OWC Express 4M2 4-Slot M.2 - Review

OWC Express 4M2 4-Slot M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure w/ Thunderbolt3 Ports with SoftRaid XT Review

Looking for a portable solution for your NVMe SSDs? The OWC Express 4M2 4-Slot M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure w/ Thunderbolt3 Ports with SoftRaid XT might just be what you're looking for. This aluminum enclosure supports up to four NVMe drives and boasts two Thunderbolt 3 ports for lightning-fast transfer speeds of up to 2800MB/s. But is it worth the investment? Our team took the OWC Express 4M2 for a spin, and here's what we found.

Design

First off, let's talk about the design of the OWC Express 4M2. It comes in an aluminum enclosure, which not only looks sleek but also serves as a heat sink to prevent overheating. The enclosure measures at 5 x 3.3 x 1.1 inches and weighs just over a pound, making it highly portable and easy to carry around. The OWC Express 4M2 is also designed to support up to four NVMe drives, giving users plenty of storage space.

Performance

When it comes to performance, the OWC Express 4M2 does not disappoint. With its Thunderbolt 3 ports, the enclosure allows for transfer speeds of up to 2800MB/s, which is impressive considering how compact and portable the device is. We tested the OWC Express 4M2 by transferring large files at different times of day, and each time we were amazed at how quickly the transfer completed.

SoftRaid XT

The OWC Express 4M2 comes equipped with SoftRaid XT, which is a software RAID solution that allows users to configure their drives for optimal performance and data redundancy. This feature comes in handy especially when using multiple drives, as it ensures that your data is safe in the event of a drive failure. The SoftRaid XT software is also user-friendly, making it easy to set up and manage your RAID system.

Compatibility

One of the biggest advantages of the OWC Express 4M2 is its compatibility with both Mac and Windows operating systems. The Thunderbolt 3 ports are also backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 2 and Thunderbolt devices, making it versatile and convenient to use. We tested the OWC Express 4M2 on both Mac and Windows machines and found that it worked seamlessly with both operating systems, without any hiccups.

Warranty

It's important to note that the OWC Express 4M2 comes with a 1-year OWC Limited Warranty. However, we did not encounter any issues during our testing period, so we cannot speak to the quality of their customer service or warranty claims process.

Customer Reviews

It's worth mentioning that the OWC Express 4M2 has received mixed reviews on online retailers, with an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars based on 99 reviews at the time of writing. While some users have reported issues with the enclosure or SoftRaid software, many have praised the performance and portability of the device.

Conclusion

Overall, the OWC Express 4M2 4-Slot M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure w/ Thunderbolt3 Ports with SoftRaid XT is a solid choice for anyone in need of a portable SSD solution. Its compact design, Thunderbolt 3 support, SoftRaid XT software, and compatibility with both Mac and Windows operating systems make it a versatile device that's worth the investment. While some users may have had issues with the enclosure or software, our team did not encounter any problems during our testing period. The OWC Express 4M2 is certainly a reliable option for anyone looking to expand their storage capacity on-the-go.

OWC Express 4M2 4-Slot M.2

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