by 130 reviews.
OWC Envoy Pro FX 4TB Portable NVMe M.2 SSD Review: A Powerhouse of Speed and Durability
The OWC Envoy Pro FX 4TB Portable NVMe M.2 SSD is a game-changer for professionals and tech enthusiasts who demand top-tier performance and reliability. With blazing-fast speeds of up to 2711MB/s sequential read/write, this portable SSD ensures seamless data transfers and workflows. Whether you're editing high-resolution videos, managing large datasets, or gaming on the go, the Envoy Pro FX delivers unmatched performance.
Built to withstand the toughest conditions, this SSD has been rigorously tested, surviving over 25 drops from a height of four feet and offering water resistance for up to 30 minutes at less than 1 meter. Its sleek, compact design and compatibility with both USB and Thunderbolt connections make it a versatile choice for a wide range of devices. With a massive 4000GB storage capacity, you’ll have ample space for all your files, projects, and media.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Build Quality and Durability
The OWC Envoy Pro FX is built like a tank. Customers rave about its solid aluminum enclosure, which not only looks premium but also acts as an effective heat sink. One user described it as "physically built like an armored tank," while another mentioned that it feels "very thick and massive" in hand. The drive’s durability is further highlighted by its drop and water resistance, making it a reliable companion for outdoor adventures or demanding work environments.
Pros:
- Premium, rugged aluminum build.
- Drop-resistant and water-resistant.
- Effective heat dissipation.
Cons:
- Some users noted that the drive can get very warm during heavy use, though it never becomes too hot to handle.
Performance and Speed
When it comes to performance, the OWC Envoy Pro FX shines. Users report blazing-fast speeds, with one customer achieving 2664MB/s read speeds and 1518MB/s write speeds using Thunderbolt connectivity. Another user praised its ability to back up 0.5TB of data in under 2 minutes, calling it "plug and play" and "super easy to set up."
The drive’s versatility is another standout feature. It works seamlessly across various devices and operating systems, from Mac Studio (M1 Max) to Windows 11 and even legacy Macs. One user highlighted its ability to function at USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and USB 1.0 speeds, making it a universal solution for different setups.
Pros:
- Exceptional read/write speeds.
- Compatible with Thunderbolt and USB connections.
- Works across multiple devices and operating systems.
Cons:
- Some users wished for a protective case or sleeve to accompany the drive.
Value for Money
While the OWC Envoy Pro FX is more expensive than some alternatives, customers agree that it’s worth the investment. One user shared that the drive saved them $2,400 by allowing them to purchase a base-model Mac Studio instead of a higher-capacity built-to-order version. Another customer praised its long-term value, noting that Macs often last 10–20 years, making the drive a worthwhile addition to their setup.
However, some users expressed disappointment with the lack of a free basic management tool. OWC directs customers to their SoftRAID software, which costs between $49.99 and $249.99, adding to the overall expense.
Pros:
- Long-term value and cost savings.
- High performance justifies the price.
Cons:
- Additional cost for management software.
- Higher upfront price compared to competitors.
Ease of Use and Compatibility
The OWC Envoy Pro FX is praised for its plug-and-play functionality. Many users appreciated that it comes pre-formatted for Mac, making setup effortless. Windows users also found it easy to format the drive for NTFS using the provided utility.
The drive’s compact design and universal compatibility make it a favorite among professionals who work across multiple devices. One user highlighted its ability to serve as a primary user account folder across different Macs, eliminating the need for time-consuming file syncing.
Pros:
- Plug-and-play setup.
- Pre-formatted for Mac.
- Easy to format for Windows.
Cons:
- No protective case included.
Conclusion: Is the OWC Envoy Pro FX Worth It?
The OWC Envoy Pro FX 4TB Portable NVMe M.2 SSD is a standout product that combines speed, durability, and versatility. Its premium build quality, exceptional performance, and universal compatibility make it a top choice for professionals and tech enthusiasts alike. While it comes at a higher price point, the long-term value and cost savings it offers justify the investment.
However, the lack of a free management tool and the absence of a protective case are minor drawbacks. If you’re looking for a reliable, high-performance portable SSD that can handle demanding workflows and tough conditions, the OWC Envoy Pro FX is an excellent choice.
Final Verdict: Highly recommended for those who prioritize speed, durability, and versatility in a portable storage solution.
Specification OWC Envoy Pro FX 4TB Portable NVMe M.2 SSD:
Comments from Amazon:
This OWC Envoy Pro FX 2TB Portable NVMe M.2 SSD [ASIN B08YMR64RT] design is unusual and almost unique— it can't be overstated. Having the current interface Thunderbolt speed and (TB/ USB-C) connector for a Mac Studio (M1 Max, 2022) running macOS 12.3.1 ("Monterey"), OR being also able to alternatively use USB 3.0's full speed (5Gbps) with a Mac mini (Late 2012) running macOS 10.13.6 ("High Sierra"), OR alternatively use USB 2 (480Mbps) with a 17" MacBook Pro (Mid 2010) running macOS 10.13.6 ("High Sierra"), OR USB 1 (12Mbps) on legacy G4 Macs, allows me to have one single 2TB fast, rugged, portable drive that I can use as my primary user account folder! Now, I don't have to waste time syncing files on various Macs, nor duplicating directory structure changes to enable syncing. The latter is especially significant. No matter how diligent I try to be, there are always spontaneous directory structure changes I make, which I don't have time or access to duplicate on other Macs—then syncing becomes a nightmare. Perforance of this OWC Envoy Pro FX 2TB Portable NVMe M.2 SSD is excellent. Using ChronoSync 10, I created a 1.61TB 1.85 million file bootable clone of a Mac mini (Late 2012) internal SSD via USB 3.0 (5Gbps) in 3 hours 33 minutes 20 seconds, with full verification. ChronoSync scans the source, copies the source file, writes the target file, then fully reads the target written file, compares with the source file, and then writes a detailed log file entry. The NET aggregate throughput achieved was 132MBps (1.03Gbps) (3 to 10 times faster than similar ChronoSync cloning operations to a WD 12TB My Book HDD). As a software and hardware engineer, I can't rigorously compute the isolated write speed without more research, but I suspect it is roughly at least double the above net aggregate measured. This OWC Envoy Pro FX 2TB Portable NVMe M.2 SSD is physically built like an armored tank—I seriously think I could run over it (slowly) with a large SUV without fracturing the solid aluminum case. (Do NOT try this at home! ;-) The $549 I paid for this OWC Envoy Pro FX 2TB Portable NVMe M.2 SSD is small compared with the value received. Being able to buy new Macs with base SSD capacity already has saved me the OWC's price, AND I don't have to wait for a BTO (built to order) model to be queued. A stock base model Mac Studio 512GB SSD was immediately available. I would have had to wait 4 – 10 weeks, and spend $600 (for 2TB SSD) to $2,400 (for 8TB) more had the OWC Envoy Pro FX 2TB Portable NVMe M.2 SSD not been available. (As you may have noticed, Macs are generally useful for a long time. 10 – 20 years isn't extraordinary—for a Mac, that is. My 2003 Xserve G4 is still hosting Internet services.) Now that most new Macs generally do not have user upgradable drives, nor RAM, I would tend to max both. So $549 OWC likely saved me $2,400. I would definitely buy this OWC Envoy Pro FX 2TB Portable NVMe M.2 SSD again, and recommend others purchase as well.
Amazing product! Out of the box, I was able to back up my entire drive (0.5 TB) in under 2 minutes. Blazing speed and super easy to set up and configure (literally, plug and play). Only minor point--I wish it came with a protective case / sleeve. Overall, completely satisfied and would strongly recommend this product for Mac users who desire to have a super-fast and easy to use backup drive!
I'm using the 2TB drive on my Windows 11 computer and it's very fast indeed. It's small, very well made and runs very cool. In short I love it. I ran the provided utility to format it for NTFS in about 15 seconds and it was of to the races. Large photo files load quickly as though they're on my solid state drive on my computer. Completely satisfied.
This is a well made SSD with great performance. I contacted OWC tech support to see if there was a way for me to get information about the drive itself (hardware errors, firmware version, etc.). They directed me to their softRAID management software. That costs anywhere from $49.99 up to $249.99. While there is a 14 day free trial for the software, OWC should provide a free basic tool that allows SSD users to do basic management tasks on their SSD. Directing a user to a tool that costs up to 50% of the original cost of the SSD is ridiculous.
Ya, this thing is unbelievably fast on my MacBook Pro M2 16 inch. Fastest drive I’ve used. I’ve been using Samsung T7 Shield and SanDisk Extreme Pro (new version). I men, for me, those have been reliable and I use them for archiving everything on two drives, like a home made manual raid system. If one goes, I still have the other. Anyways, when plugging the OWC in using the usb c lightning cord and moving 200 GB of photos and videos, I was instantly gratified as to why I spent allot more money on this. It’s expensive compared to the aforementioned, but man, this thing is crazy fast. It’s even formatted for Mac out of the box, so it was plug and play. Just watch your files zip through silicone and copper like a Peregrine Falcon. The build is nice from what I can tell. A solid block of metal, likely aluminum which acts as a heat sink. Sometimes this gets warm, very warm, but honestly, I’ve never had it ‘hot’ where I can’t hold it. I can’t say for the electronics inside this cool looking exterior. Maybe they use cheap parts, maybe everything is premium. I’d love somebody to do a rip it apart review. I suppose that may provide info on longevity. But for performance up to now, very impressive. If the OWC ENVOY lasts for years with moderate use, it’s completely worth the dough in my opinion. Recommended.
Qualité au top
I needed to upgrade my 2019 Retina 5K 27" Intel iMac because the Fusion Drive had developed file directory hash errors that couldn't be resolved with Disk Utility First Aid, even after running First Aid for several days. I eventually backed up (externally and offsite) and reformatted the Fusion Drive and reinstalled MacOS to remedy the disk errors. But the disk errors seemed like a harbinger of a potential impending hardware failure, and time to consider replacing the aging Fusion Drive with newer, faster solid state drive technology. SSDs have come way down in price since I purchased my iMac. There are three good options for upgrading the 2019 iMac drive: 1.) Add a Thunderbolt external drive and make it the boot drive 2.) Add an internal SSD mounted in place of the existing SATA drive inside the iMac 3.) Replace the NVME drive connected to the PCIe bus behind the iMacs mainboard. This small NVME drive is part of the Fusion Drive and acts as a sort of drive cache. But since it connects to the PCIe bus on the mainboard, it has the potential to be the fastest upgrade option by far. Installing these options increase in complexity in the order listed above. But the internal SATA replacement is actually slower than the external Thunderbolt option. The PCIe NVME option #3 is the fastest option, but the hardest to do. It requires almost completely disassembling and removing the innards of the iMac to access the backside of the mainboard. And due to the technical depth of the task, it's pretty easy to screw things up. I opted for the easy upgrade, Option #1. The OWC Envoy Pro FX ($300) was $60 more expensive than a SanDisk alternative (SanDisk Pro 2TB Pro-G40 at $240). At first I ordered the SanDisk to save money. But after reading about very many user complaints about failed SanDisk external SSD, I cancelled my order and ordered the OWC Envoy Pro. I'm glad I did. The Envoy Pro FX drive has incredible build quality. The enclosure is beefy, machined anodized aluminum. Very thick and massive as a heat sink. I didn't appreciate this until I held it in my hands and felt the weight and solid construction. Nice job OWC! BlackMagic disk speed test now shows Write speeds exceeding 1518 MB/s and Read speeds of 2664 MB/s on the external Thunderbolt drive. That's almost 3 times faster than the internal Fusion Drive. I recommend the OWC Envoy Pro FX drive. And I am no longer a fan of SanDisk due to the controversy about lost data. I already have a 4TB SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD. But due to the stories online, there's little confidence in SanDisk reliability today.