HyperDrive Next USB4 M.2 PCIe enclosure
ZDNET Highlights
- The HyperDrive Next USB4 M.2 PCIe Enclosure is a $200 accessory that lets you use NVMe SSDs for data storage.
- It ensures excellent read and write speeds as well as effective heat management in a durable design.
- Using this accessory requires a computer with a Thunderbolt 4 port.
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As a laptop reviewer, I regularly test accessories that enhance the user experience. Most of the time, these are docking stations or monitors. But sometimes I find something completely different that changes the way I use my laptop. One case is this HyperDrive Next USB M.4 PCIe enclosure.
This is an interesting device. This enclosure has one use: to house SSDs and PCIe modules for data storage. With the right components, it effectively becomes a fancy flash drive. One that ensures quick file management and, according to the company, the ability to have a machine learning accelerator.
why we like it
By far my favorite aspect of the enclosure is its speed. HyperDrive is built to provide real-world performance for professionals who frequently work with large files. To see how the accessory performs, I ran a series of tests to measure its data transfer speeds.
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For this scenario, I used the Acer Swift Edge 14 as the central computer. This laptop has a Thunderbolt 4 port on the side. there was one inside the enclosure 4TB Samsung 9100 Pro NVMe M.2 SSD. The key numbers to note regarding file transfers are read speed, which measures how fast the computer can access stored data, and write speed, which measures how fast the computer can save new files. Once everything was set up, I ran these tests crystaldiskmarkAn open-source benchmarking tool that evaluates solid-state drive performance.
With this setup, the Samsung SSD achieved read speeds of about 4,000 MB/s and write speeds of about 1,300 MB/s. Those are big numbers. Access to files felt instant. It took no time at all to open the movies I had stored inside the drive. The read speed also shows that the enclosure is not restricting the drive. It is making full use of the Thunderbolt connection. Writing larger files is equally efficient, allowing users to save larger files faster.
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To put write speeds into perspective, here are real-world file transfers I performed. These numbers indicate that the HyperDrive enclosure supports fast large-file transfers, whether they’re movies, video games, or multi-gigabyte media libraries:
- 10GB Movie: 25 seconds
- 20GB Movie: 50 seconds
- 22GB Movie: 52 sec
- 98GB Video Game: Four Minutes and Nine Seconds
- 50GB Google Takeout files: one minute and 36 seconds
One thing to keep in mind is that performance may vary. It depends on some factors. For example, if your laptop has a Thunderbolt 5 port, you can expect even faster speeds.
The enclosure design is also great, combining a sleek aluminum form factor with strong durability. When housed in its silicone sleeve, the accessory achieves an IP55 rating, which protects against dust and small splashes of water. There are a series of ridges along the body of the enclosure. These increase the overall surface area, which helps release heat into the air. Customers also get thermal pads that sit on top of the SSD to absorb more heat.
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Installation is very straightforward. Pop open the top, then slide the SSD or PCIe module into the receiving slot until it clicks into place.
what is the drive for
Typically, an SSD like the Samsung 9100 Pro needs to be installed in a PC to be used. This enclosure effectively turns that drive into a USB stick, like one you buy from an electronics store. The HyperDrive accessory is for professionals who have high capacity, high speed storage and need a way to use it. I recommend this device to videographers, content creators, AI developers, and even multimedia archivists who want to put their SSD stick to good use.
The enclosure supports multiple M.2 sizes including 2230, 2242, 2260 and 2280. On the front, the HyperDrive Next has two Thunderbolt ports: one for data transfer and one for external power-in. Some high-performance NVMe SSDs may require an external power source to maintain peak read and write speeds.
Using another port does not increase the speed. I tried this approach, and the enclosure maintained the same high speeds mentioned earlier. If you need additional input, it’s there, but from my experience, it’s not necessary.
Who should look elsewhere?
The HyperDrive enclosure is not for the average user. By itself, it does nothing. You’ll need an NVMe SSD to make it work, and at the time of writing, average SSD prices have gone up. The 4TB Samsung 9100 Pro that I used for testing currently costs more than $780. Granted, there are plenty of SSDs available on sale that are much cheaper than the 9100 Pro. Still, you will have to pay extra.
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For most people, I recommend sticking to a basic flash drive, external hard drive, or cloud storage for managing files. The HyperDrive is a premium accessory built for power users.
ZDNET’s shopping advice
HyperDrive Next USB4 M.2 PCIe The attachment is on sale for $200. Buyers should check system compatibility carefully prior to purchase. One main limitation is that it requires a computer with a Thunderbolt 4 port (Thunderbolt 5 is fine). Without this port, the enclosure will not function. This limitation applies to both Windows 11 PCs, Macs, and iPads – yes, the accessory works with iPads.
If you plan to use this accessory with Apple hardware, make sure your Mac is running MacOS 12.4 or later, and your iPad is running iPadOS 13.4 or later.
