UnifyDrive UT2 assessment: pocket-sized powerhouse

Once I used to consider a Network Attached Storage (NAS) drive, I pictured a giant, clunky steel field full of noisy onerous drives. However the UnifyDrive UT2 completely modifications that. It isn’t a lot larger than my iPhone 15 Pro Max or a typical power bank, and will simply slip into a big pocket. Even higher, it may possibly run with out being plugged in, because of its built-in battery, and it may possibly deal with some duties all by itself, making it a super companion for any artistic skilled who finds themselves within the subject typically.

The UnifyDrive UT2 is greater than only a common NAS — it is excellent for backing up information in case you’re a content material creator on the go, and you’ll even hook it as much as your TV to play motion pictures and video content material with an HDMI cable. For those who simply want it as an everyday USB drive, you’ll be able to plug it instantly into your laptop or telephone. It is filled with options that make it like a high-tech multi-tool, however does all this performance actually maintain up in on a regular basis use?

Editor’s Alternative

UnifyDrive UT2

The UnifyDrive UT2 is a compact, high-performance transportable NAS (Community-Connected Storage) designed for customers on the go. That includes ultra-fast knowledge switch charges, safe wi-fi connectivity, and a strong storage capability, it means that you can entry, share, and again up your information anytime, wherever.

Execs

• Pocket-sized portability
• Constructed-in UPS battery backup
• Glorious connectivity choices

Cons

• Brief battery life
• Costly

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Worth, specs, and availability

The UnifyDrive UT2 transportable NAS is presently solely out there for pre-order from UnifyDrive’s Kickstarter page. After November 1, it should start transport and turn out to be out there from Amazon for a MSRP of $600. If you are going to buy any of the pre-order bundles from UnifyDrive’s Kickstarter, it can save you a bit of cash on the full, with as much as 25% off for pre-orders, bringing the full right down to $450.

Design: UnifyDrive UT2

A rugged rubber case and an efficient cooling system

UnifyDrive designed the UT2 with artistic professionals, notably photographers and videographers, in thoughts. As such, it is available in a rugged rubber sleeve that’s harking back to the sleeves that LaCie exterior onerous drives include. The gadget itself incorporates a sturdy all-metal chassis. The backplate is slotted for air flow, and there are correct cutouts within the rubber casing that wraps the gadget for exhaust vents and all of your ports. You may take away the slotted part of the backplate with a easy screwdriver that comes with the UnifyDrive UT2, which reveals the UT2s circuit board and its twin M.2 NVMe 2280 slots. Two M.2 NVMe slots imply you’ll be able to throw two 8TB SSDs within the UnifyDrive UT2, maxing out its inner storage functionality at 16TB.

Talking of ports, for such a compact gadget, I used to be shocked on the nice port choices of the UnifyDrive UT2. There is a high-speed USB-C port alongside a USB-A port which can be utilized for file transfers. There’s additionally a CFexpress card reader and an SD card reader. Flipping to the opposite facet of the gadget, there is a 2.5GbE Ethernet port, a USB-C energy port, and an HDMI port, and the UT2’s energy button.

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The UnifyDRive UT2 measures at 6.8 x 3.5 x 1.1″ and weighs simply 0.8 lbs. Its rugged and compact design makes it nice for stowing away in a digicam bag or backpack — or perhaps a jacket pocket — with out having to fret about harm.

You get nearly all the pieces it’s essential get began within the field. There is a USB-C cable, an Ethernet cable, an HDMI cable, a distant with batteries included and an influence block. You will want to supply your personal M.2 SSDs, which might add up rapidly in case you do not already personal them. If you wish to max out the UnifyDrive UT2 with two 8TB M.2 SSDs, you can be spending roughly $1600 for simply the drives.

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Software program and {hardware} options: UnifyDrive UT2

Actual-time backups and wi-fi connectivity

For such a small bundle, the UnifyDrive UT2 is jam-packed with {hardware} and software program options. Beginning off with the {hardware}, there is a RK3588C4 Cortex-A76 + 4 Cortex-A55 CPU, paired with an ARM Mali-G610 MC4 GPU hiding underneath the circuit board, offering ample processing energy for artistic workloads. For those who set up two M.2 drives into the UT2, you’ll be able to arrange a conventional NAS RAID configuration of your selecting.

As a photographer and videographer, I used to be extraordinarily glad to see each an SD card reader and CFexpress (type-B) reader. You can even plug in an adapter to each the SD card reader and CFexpress port for CFexpress-A playing cards or microSD playing cards. Each card readers permit playing cards to mechanically again as much as the NAS by double-clicking the facet button on the UnifyDrive UT2. I assumed this was an superior function — it let me shoot a session and add all the pieces to the NAS as quickly as I used to be performed, with out even needing to the touch my laptop computer.

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Along with backing up your SD playing cards, it’s also possible to use the companion UnifyDrive cell and desktop app to again up your smartphone to the NAS. I wasn’t capable of check out the cloud backup function because it’s nonetheless presently underneath improvement, however UnifyDrive instructed me it will likely be out there on day one as soon as the UT2 ships in November. Cloud backups might be an effective way to additional backup the NAS by connecting your Google Drive as a second fail-safe backup.

Connecting to the UnifyDrive UT2 is simple — you’ll be able to run the UT2 as you’ll a standard NAS by connecting to your router through the Ethernet jack, or you’ll be able to hook up with it wirelessly through Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 assist. Observe that in preliminary setup, you will have to be related to LAN with a purpose to replace the gadget for Wi-Fi connectivity to be usable.

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I like that the wi-fi connection additionally enables you to use the NAS within the subject. A number of computer systems can hook up with the NAS, with every connection being absolutely encrypted, making artistic collaborative workflows an absolute breeze. I took it on a hike, backed up my pictures whereas nonetheless within the subject, and my companion at dwelling was capable of edit the photographs as they got here in. It is a newer method for me to make use of a NAS, and I used to be impressed with how streamlined and easy it felt to add my photographs on the market within the wilderness whereas they have been obtained at dwelling for enhancing.

Efficiency and battery life: UnifyDrive UT2

An countless variety of use instances

The UnifyDrive UT2 runs on UnifyDrive’s personal working system referred to as UDOS. Whenever you get began, you will must obtain the UnifyDrive desktop or cell app, and join the UT2 to a LAN connection to replace the UDOS firmware. When you launch the app, you will be taken by a guided setup which is able to take you thru the method of formatting your M.2 drive(s) and establishing your RAID configuration and arrange for added options corresponding to HDMI output and flash drive mode, which permits the UT2 to be acknowledged as an exterior storage gadget.

I discovered the guided setup straightforward to comply with, though as I discussed earlier, there are a ton of options packed into this tiny NAS. I’ve spent hours previously few weeks testing the UnifyDrive UT2, and I have never made my method by all of the options but. Nevertheless, I proceed to be impressed by all of the function choices of the UT2. Whereas the gadget itself can match within the pocket, do not let its small dimension idiot you — this NAS is as feature-rich as the most important desktop NAS.

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As a photographer and videographer, the UnifyDrive UT2’s capacity to obtain media instantly from media playing cards was my favourite function total. You need to use the SD card slot, which accepts microSD and TF card adapters, or the CFexpress Sort-B card slot for playing cards generally used with Nikon and Canon DSLRs. To obtain media to the UT2 from the cardboard, all it’s a must to do is just insert your media card into the suitable slot and double-click the facet button. As soon as the NAS beeps twice, it should start downloading all of the media saved on the cardboard.

All through my testing, I discovered no downside with downloading media from CFexpress playing cards or SD UHS-I playing cards, however I did discover some points with SD UHS-II playing cards which weren’t all the time acknowledged by the UT2. You may handle and watch your obtain throughout the UnifyDrive app, and the UT2 offers off three beeps to provide you with a warning that downloading is full. As soon as your information have been uploaded to the UT2, they are often accessed through LAN or Wi-Fi. A number of customers can hook up with a single UT2 NAS, making the UT2 be a superb collaborative instrument. With regards to learn/write speeds of your uploads, your mileage will differ relying on which connection methodology you’re utilizing. The typical write time once I had the NAS related through Wi-Fi was about 5.5 MB/s with a learn velocity of 8.9 MB/s.

Nevertheless, once I examined utilizing the UT2’s built-in hotspot, I used to be capable of take down a median write velocity of 60 MB/s and 78 MB/s learn. In order for you the quickest doable speeds, you will wish to switch information through USB Sort-C, which offers a median write velocity of 298 MB/s and a learn velocity of 317 MB/s. Observe that whereas there’s a built-in UPS battery, it would not present the very best lifespan. On common, I used to be capable of get about an hour to an hour and a half out of the built-in battery. Nevertheless, because of the broad connection choices, I might maintain the UT2 going whereas out within the subject by connecting it to an influence financial institution.

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Do you have to purchase the UnifyDrive UT2?

The UnifyDrive UT2 has turn out to be one among my favourite gadgets I’ve had the chance to assessment in 2024. It is an extremely formidable undertaking with a ton of options, nevertheless it’s additionally a superb transportable NAS for artistic professionals, and realistically, the very best one out there. As a photographer and videographer, I can already see how the UnifyDrive UT2 is altering my workflow, and whereas it takes a while to discover and be taught all of the options of this nice gadget, it is positively definitely worth the time.

As talked about earlier within the assessment, a number of customers can hook up with the UT2 concurrently and entry information, making it an incredible instrument for a manufacturing atmosphere. I can see this being an indispensable instrument on movie units and photograph shoots because of how a photographer can shoot from their digicam, add all the pieces rapidly to the NAS, all whereas permitting others to view and work with the information uploaded. You can even use the included HDMI 2.1 cable to attach the UT2 to a projector or TV and current your information simply with the included distant.

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Whereas it was a bit disappointing to see that not all UHS-II SD playing cards labored correctly with the NAS, the workforce at UnifyDrive has been regular in releasing firmware updates for the UT2, so hopefully that is one thing that may be mounted within the close to future. General, I feel the UnifyDrive UT2 is among the finest productiveness instruments for a artistic skilled.

Whereas it has a considerably steep MSRP of $600, there isn’t any NAS available on the market as small because the UT2 and filled with as many options. One of many stunning issues about NAS’s is that the chances of what you do with them are countless, and that is positively the case with the UnifyDrive UT2.

Editor’s Alternative

UnifyDrive UT2