OWC Express 1M2 2TB: 30-second review

The OWC Express 1M2 is quite unique in the field of best external hard drives for several reasons. The first is that its available as an enclosure or as a ready-to-go storage solution, with a choice of capacities from 1 to 8TB. Then there's the look and styling that has been created to ensure that the drive inside remains cool, however demanding a task you have the drive working through. Those tasks can be anything from processing a range of spreadsheets or, more likely, being the hub of a video production or photoshoot. 

The aluminium outer casing has essentially been built as one large heat sink to ensure that even after hours of continued use, the drive remains fast and that any effects of thermal throttling are kept to a minimum. The design also means that there are no fans, so the drive runs nice and silent, no matter the load. The drive also incorporates the latest connection technology and offers transfer rates of up to 3151MB/s in real-world tests; this is well beyond the scope of most portable hard drives. Usually, these speeds are only reached by internal drives or dedicated working external systems. 

As with other OWC drives, the setup process is easy and essentially involves a plug-and-play approach with a single cable that connects the drive to the computer, providing both power and data transfer. The connection type is USB-C (40Gb/s), which is one of the fastest connections out there and will enable the smooth data transfers needed for 4 and 8-K video editing.

While the drive comes APFS formatted, you do have the option to use the OWC Drive Guide (Mac) software that's included on the drive to change the format to an older Mac file system or ExFat for cross-compatibility with Windows. As the drive is Mac formatted, it won't initially be viewable or accessible on a PC; however, the drive can be formatted in that ExFat format using the OWC Drive Guide (Mac) on a Mac, or you can download the trial of the OWC MacDrive software to access the disk and format it to the correct file format for use. 

When it comes to size the drive is slightly larger than most of the best portable SSDs we've tested; however, with the performance that it offers, that's not an issue, and while it may be a touch larger, it's still relatively lightweight. Using the drive for editing 4K video on Final Cut Pro X, the speed and ease of use is seamless with no reliability issues, with the drive providing the performance that you would usually expect from an internal SSD. 

OWC Express 1M2 2TB: Price & availability

The OWC Express 1M2 is a premium price for its capacity, but this is balanced by the build quality and performance, which is pretty much unmatched in the market. It's available directly from OWC's website and through various authorised retailers. Prices vary depending on the storage capacity chosen, with options ranging up to 8TB. The drive includes a three-year warranty for the complete solution or two years for the enclosure.

• Score: 4/5

OWC Express 1M2 2TB: Design & build

A glance at the OWC Express 1M2, and you could easily mistake it for a huge heat sink, with its full aluminium build and gill-like design that helps to dissipate the heat. The Aluminium used is of aircraft-grade quality and, therefore, provides strength and protection around the internal SSD even when thrown in a kit back with little to no other protection. In our review sample, which is at the lower end of the capacity options, there's fitted a 2TB SSD, but there are other options at 1, 2, 4, or 8TB. The design of the drive also means that it's available with a drive installed or empty.

While the drive's full metal build gives it a strong and robust design and feel, measuring 23mm (0.9 in), length 132 mm (5.2 in), and width 70 mm (2.8 in), it does feel relatively light at 253.0 g (0.56 lbs) and this helps to ensure that it remains highly portable. 

On the base  are two long rubber pads that help it to stay in position, which can be useful when working out in the field, and surface space is often at a premium. Under one of these feet are the screws that enable you to replace the SSD with a larger capacity if you require it in the future. 

On the back is the USB Type-C port. This is a USB4, up to 40 Gb/s (or 5000 MB/s), which is far in excess of most standard portable SSDs and further highlights that this drive is focused towards high-demand applications such as video, audio, and photography. 

Inside the box, along with the drive, is a USB-C cable. While the drive is USB 4, it is fully backwards compatible with any compatible connector, although the maximum transfer speeds will vary depending on the device.

• Design & build: 5/5

OWC Express 1M2 2TB: Features

The OWC Express 1M2 is a portable SSD design with ultra-fast performance and reliability at its heart, and as such, it is able to reach up to 3151MB/s, as quoted by OWC, in real-world scenarios. This speed should ensure that larger files, projects, and applications can be handled smoothly with a performance that is similar, if not the same, to that of your internal SSD. This will make it an ideal solution for video editing as well as any other task that requires a large amount of data to be accessed, written to, or moved at speed. 

Our review sample arrived pre-configured with 2TB storage, which is one of OWC's superb NVMe Aura SSDs. However, you can also build your drive to your specifications with support for various NVMe M.2 SSD sizes (2230, 2242, and 2280).

While most high-demand applications have traditionally been confined to the Studio or Office, the speed and performance of the USB4, Thunderbolt, and USB-C connections allow most equipped laptops to make the most of the capacity and speed out in the field. With the drive's BUS-powered connection, only one cable is needed for both power and data making it an easy solution for use out in the field.

As the drive has been designed to be portable at a professional level, the outer casing made from aircraft-grade Aluminium serves a dual purpose. It offers rugged protection for the SSD while maintaining silence, and the metal design also acts as an effective cooling system that will help sustain top speeds. 

Finally, the drive is backed by a three-year warranty or a two-year warranty for the enclosure.

• Features 4/5

OWC Express 1M2 2TB: Performance

Getting started with the OWC Express 1M2 is easy enough with the plug-and-play nature when used on Mac systems, meaning that it's ready to go. However, the onboard "OWC Drive Guide (Mac)" recommends fresh formatting provided by the software, and this enables you to select from four options: to stay with APFS, use the older HFS, go for ExFat for cross-compatibility with PCs, or to do it manually. 

In this test, we started with the APFS option and then used Disk Utility to reformat the drive in the ExFat for use on your PC. If you're a PC user, you will need a Mac to reformat the drive to a PC-recognisable format. Alternatively, you can use the OWC MacDrive software trial to help you get started. This software essentially enables you to see Mac Drive on a PC and is very useful if you're used to using both systems

When it came to the benchmark tests, the OWC Express 1M2 delivers exceptional performance, making it ideal for various professional and creative tasks. With read speeds of 3002MB/s and write speeds of 2994MB/s in AJA System Test Lite, it handles large file transfers and data-intensive tasks with ease. ATTO results show even higher read speeds of 3130MB/s and write speeds of 3200MB/s, confirming its capability for high-speed data processing. The AmorphousDiskMark scores, with read speeds of 3203.26MB/s and write speeds of 2608.04MB/s, further highlight its suitability for demanding applications such as Final Cut Pro X and DaVinci Resolve.

For creative professionals, the Express 1M2 is well-suited for tasks such as video editing, where the high read and write speeds are essential to ensure smooth playback and quick rendering of 4K and higher resolution video if you're a photographer. The ability to handle large RAW file transfers and quick access times is ideal for backup and fast access and saves when using Photoshop. Audio professionals will also appreciate the fast data access and transfer rates for managing large audio files and multitrack sessions.

In an office setting, the 1M2'sss 1M2's high-speed performance, while nice to have, could be seen as a little overkill. File transfers and data backups are faster, but in reality, there are far cheaper solutions out there that will do the job at the speed you need. 

Overall, the OWC 1M2'sss 1M2's benchmarks are impressive and highlight that it is an excellent choice for creative users who need reliable and fast portable storage for video, audio, and photography. 

• Performance: 5/5

Should you buy the OWC Express 1M2 2TB?

The OWC Express 1M2 is a superb portable SSD, offering some of the fastest transfer rates for this size of drive on the market. Not only that, but the build quality is superb. This impressive speed and rugged build make it a perfect choice for professionals and creatives who require reliable, high-performance storage on the go. The higher price point is justified by its quality and features, making it a worthwhile investment, but for office users, this builds quality, and performance could be a lot better.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Using the PNY RP60 to store creative assets? We tested the best monitors for photo editing

OWC Envoy Pro Mini: 30-second review

The OWC Envoy Pro Mini takes a different approach to storage than most of the best portable SSDs we've tried - offering the capacity and speed of an external SSD in the compact form of a USB stick. The high-quality full aluminium build not only gives it a premium feel but also ensures durability. The design features a flip-over protective lid that enables you to switch from USB Type-A to Type-C connectors quickly. Our review unit features a 256GB capacity with the full line-up ranging from 256GB to 2TB of storage. Transfer rates up to 946MB/s are also impressive, which means that the OWC Envoy Pro Mini is ideal for mass storage and can be used as a working drive.

However, there could be some drawbacks to consider. The compact size, while convenient, could also make it easy to misplace. Additionally, as the drive is so small, it's likely to get hot during intensive use, such as video editing, which could impact performance. So the question is, will the OWC Envoy Pro Mini be able to deliver its full potential as one of the most compact and portable hard drives on the market?

OWC Envoy Pro Mini: Price & availability

The OWC Envoy Pro Mini is available for purchase directly from the OWC website and various authorized retailers. Pricing starts at $79.00 for the 250GB model and goes up to $199.00 for the 2TB model. The Envoy Pro Mini includes a USB-C (40Gb/s) cable, a protective cap, and a lanyard. It comes with a three-year OWC Limited Warranty.

• Score: 4/5

OWC Envoy Pro Mini: Design & build

The OWC Envoy Pro Mini offers the capacity and speed of an external SSD but in the compact form of a USB stick rather than a more traditionally shaped and sized portable hard drive. At first glance, there is little to tell this apart from an aforementioned USB stick, aside from its slightly lengthier body and the fact that it has a full metal build. Still, it remains small and compact, and inside the tough outer casing, our review unit features 256GB of high-speed storage, which can offer transfer rates up to 946MB/s.

The OWC Envoy Pro Mini is small, weighing in at 26g and measuring 11 x 80 x 17mm, with the all-metal exterior providing durability and that premium feel. At one end is a protective metal cap that covers the USB Type-C port, while at the other end is a blue LED status light that flashes to show the status and activity. The high build quality is evident throughout the design of the drive, with a textured section that, when pulled out, pivots around a central joint to reveal the USB Type-A connector. The addition of a lanyard hole is a nice design feature and helps enhance the design further. 

• Design & build: 4/5

OWC Envoy Pro Mini: Features

The OWC Envoy Pro Mini brings the performance of a full-sized SSD to a device that fits comfortably in your pocket. Its sleek, thumb drive-sized design offers high-speed storage that you can take anywhere. What's more, it's universally compatible, featuring plug-and-play functionality with USB or Thunderbolt (USB-C) ports on Macs, PCs, iPads, Chromebooks, Android tablets, and Surface devices.

When it comes to speed, the Envoy Pro Mini shouldn't disappoint, with OWC stating real-world data transfer rates of up to 946MB/s. This means that whether you're working with large multimedia files, backing up crucial data, or launching applications, this drive provides the speed you need. That combination of speed and capacity ensures versatility and makes it a great solution for a variety of uses, such as pro audio, photography, graphics, gaming, and general data storage or backup.

If you're concerned about data protection, then the Envoy Pro Mini is compatible with Apple Time Machine and Windows File History, which means that this no-fuss USB Stick design will act as an ideal solution for use with those systems to back up your files. While not strictly a professional use for the drive, it can be used as a storage solution for PlayStation and Xbox consoles, providing additional space and quick load times. When needed. Additionally, if you have presentations and video, then again, those fast transfer speeds and capacity means that it can essentially act as an entertainment hub, enabling you to playback presentations, videos, and music and view pictures on your Smart TV or projector just by simply plugging the drive into the USB port.

The Envoy Pro Mini isn't just for storage; it can also be used as a bootable drive, enabling you to start up your system and launch applications. This is a great solution for both Mac and Linux users, and those using Windows will be able to launch some applications and extras directly from the drive, helping to free up valuable disk space and an easy way to increase storage media for laptops. 

One of the key design elements is the slim design that ensures that adjacent ports remain accessible. Being small, like most other portable SSDs, it is bus-powered, meaning that the single USB connection will provide all the power that it needs to run. 

Being small, heat is a consideration, and the heat-dissipating machined aluminium housing helps to ensure that the Envoy Pro Mini makes little, if any, audible noise and should remain cool even during intensive tasks.

• Features 4/5

OWC Envoy Pro Mini: Performance

For those looking for the best external hard drive for Mac, the OWC Envoy Pro Mini comes pre-formatted in the advanced Apple APFS file system, which ensures maximum compatibility with macOS. While it comes with the system installed, you can reformat into NTFS or ExFat if you want to use this on a Windows PC, although it's worth doing this PC-compatible formating on a Mac first.

To make things easy, the drive comes with the "OWC Drive Guide (Mac)" application, which is ready to load from the drive. This application is a once-run app that enables you to select several options, from the latest APFS to the older Mac OS Extended; there's also the ExFat option. To get started with the drive, it's recommended to start on a Mac, as some PCs won't recognise the drive until it has been formatted utilising the onboard software app. 

Once the file system is in place, the original factory-installed contents of the drive are wiped and replaced with a single PDF with a QR code that will take you to the getting started guides, manuals, and FAQs. So, there's plenty of additional information, including support if you need it. However, once set up, there's little not to understand—plug it in, and off you go! 

In performance tests, the OWC Envoy Pro Mini delivered impressive results with read speeds of 828MB/s and write speeds of 927MB/s when tested in AJA System Test Lite. This makes it suitable for demanding tasks such as video editing and large file transfers. Depending on the software and type of test run, the results varied, as you'll see in the benchmark result. Still, as a general rule throughout the testing, the Pro Mini was an excellent storage option when additional fast access storage was required for both backup and as a working drive. 

• Performance: 4/5

Should you buy the OWC Envoy Pro Mini?

The OWC Envoy Pro Mini is a great storage solution. Its small size, large capacity options, and speed make it an all-around great option for anyone who needs to store large files out in the field. While the drive is designed for Mac users, and in the post part, you will need a Mac to get up and running initially, you can opt to format it in the ExFat files system so that it can be used between both Mac and PC systems.

When it comes to design, the SSD's USB stick style means that it can slip easily into a pocket, or with the small lanyard, you can pop it into a bag and keep it safely secured on an internal loop if one is available. 

In use, the dual USB Type-A or C gives you plenty of options, especially when transporting between Mac, PC and other systems. The transfer rates of large files are incredibly quick, meaning that you can back up files from a shoot at speed, as well as use the drive as working storage media which is a huge asset. While the transfer rates do enable you to use the OWC Envoy Pro Mini as a working drive, it can get hot, although it is surprisingly well-balanced, especially when it's used for video editing. In reality, it's a great working drive for photos, but it's best to push it on time with video editing, however able it seems. 

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

For more storage solutions, we tested the fastest SSDs

SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB: 30-second review

The SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB is small and quiet, unlike traditional boxy and large desktop storage drives that are commonplace in workspaces worldwide. It is altogether smaller and more stylish, with an ultrafast internal 8TB SSD and a promise of a 16TB version to be released later this year.

The drive is, in principle, a straightforward desktop drive for use with a single computer with a USB Type-C connection to ensure speed and an external power source provided through a standard AC socket rather than drawing BUS power from the computer's USB ports.

In use, the drive is simple enough. It is plug-and-play for most computing systems and arrives formatted in the ExFat file system. This means that it's easy to swap between Mac and PC systems if required; if not, it can be reformatted into one of the more secure options, such as NTFS or APFS, which will also boost the performance and some computing options for those systems.

This drive will really appeal to laptop users who are often limited on internal space. The Desk Drive not only expands the space for large-scale 3D, image, and video projects but also offers transfer speeds through the USB Type-C connection so that it can be used as a working drive as well as for archiving files.

Like any of the best portable SSDs we've tested, once connected, the drive will appear as any other external drive. It can be used for file backup with Time Machine on the Mac or Acronis True Image on the PC. Alternatively, it can be used as a straight storage drive with an off-site solution. The beauty here is that the transfer rates are at a speed that the drive and capacity are not only sufficient for archiving your files but also as a viable working drive for large file types such as video, image, and 3D.

As large-capacity storage solutions go, the SanDisk Desk Drive perfectly balances speed, capacity, and price, making it ideal for any home or small office as a fast, reliable storage solution.

SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB: Price & availability

The SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB has a SRP £663.99 / $699.99, and the smaller 4TB version is available for SRP £359.99 / $379.99. Later in the year, a 16TB version will also be available, although the price is still to be confirmed. The drive is widely available and can be purchased directly from Western Digital

• Score: 4.5/5

SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB: Design & build

The SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB is considerably smaller than most desktop hard drives, which makes it easy to place on the desk or neatly under the monitor. The actual design is simple, and with the slightly concaved top rather than flat, it seems perfectly formed for small office items such as paperclips and coins!

The size and shape also make it easy to pick up and move, and at 268g, it has just enough weight to act as a convenient paperweight when not in use. That weight also helps with positioning it around the desk, meaning that while lightweight, it's not lightweight enough to be easily knocked from position.

Connection-wise, the drive features a single USB Type-C connection directly into the machine and an AC power socket that fits directly into a standard AC wall socket in the same way as any traditional desktop drive. These two cables keep things relatively neat at the back with no mess of extra cables. Unlike some larger drives, there are no additional USB ports for linking, pass-through, or hub features; this is simply a direct external drive for use by an individual at their desk.

Once the drive is in position and connected to power and the desktop, it quickly appears on the Mac desktop or can be accessed through Windows, depending on your system of choice. The drive comes preformatted in the ExFat file system for maximum compatibility but can be reformatted quickly to suit your preferred system. If you use both, you can stick with ExFat.

Once done, the drive can be used as with any other desktop drive or linked into a backup solution such as Time Machine on the Mac or with Acronis True Image for Western Digital backup software, which can be downloaded from the Western Digital website.

• Score: 4.5/5

SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB: Features

The SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB offers plenty of storage capacity, with the 8TB version that we're looking at in this review being suitable for most medium-sized usage individuals who might shoot images and video as part of their workload and need the speed to access those files quickly as well as archive them with the ability to gain access to them at speed without the need to dig through a server. The 4TB version, although smaller, is still a substantial capacity and would be better suited to those working with documents and the occasional use of image and video files. The larger 16TB version would be ideal for videographers in small businesses who just need plenty of storage to back up their projects after an edit or need the additional capacity for working projects.

One of the features that really makes the SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB stand out is the fast transfer speeds, with read speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s and write speeds of up to 900 MB/s, making it significantly faster than traditional desktop hard disk drives and many of the other solutions offered by Western Digital at present.

For many users, the SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB will also make a perfect solution for backing up all their work through applications such as Apple Time Machine or the downloadable Acronis True Image for Western Digital software. Both of these applications can be used to back up your desktop machine to the SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB to ensure that you always have two local copies of your files. Of course, it's always good practice, especially in a business environment, to have another backup of your files either to a NAS or off-site cloud solution.

One of the most appealing aspects of the Desk Drive is its small size, which makes it far easier to position than many of the more traditional desktop hard drives. The fact that it also utilizes its own power supply means that its performance is more consistent than that of portable external hard drives.

Out of the box, the SanDisk Desk Drive comes in the exFAT file format, which is compatible with both Windows and macOS systems. It uses a USB Type-C connection for connectivity.

Finally, the drive comes with a three-year limited warranty to ensure that your investment is sound for at least a few years.

• Score 4.5/5

SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB: Performance

When it came to testing the drive, the advertised transfer speeds offered a few more options than more traditional HDD desktop drives. So, alongside the speed tests, the drive was used as a working drive for some of the best video editing software and best photo editors available to see if it could facilitate the delivery of large files and complex computing.

Starting with using the drive on a PC with Adobe Photoshop and copying 1TB of image files from an OWC CFExpress Type-B card, the transfer rate was impressive. Files crossed over through the Atlas CFexpress 4.0 Type B reader in a little under two minutes.

In use, the drive worked perfectly for photography, with the speed of downloading the image files from a CFExpress Type-B card to the storage helping to speed up the workflow. A full selection of files from a day's shoot, some 1200 files, both JPEG and RAW, could be downloaded in a little under two minutes. When opening Adobe Bridge to browse the files, the application and drive worked fast enough for the thumbnails to generate and display in good time; likewise, opening and saving files was seamless without pause or delay.

Switching to the more intensive video workflow and again using 4K video captured on the Canon EOS R5 C, the drive fed the files to Final Cut Pro at a rate that enabled smooth video editing without dropped frames. The machine (MacBook Pro 16-inch M1) started to struggle with projects greater than 10 minutes in length rather than any issue with the speed of the content delivery from the drive.

To back up the real-world tests, where the small drive performed well, the benchmark tests also showed impressive results across the board, with the overall transfer rates exceeding those stated by Western Digital.

When it comes to other features, the SanDisk Desk Drive is somewhat limited - you have access to all the backup features offered by the Acronis True Image software, and this is simple to use. On the drive are installed link files for both Mac and PC, and although these are executable files, they simply take you to the download page on the Western Digital website. Once there, you scroll down to the download link for the Mac or PC version - it's simple enough, but the downloads page is generic for all of their products, so not all software on this page is appropriate for this drive, which is worth noting.

While Acronis is a great piece of software, and the implementation here is excellent, enabling you to set source and destination locations for your files, this software really is about the backup of files rather than management. When it comes to security the software does enable you to do a clean wipe of the drive, however, if you're storing sensitive data on the drive there is no default facility to do this other than using a third party software option. For a drive of this type, some type of integral security would have been nice to see. 

Likewise, simplicity makes this drive easy to use. As a desktop drive, it will probably be plugged either directly into a hub or the machine it's being used by. It would have been nice to see an additional USB Type-C port so other accessories or card readers could be daisy-chained into the drive.

However, the pure simplicity of the design and ease of use is what should make this drive so appealing to anyone running a small or home office looking for decent amounts of storage capacity. 

• Score: 4/5

Should you buy the SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB?

The SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB is best suited for professionals in creative industries who handle large media files regularly and require quick, reliable access. It's also a great choice for those needing a robust backup solution for important data, combining speed with large capacity in a user-friendly format. This drive excels in environments where speed and capacity are critical, making it ideal for photographers, videographers, and digital artists.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

We've tested the best laptops for photo editing - and here's the ones we recommend checking out

Kanguru Defender 3000: 30-second review

The Kanguru Defender 3000, despite appearing to the uninformed like any other USB key due to its small, lightweight, and ultra-portable design, is far from average. Without the text and logo on its side, there would be nothing outwardly to suggest its advanced capabilities.

But this isn't your standard flash drive. In reality, it is a fully secure drive, FIPS 140-2 Certified, Level 3, with brute-force protection and FIPS 197 Certified AES 256-bit hardware encryption (XTS-Mode). It can be set up and controlled remotely using the Kanguru Remote Management Console, making it an ideal choice for business. It also features USBtoCloud, USB 3.0 technology (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) for fast transfer speeds, onboard antivirus, a browser, and a clever Self-Service Password Management system.

Given all these features, the Kanguru Defender 3000 is expensive compared to other secure digital drives. Still, only some other drives are used or trusted by so many top-level companies and agencies

The setup and use are straightforward with the newly designed Management Console, providing an easy-to-use and administer interface for the drive. It's worth highlighting that there are two interfaces; the Command Console on the drive that is used by the user to manage their drive, and KRMC (Kanguru Remote Management Console) which is a different console used separately by an IT Administrator or Security Officer to manage and provision all of the drives in an organization.

The user console enables individual users to set passwords and access parameters in case the drive is lost or stolen, ensuring the contents remain secure. For corporations, the KRMC (Kanguru Remote Management Console) can be used to adminster multiple drives from one location, so they can set access, protection, limit logins, and secure drives either in groups or individually.

While use of the drive, once set up, is simple, the level of security and device management it offers goes well beyond any typical password-protected drive. If you have data, whether financial, passwords, or other sensitive information, that you need to ensure is absolutely safe, then the Kanguru Defender 3000 is one of the best secure drives available.

Kanguru Defender 3000: Price & availability

The Kanguru Defender 3000 is widely available from online stores, including Amazon.com. Prices range from $79.95 to $399.95, and it can also be purchased directly from the Kanguru website.

• Score: 4/5

Kanguru Defender 3000: Design & build

The Kanguru Defender 3000 embodies the characteristics of a high-quality USB drive, with its all-metal alloy casing safeguarding the internal electronics. Additionally, the USB Type-A connector is protected by a cap with a rubber seal to prevent water ingress. The drive is rated as waterproof as long as the cap is firmly in place to offer enhanced protection against water and dust.

The full metal construction makes this drive heavier than its cheap plastic counterparts, at 38g. It measures 72.19mm L x 19.47mm W x 8.92mm H, making it convenient to slip into the bag or jacket's side pocket without adding significant weight or bulk.

A notable design feature is the small lanyard eyelet at the base, facilitating easy attachment to a bag. The drive uses a USB Type-A connector, ensuring maximum compatibility with Windows and PC machines. While USB Type-C is becoming more common, Type-A remains the prevalent choice for corporate Use.

The drive is built to withstand harsh conditions. Its operating temperature range is 0°C to +70°C and its storage temperature range is -25°C to +85°C, making it suitable for most environments. It can also function in humidity levels between 20% and 90%, provided the machine it is connected to can handle such extremes.

Internally, the drive offers options ranging from 16GB to 512GB of Solid-State flash memory. Our review sample is the smallest, at 16GB. Notably, the drive's interior, hidden from view, is designed to ensure maximum data protection. It features built-in brute-force protection, with a water-resistant epoxy compound encasing the cryptographic controller, preventing physical tampering. Any attempt to remove the epoxy will destroy the flash chip, rendering the drive irrecoverable.

Despite its exterior resemblance to a standard USB key, the Kanguru Defender 3000's design is far more sophisticated, intended to uphold the integrity and security of the stored data.

• Score: 4.5/5

Kanguru Defender 3000: Features

The features of the Kanguru Defender 3000 secure flash drive centre on data security, ensuring compliance with various regulatory standards. It holds a FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Certification, signifying its ability to secure sensitive information, making it a valuable asset for transporting data in sectors like government, healthcare, and finance.

The drive offers robust physical brute-force protection with its rugged alloy and tamper-proof engineering both inside and out. Enhanced by a water-resistant epoxy compound, it effectively shields the cryptographic controller, neutralizing physical threats.

At its heart, the Defender 3000 employs FIPS 197 certified AES 256-bit hardware encryption in XTS mode, providing advanced data security while minimizing performance impact during transfers.

Setup and management are streamlined with a graphical user interface via the Command Console. This offers a user-friendly way to manage drive settings and status, monitor storage, and handle antivirus and remote management subscriptions, alongside other onboard applications.

USBtoCloud compatibility adds an extra security layer through encrypted cloud backups, ensuring data remains secure and recoverable even if the physical drive is lost or stolen.

Defender 3000's defence against cyber threats is enhanced by RSA-2048's secure, digitally-signed firmware, which protects against malware tampering and secures network integrity.

Its SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology allows for quick data transfers, which is essential for accessing large files rapidly, while USB 2.0 compatibility increases the drive's versatility.

BitDefender's onboard antivirus protection provides real-time scanning, and depending on the drive's setup, subscriptions are available for additional security.

For organizations needing centralized data security control, the Kanguru Remote Management Console (KRMC) offers a platform to manage multiple Defender 3000 drives as well as other Kanguru defender drives, enforce security policies, manage configurations, and respond to security incidents. It also allows administrators to send secure messages to the drive, which appear when the user connects the drive to a computer with network connection.

The drive includes self-service password management, simplifying password recovery for users.

Finally, the Defender 3000 complies with regulatory standards, including TAA compliance, ensuring it meets the legal and ethical requirements of government and regulated industries.

• Performance: 4.5/5

Kanguru Defender 3000: Performance

If you're accustomed to plugging in a USB drive, setting basic password protection, and then using it for file storage, the Kanguru Defender 3000 will initially seem like a different world.

Upon the first insertion, the drive launches a setup console that guides you through the setup process, including email and personal association, passwords, and other protection and encryption settings. This relatively quick process secures the drive and its data.

For individuals, this offers peace of mind with various security options, like the number of password attempts before locking, offline usage, and renewals for self-service password management ($6.95 per year) or antivirus subscriptions ($7.95 per year)—both very affordable. Remote login via the KRMC web interface allows access to all drive settings and options, a feature that proves invaluable for larger organizations.

For companies handling sensitive data, these drives ensure hardware-level security. If a drive is lost or stolen, the data remains inaccessible. Changes at the access level, rather than the data itself, can be managed through the KRMC interface for individual or multiple drives.

Administrators can manage numerous drives in the field, adjusting access settings as needed. For example, they can limit offline access to three uses, updating these settings through the console, which then applies when the drive connects to a server. Settings can also be adjusted to allow freer access.

The drive allows setting a homepage for the onboard secure Firefox browser, providing not just security but also monitoring and access adaptability for corporate Use.

For anyone needing secure data storage, this drive is essential. For individuals concerned about securing passwords and digital data, it offers a reliable solution.

After setup, the drive functions differently from standard USB drives. It prompts for a password through a hardware-based interface, similar to a CD or DVD, before accessing the drive's storage. Users can easily switch to the console to adjust settings or administer online, both interfaces being user-friendly and accessible.

• Performance: 5/5

Should you buy the Kanguru Defender 3000?

If security is paramount and you handle sensitive data in sectors like government, healthcare, or finance, the Kanguru Defender 3000 is an excellent investment. Its top-tier security features, including FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certification and AES 256-bit encryption, provide peace of mind. The ability to manage remotely and secure cloud backups adds to its appeal. However, consider the cost and complexity before purchasing; if your data security needs are minimal or budget is a concern, then Kanguru do offer more cost-effective solutions available such as the Kanguru Defender Elite300, Defender Elite30, and Defender Bio-Elite30..

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

We tested the best business laptops - and these are the professional-grade devices we rate

Integral SlimXpress Pro: 30-second review

The Integral SlimXpress Pro Portable SSD 2TB is an incredibly compact portable SSD, offering a substantial storage capacity. Our review sample is 2TB, but it also comes in smaller 500GB and 1TB versions, as well as a larger 4TB version. This drive represents a growing trend of relatively affordable, high-performance drives with ample storage designed to meet the demands of modern life. The drive is simple in design, with BUS power allowing connection to a computer or other device via a single USB Type-C cable.

This simplicity extends to the drive's operation, with no features beyond the storage capacity to add complexity. Consequently, it boasts compatibility with nearly any device that needs extra storage and has the appropriate connector. In our tests, the SlimXpress Pro Portable SSD was used with an Intel NUC 9, MacBook Pro, and Blackmagic 6K video camera, all of which recognized the drive without issues.

We've tested hundreds of the best portable SSDs in our time, and while the performance was good, it did not fully reach the potential indicated in promotional materials, with transfer speeds in all tests less than half the advertised rate. Although simplicity and compactness are advantages, managing content on a drive of this size can be somewhat daunting, particularly without built-in security or software collaboration features. Nevertheless, this drive is an excellent choice if you need to transport general files or require additional storage for your gaming console or TV.

Integral SlimXpress Pro: Price & availability

The SlimXpress Pro Portable SSD is widely available at most electronics stores and outlets. Considering its capacity, size, weight, and speed, the drive is priced in the mid-range for an SSD, with a slight premium due to its compact size.

• Score: 3/5

Integral SlimXpress Pro: Design & build

Portable storage has always been relatively small, especially since the introduction of the 2.5" HDD. However, the advent of SSDs has dramatically changed the size and shape of external hard drives, with external drives not only decreasing significantly in size and weight but also increasing in speed, durability, and now capacity.

Before delving into the size options of this drive, it's worth highlighting its compact size, which measures 74mm x 34mm x 7mm. This size will comfortably fit into a pocket, not just a jacket pocket but even a small shirt pocket. Not only is the size incredibly compact, but it is also paired with a weight of just 28g, excluding the USB Type-C cable, making it impressively light.

On the exterior, there is little to see, but the silver metal casing feels durable, and the rounded edges provide a good tactile feel.

The design is simple yet extremely functional, with the flat sides making it easy to attach Velcro and adhere to the back of a laptop for neat increased storage, or to the back of a TV or console. Its small size and weight make it easy to position and discreet.

Along with the simple aesthetic, there's just a single USB Type-C port on one end that connects to the cable to make the connection with your computer. A small white light indicates that the drive is connected and ready to go. Having this light viewable from both sides would be beneficial, especially if the drive is attached to something or you need to plug it in quickly; it's convenient to have an easy line of sight to the status light to confirm that everything is connected correctly.

One of the best features of the design is the raised detail by the USB port. This allows you to feel which way up the drive is and where the port is located. In normal situations, this might not matter, but there are occasions, such as when linked to the back of a mounted TV or working with video or camera equipment, when you can't always see what's happening. Therefore, being able to feel your way around the device is extremely helpful.

Aside from the design aesthetics, which are simple and functional, there's little else to the build and handling except that Integral has ensured this drive is as straightforward as a plug-and-play storage device can be. 

• Score: 4.5/5

Integral SlimXpress Pro: Features

The Integral SlimXpress Pro Portable SSD has capacities ranging from 500GB to 4TB, making it one of the external SSD drives with the largest capacity ranges available. The latest SSD technology makes this capacity possible, with Integral quoting transfer rates of up to 2000 MB/s for both read and write speeds. To deliver these speeds, the SSD utilizes USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 technology, which also contributes to the drive's small and lightweight profile.

Simplicity is a key feature of the SlimXpress Pro, offering straightforward plug-and-play functionality without the need for setup, software, or any other complications. This ensures the drive's extensive compatibility, allowing it to be used out of the box with Windows and Mac computers, Linux systems, Android devices, Smart TVs, and game consoles. While not a native Thunderbolt drive, it is compatible with Thunderbolt 3.

Design-wise, the SlimXpress Pro is compact, featuring a slim metal case that is durable and ultra-portable. Measuring 74mm x 34mm x 7mm and weighing 28g, it is one of the smallest and lightest storage solutions available, particularly considering the range of storage capacities offered.

In addition to its performance and capacity, the drive comes with a 4-year warranty or coverage until it reaches a maximum of 3000 terabytes written, whichever occurs first.

• Score 3.5/5

Integral SlimXpress Pro: Performance

Every portable SSD has a unique selling point (USP), and the SlimXpress Pro's USP is its sheer simplicity. The large capacity and transfer speeds are impressive, but the drive still needs to be completed.

However, it's important to note that this is strictly a storage drive, lacking extra features like security software; it's essentially a digital cupboard. Plugging it into almost any device instantly recognizes the standard ExFat file system, allowing immediate use of the storage capacity for files on computers, cameras, TVs, and more. While some small intricacies of connections may require consideration, overall use is straightforward.

When used on a MacBook Pro, the drive was instantly recognized and could be reformatted to APFS via Disk Utility, serving as a working drive for Final Cut Pro, Apple's best video editing software. The drive consistently met the demands of the application and workflow, proving sufficient for editing 4K video without proxy media. And overall, a fine companion with any of the best video editing laptops for mobile editors. The drive did warm up during use but maintained consistent performance throughout the day's editing. File transfers were quick, with 140GB moving in about 4 minutes.

Benchmark tests yielded read speeds of 1030.32MB/s and write speeds of 953.79MB/s in CrystalDiskMark, with other tests showing similar results. While these speeds are around 50% of the quoted values from Integral, they are still impressive and more than adequate for most daily tasks.

In real-world applications, such as with a PS5, the SlimXpress Pro's high transfer speeds and large capacity facilitated the easy storage of numerous games and data once it was configured as external storage.

The drive also worked well with a Blackmagic 6K camera, directly storing large 6K raw files, and with an iPhone 15 Pro for storing Apple ProRes files. Additionally, its small size and light weight made it convenient to connect to and position with a Smart TV, where its 2TB capacity served well for storing recordings and a media library.

In conclusion, the SlimXpress Pro delivered an impressive performance across various devices. Although it didn't fully match the quoted transfer rates, its performance was more than sufficient for most use cases.

• Performance: 3.5/5

Should you buy the SlimXpress Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

We've tested the best laptops for photo editing - and here's the ones we rate