by 9 reviews.
ORICO USB 3.0 to SATA III 2.5" External Hard Drive Enclosure Review: A Reliable and Portable Storage Solution
Upgrade your data storage game with the ORICO USB 3.0 to SATA III 2.5" External Hard Drive Enclosure. Designed for 2.5-inch 7mm-9.5mm SATA HDDs and SSDs, this sleek black enclosure is the perfect solution for transforming your old drives into portable, high-speed external storage. Whether you're transferring files, booting up an old drive, or recovering data, this tool-free enclosure makes it effortless.
With features like USB 3.0 and UASP support, tool-free installation, and wide compatibility, this enclosure is a favorite among tech enthusiasts and professionals alike. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the pros and cons based on real customer experiences.
Pros and Cons: A Detailed Look
1. Ease of Use and Installation
One of the standout features of the ORICO enclosure is its tool-free installation. Customers rave about how easy it is to slide off the cover, insert the drive, and slide the cover back on. One reviewer mentioned, "The case is extremely easy to open and place a drive inside. It’s ready to use in seconds."
However, some users noted a minor issue with the drive not being held tightly in place. One reviewer suggested using a piece of foam weatherstripping to keep the drive snugly connected to the SATA connector. While this is a workable solution, it’s worth noting that the enclosure doesn’t come with a built-in mechanism to secure the drive firmly.
2. Build Quality and Design
The durable ABS plastic build and non-smudging brushed surface are highly praised. Customers appreciate the sleek, fingerprint-resistant design and the lightweight, portable form factor. One user said, "The exterior feels great to hold, and the drive is very secure during transport."
The included shockproof sponge pad also adds an extra layer of protection for your drive. However, some users mentioned that the sponge material can become brittle over time, making it slightly difficult to remove from the backing.
3. Performance and Compatibility
The USB 3.0 and UASP support deliver impressive data transfer speeds, with one reviewer noting, "UASP performs up to 70% faster read speeds and 40% faster write speeds compared to traditional USB 3.0."
The enclosure is also widely compatible with various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. One user shared, "It works seamlessly with my old Windows XP and Windows 7 systems, as well as Linux Mint."
However, some users pointed out that the enclosure doesn’t support TRIM by default for SSDs. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it’s something to keep in mind if you’re using an SSD and want to enable TRIM for optimal performance.
4. Heat Dissipation and Drive Compatibility
While the enclosure works well with both HDDs and SSDs, many users recommend using an SSD instead of a mechanical hard drive. One reviewer explained, "The heat generated from a mechanical drive won’t have anywhere to dissipate, which could be a concern over time."
SSDs, on the other hand, are lighter, generate less heat, and don’t require defragmentation, making them a better fit for this enclosure.
5. Value for Money
At its price point, the ORICO enclosure offers excellent value. Customers appreciate the ability to repurpose old drives into portable storage without breaking the bank. One user said, "For such a small price, this enclosure works consistently well with both old and new drives."
Conclusion: Is the ORICO USB 3.0 Enclosure Worth It?
The ORICO USB 3.0 to SATA III 2.5" External Hard Drive Enclosure is a reliable, user-friendly, and affordable solution for anyone looking to upgrade their storage setup. Its tool-free installation, fast data transfer speeds, and durable design make it a standout choice.
However, there are a few minor drawbacks, such as the lack of a built-in mechanism to secure the drive firmly and the absence of TRIM support by default. These issues are relatively easy to work around, but they’re worth considering before making a purchase.
Final Verdict: If you’re looking for a portable, high-performance enclosure to repurpose your old drives or create a backup solution, the ORICO USB 3.0 enclosure is an excellent choice. Just keep in mind the minor quirks and consider using an SSD for the best experience.
Specification ORICO USB 3.0 to SATA III 2.5" External Hard Drive Enclosure for 2.5 Inch 7mm-9.5mm SATA HDD/SSD Tool Free [UASP Supported],Black(2189U3):
Comments from Amazon:
This is a great enclosure. It looks nice and it's easy to install the drive. Once that's done it's ready to go, and it works very well. The activity light is a plus, as well. My only real complaint is that there is nothing with which to hold the drive tightly into the connector at the end. With other enclosures I've tried there has been a small, firm piece of foam at the end opposite the drive connection. This keeps the drive "pushed" snugly into the connector at the other end. Then, of course, you can use the foam that comes with the kit to keep the drive from moving up and down within the case. I used the thick piece, and I attached it to the top face of the drive itself. I had to use a credit card to hold the foam down as I was sliding the cover back on so that the cover clip didn't catch and tear the foam, but it worked well, and the drive is snugly in place. I worry a little about heat, but it should be fine. For the issue I mentioned, I used a piece of foam weatherstripping, cut to size. The sticky side to the plastic of the case, of course, and it holds the drive firmly forward and into the connector. The space is about 1/8", which is enough that the drive would wiggle out of the connector, and this firm foam will keep it from doing so. Overall, this is a very good enclosure, and to be able to turn an unused drive into a usable one for such a small price is very nice. I would definitely recommend this case to others, with the added caveat to be careful about the 1/8' space at the end of the drive.
I love to do full drive clones of my Windows 7, 10, and XP systems periodically. That way if something bad happens, from a drive crash to a bad virus, etc., I can simply replace the drive, restore my latest backup of "My Documents", and I'm fully back in business, with all my installed Windows software and data. For a very reasonable price, this enclosure works consistently well for me with both old and new HDD's, large and small SATA HDD's, and large and small SSD's. Whether copying files directly in Windows, or using drive management software "Mini Tool Partition Wizard" for Windows, to copy drives or partitions. Linux Mint sees the drives OK in Linux or Windows formats and reads and writes files OK. I haven't tried things like cloning systems in Linux. My experience, thus far, is with older laptops, running Windows XP SP3 and Windows 7 with the latest updates. I would say I've used a few dozen of these with no problems. They consistently work, and seem consistent re the material quality, way they're packed, having the included USB cable work, etc. The worst thing I've had was a slightly misformed connector to clide the box halves together that required me to push it a little. It still worked fine. The included sponges which can be attached to help hold drives in place (two thicknesses) gives a secure fit with either wider or narrower drives, which I like. Lately I've had more problems getting the sponges off the backing -- I think the material is getting old / brittle, like they've had them in inventory for a long time. A little annoying, but not a big deal. I can't speak to EUFI vs. a BIOS, however, since I haven't messed with such systems with this product.
Llego en tiempo y forma muy bien empaquetado y completamente sellado. La calidad es buena y funciona correctamente.
I bought it for reuse a SSD driver from a old computer. There is no need for any tool to installation of the driver into the box, just slide in, and push back. Once connected to the computer it works right away, truly PNP! Highly recommended to the people need a box for old or new Internal SSD drive using as a external extension.
Alles iO
الحافظه نفس المواصفات وجيده جدا وسريع بنقل البيانات لكن توقعت التوصيل في خلال يومين بالكثير لانه محلي وتوصيل داخلي لكن ايضا لم يتاخر
The case is extremely easy to open and place a drive inside. The exterior is a plastic that is non smudging, no finger prints, doesn't slip out of your hand. The case feel greats to hold and the drive is very secure in the case during transports. (read below about UASP and TRIM) I have used other Orico products before and they have been solid throughout the years. My suggestion is: Use a SATA SSD, not a mechanical hard drive. The heat generated from the mechanic drive won't have anywhere to dissipate. SSD you don't have to worry about fragmentation like a mechanical hard drive and the over all weight of the external enclosure will be less. NOTE1: UASP stands for USB Attached SCSI Protocol. It allows for faster read/write data speeds to and from storage devices. Compared to traditional USB 3.0 BOT, UASP performs up to 70% faster read speeds and 40% faster write speeds at peak performance. TRIM: (MAC - OS): In order to check if your enclosure supports TRIM, you’ll want to go to Apple > About This Mac > System Report > Hardware > SATA/SATA Express > and look for “TRIM Support” under the enclosure specs. If TRIM Support is not listed, your enclosure most likely does not support TRIM. If it is listed but says “No”, you can try turning TRIM on by using the trimforce command in terminal. Just open Terminal and type “sudo trimforce enable”. Once your computer restarts, check System Report again to see if TRIM Support changed to Yes. TRIM: Windows (10/11): Start button, type in the search box: cmd (run command prompt AS ADMINISTRATOR) type in this: fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify if it returns "NTFS DisableDeleteNotify = 0 (Allows TRIM operations to be sent to the storage device)" Trim is turned on.