Image: Thomas Bergbold
At a glance
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- High data transfer rates
- Compact dimensions
- Long USB-C connector fits with thick protective covers
Our Verdict
The M.2 NMVe Mini SSD enclosure is a good solution for power users who are looking for a fast but compact SSD enclosure.
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The Satechi M.2 NMVe Mini SSD enclosure is a hybrid USB stick and external SSD enclosure. Since it’s an enclosure, it doesn’t include the SSD module; you provide your own. You have to use the small 2230 mm M.2 SSDs, which can be tricky to find.
The enclosure has a very compact design, measuring 4.5 by 3 by 1.3 centimeters, and weighs just 35 grams. The housing is made of aluminium, and you can see the SSD through an integrated tempered glass window.
A fast SSD in a small housing often results in a device that gets warm (sometimes hot) to the touch. An active fan and air slots are used for cooling. The fan is temperature-controlled and the volume should fluctuate between 40 and 60 decibels. At 50 degrees Celsius, it reaches up to 10,000 revolutions per minute. Together with the integrated air slots, this should prevent thermal throttling. However, the fan runs continuously. If you use the M.2 NMVe Mini SSD enclosure with the iPhone, you should avoid using the internal iPhone microphones and use external microphones.
The USB-C device offers speeds 897MBps when writing and 995MBps when reading. Satechi includes a 20-centimeter extension cable.
Should you buy the Satechi M.2 NMVe Mini SSD?
If you are looking for a compact 2230 mm M.2 NVMe SSD enclosure that can be used on Mac, iPad, and iPhone, there are not many alternatives to the Satechi enclosure. It offers good speed, but its continuous fan might be an issue if noise is a concern.
This article originally appeared on our sister publication Macwelt and was translated and localized from German.
Author: Thomas Bergbold, Contributor
Thomas Bergbold is a freelancer for our German sister site Macwelt, for which he has written regularly since 2007. He has been an active Mac user since he came into contact with the Macintosh LC during his studies in the early 1990s. Through Performa and various Power Macintosh G3, G4 and G5, he remained loyal to the Macintosh as a media creator. The trained communications engineer has had a love for high-quality hi-fi devices and music reproduction since his school days. As a photographer and media professional in the creative industry, he relies on Apple products professionally and also enjoys passing on his knowledge in training courses.
