Review: OWC's Envoy Ultra SSD Delivers Thunderbolt 5 Transfer Speeds

Thunderbolt 5 is simply a exertion that's lone precocious been adopted by Apple, and Thunderbolt 5 SSDs aren't yet common. Other World Computing, oregon OWC, has 1 of the archetypal Thunderbolt 5 SSDs connected the market.


The bus-powered Envoy Ultra is priced starting astatine $330, and it comes successful 2TB oregon 4TB capacities. The SSD has a premium feel, with a achromatic aluminum enclosure and an interior plan meant to dissipate heat. It's not the astir compact SSD, measuring successful astatine 5.1 inches long, 3 inches wide, and 0.8 inches thick. It weighs 0.75 pounds, truthful portion it tucks distant easy successful a bag, you're not going to privation to haul it astir successful a pocket.


According to OWC, the SSD has an IP67 particulate and h2o absorption rating, truthful it tin clasp up to impermanent immersion successful h2o (though marque definite the cablegram extremity is adust earlier use). It's hefty and durable, but connected a antagonistic note, it has a built-in 9-inch Thunderbolt 5 cablegram that is not detachable. I americium not a instrumentality of built-in cables, but it does consciousness securely attached. How it'll clasp up for years of usage remains to beryllium seen.

The SSD tin scope speeds up to doubly arsenic accelerated arsenic Thunderbolt 4/USB4 SSDs, maxing retired astatine implicit 6,000MB/s. In investigating with an M4 Pro MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt 5, I didn't rather deed that maximum. In benchmark tests with BlackMagic, it maxed retired astir 5,255MB/s constitute and 5,347MB/s read. Real satellite record tests were ace quick, with 50GB transferring successful astir 15 seconds.

According to OWC, with sustained record transfers, constitute speeds volition driblet to astir 1,350MB/s for the 2TB exemplary and 1,700MB/s for the 4TB model, portion work speeds enactment consistent. I saw that dip successful constitute speeds astatine astir the 55GB mark.


Even erstwhile transferring ample amounts of data, the Envoy Ultra did not get much than lukewarm, and since there's nary instrumentality inside, it offers soundless operation.

To instrumentality vantage of the afloat velocity of the Envoy Ultra, you request a machine that supports Thunderbolt 5. On the Mac side, that's Apple's latest Mac models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 Macs are backwards compatible with the SSD and you tin inactive usage it with them, but you're astir apt lone going to privation to opt for a Thunderbolt 5 SSD if you person the instrumentality for one.


If you bash person a Thunderbolt 5 Mac and privation the fastest transportation speeds you tin get for tasks similar moving immense video files around, you're not going to spell incorrect with the Envoy Ultra. It's good built, and comes from a reputable institution known for its drives.

You could get the Envoy Ultra for usage with an older Mac for the intent of aboriginal proofing, but the terms quality whitethorn not beryllium worthy it. There are truthful fewer Thunderbolt 5 SSDs connected the marketplace close now, truthful prices are connected the higher side. Of course, USB4/TB4 SSDs are besides not ace affordable, and the Envoy Ultra volition springiness you maximum Thunderbolt 4 speeds, too.


With an M1 Max ‌MacBook Pro‌, I got accordant read/write speeds close astir 3,000MB/s, truthful I did deed the Thunderbolt 4 limit.

2TB USB4 SSDs that run astatine fractional of the Envoy Ultra's velocity are priced astatine $180 to $250, and if you don't adjacent request USB4 speeds, 2TB SSDs tin beryllium nether $100.

Bottom Line

If you person a Thunderbolt 5 Mac oregon are going to get 1 successful the aboriginal and you request ace accelerated transportation speeds, cheque retired the Envoy Ultra. It's a coagulated merchandise and the lone downside for immoderate whitethorn beryllium the attached cable.

How to Buy

The Envoy Ultra tin beryllium purchased from the OWC website. The 2TB exemplary is priced astatine $330, and the 4TB exemplary is priced astatine $549.

Note: OWC provided MacRumors with a 2TB Envoy Ultra for the intent of this review. No different compensation was received.
This article, "Review: OWC's Envoy Ultra SSD Delivers Thunderbolt 5 Transfer Speeds" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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