This mini SSD enclosure transformed my data management – and I never leave home without it

Data transfer is a large aspect of my day-to-day life. I’m constantly moving photos, videos, and more between my devices. One of the annoying aspects of transferring is how long it takes to move large amounts of data. I didn’t have a way to move files directly, so I used Google Drive as a hub, but using the service as intended takes a long time. 

I thought I was stuck with slow speeds, until I tried out the Satechi Mini NVMe SSD Enclosure, a device I didn’t even know I wanted.

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Satechi’s enclosure serves as a “house” for 2230mm NVMe SSDs, allowing users to plug them directly into a computer via USB-C. There’s no need for installation, effectively turning the small SSD into a flash drive. However, you will need to own the NVMe hardware, and therein lies the device’s biggest problem: it’s expensive to use.

2230mm NVMe SSDs aren’t cheap. My 1TB WD_Black SN700M drive costs about $100. Still, the price is worth the performance you get. For testing, I transferred several 4K movies and video games between devices via the Satechi Enclosure to see how it performed, and the results were impressive. 

Moving a 21GB movie to my laptop took about 30 seconds, and sending an 85GB game took roughly two minutes to complete. Transferring my 4K photos took no time; it was instantaneous.

Keep in mind that these speeds depend on your computer having 10Gbps USB-A ports. My desktop, which only has 5Gbps USB-A ports, saw longer receiving times. It took about a full minute to transfer the 21GB movie and nearly four minutes for the 85GB game. file

It also seems heat increases transfer times. Moving the large game file to my Asus ROG Ally took nearly 15 minutes after the handheld began overheating. On the back of the Satechi Enclosure is a cooling fan that automatically activates when temperatures rise.

I had hoped that the fan, along with a cooled-down ROG Ally, would improve transfer times for the 85-gig game, but it didn’t. The process still took 15 minutes to complete during the second time. So If you have large files to move, be aware that transferring may take longer than expected. From what I can tell, your experience will vary from product to product.

I also have to talk about Satechi’s SSD enclosure design because I found it fascinating. Unlike your generic USB dongle, the device is made from an aluminum casing with a scratch-resistant sliding glass panel protecting the drive inside. This tough exterior makes the enclosure well-suited for travel. It even comes with a braided extension cord for hooking onto bags or having the dongle rest on the side.  

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Connecting via the cable feels more secure than having the dongle stick out of a computer. I just wish Satechi gave a better way to protect the plug itself. The package offers a little plastic cap, which I lost almost immediately.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Satechi Mini NVMe SSD Enclosure is currently on sale for $60 on the company’s website. It’s compatible with Windows 11, ChromeOS, Linux, and recent macOS, iOS, and Linux versions. However, only a select group of devices support the dongle, including the M4 MacBook Pro and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio.

Satechi’s website also provides a detailed list of supported hardware and operating systems. A company representative told me that the device works with certain Android phones and that they would update the listing to include those models. However, that information is still missing at the time of this writing.