OWC Envoy Pro SX SSD 1TB
Thunderbolt-only external drive
£345.99 FROM Other World Computing, macsales.com FEATURES 1TB solid-state drive, Thunderbolt 3 port (Thunderbolt 3 cable included); works with Thunderbolt/USB 4 Macs, Bus-powered; dust and water resistant to IP67
Looking for some additional offboard storage for a space-constrained MacBook? If so, or if you need a pro-level drive for life on the road or something quick and reliable for Time Machine backups, OWC’s Envoy Pro series does all that and how – we raved about the Envoy Pro FX in MF364, now here comes it’s ever so slightly cheaper, black-clad cousin.
The superlatives that applied to that drive still apply here. You get a crush-proof, dust-proof, waterproof drive (IP67) that’s as tough on the outside as it is speedy on the inside; our 5GB Blackmagic Disk Speed Test benchmarks peaking at 1,872.3MB/s (write) and 2,477MB/s (read), the latter of which is only a little way short of OWC’s published figure of 2,847MB/s. The drive made light work of our 5GB Photos library, copying from iMac to drive in around 17 seconds, and back again in just under 10. OWC’s own drive software includes a one-year subscription to Acronis True Image if you don’t want to use Time Machine for backups.
The only reason not to buy this drive is its choice of connectivity – where the Envoy Pro FX works with Thunderbolt/USB4 and USB 3 Type-A (thanks to an inline USB-C to USB-A adapter), the Envoy Pro SX is limited to Thunderbolt/USB 4 – that explains the £20 difference in price, although you could always use the SX with an adaptor. Otherwise the drives work and perform identically. Rob Mead-Green