia archivists looking to enactment their SSD instrumentality to bully use.
The enclosure supports aggregate M.2 sizes, including 2230, 2242, 2260, and 2280. On the front, the HyperDrive Next features 2 Thunderbolt ports: 1 for information transportation and 1 for outer power-in. Certain high-performance NVMe SSDs whitethorn necessitate an outer powerfulness root to support highest work and constitute speeds.
Using the 2nd larboard doesn't boost speeds. I tried this approach, and the enclosure maintained the aforesaid precocious speeds mentioned earlier. If you request the other input, it's there, but from my experience, it's not essential.
Who should look elsewhere?
The HyperDrive enclosure is not for the mean user. By itself, it does nothing. You'll request an NVMe SSD to marque it work, and astatine the clip of writing, mean SSD prices person changeable up. The 4TB Samsung 9100 Pro that I utilized for investigating presently costs implicit $780. Granted, determination are plentifulness of SSDs connected merchantability that are overmuch cheaper than the 9100 Pro. Still, you volition request to wage extra.
Also: How overmuch RAM does your PC truly request successful 2026? A Windows and Mac expert's opinion
For astir people, I urge sticking to a basal flash drive, outer hard drive, oregon unreality retention to negociate files. The HyperDrive is simply a premium accessory built for powerfulness users.
ZDNET's buying advice
The HyperDrive Next USB4 M.2 PCIe enclosure is connected merchantability for $200. Buyers should cautiously cheque strategy compatibility earlier purchasing. A cardinal regulation is that it requires a machine with a Thunderbolt 4 larboard (Thunderbolt 5 is fine). Without this port, the enclosure volition not work. This regulation applies to some Windows 11 PCs, Macs, and iPads -- yes, the accessory works with iPads.
If you're readying to usage this accessory with Apple hardware, marque definite your Mac is moving MacOS 12.4 oregon later, and your iPad is moving iPadOS 13.4 oregon later.
English (US) ·