This SSD enclosure has become one of my most-used laptop accessories - here's why

This report reviews the $200 HyperDrive Next USB4 M.2 PCIe enclosure, highlighting its strong performance (tested over Thunderbolt 4 with a 4TB Samsung 9100 Pro NVMe SSD), achieving ~4,000 MB/s read and ~1,300 MB/s write with real-world transfers like a 10GB file in 25s and a 98GB game in 4m9s. It features an aluminum build with a silicone sleeve for IP55 protection, thermal pads, ridged heat dissipation, and dual Thunderbolt ports (data plus optional external power), and supports M.2 sizes 2230–2280. Installation is simple, but the product targets power users (e.g., videographers, content creators, AI developers) and requires systems with Thunderbolt 4/5; it’s compatible with Windows, macOS (12.4+), and iPadOS (13.4+). The review advises average users to opt for basic flash drives, external HDDs, or cloud storage given SSD cost and the accessory’s premium positioning.