Ugreen's new M.2 SSD enclosure takes drives up to 8TB

Turning a spare M.2 SSD into a fast pocket drive is one of the cheapest storage upgrades around, and Ugreen has a new box for it. The company has quietly launched an aluminium M.2 NVMe enclosure in two speed grades, Notebookcheck reports. The "8TB" in the listings is the largest drive it accepts. The enclosure comes empty, so you supply the SSD.

Two speeds, one design

There is a 10Gbps model using USB 3.2 Gen 2 and a 20Gbps model. Ugreen's marketing names the faster version's interface as "USB 3.0 Gen 2", which Notebookcheck says is an error: 20Gbps over USB requires USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. Apart from speed, the two versions are identical.

The catch with Gen 2x2 is the host. Many computers, including Macs, don't support it, and a 20Gbps enclosure plugged into them runs at 10Gbps. Check your laptop's port specs before paying extra.

Fits most M.2 drive sizes up to 8TB

The enclosure takes 2230, 2242, 2260 and 2280 NVMe SSDs, so it works with the long drives used in desktops and the short ones found in handhelds and some ultrabooks. It accepts drives up to 8TB. Ugreen says installation takes four steps. The housing is aluminium, which keeps the weight down and, together with a thermal pad, helps carry heat away from the SSD.

A built-in cable and a USB-A adapter

Instead of a separate lead, a braided USB-C cable is built into the body and can be held in place with an adjustable clip, so there is nothing to forget at home. A USB-C to USB-A adapter in the box covers older PCs, TVs and consoles. There is also a status light.

Price and the fine print

On Amazon, Ugreen lists the 10Gbps model at $29.99 and the 20Gbps model at $39.99, discounted to $34.99 at the time of Notebookcheck's report. At that price the faster version is the better buy, but only if your computer has a Gen 2x2 port. Notebookcheck's report does not mention other regions.

Two more tips. External drives slow down if they overheat during long copies, and an aluminium body helps with that. If you are choosing parts for a new machine, internal storage and memory still matter more, as our guides to how much RAM you need and laptops for local AI explain. And if you connect drives to a phone or tablet, our USB-C charger guide explains why not every USB-C port is the same.