Review: OWC's Envoy Ultra SSD Delivers Thunderbolt 5 Transfer Speeds

Other World Computing (OWC) has released one of the first Thunderbolt 5 SSDs, the Envoy Ultra. This bus-powered SSD starts at $330 for a 2TB capacity, with a 4TB option available. It features a durable black aluminum enclosure designed for heat dissipation and is IP67 rated for dust and water resistance. The Envoy Ultra is relatively compact and portable, though it has a built-in 9-inch Thunderbolt 5 cable. It boasts speeds up to twice that of Thunderbolt 4/USB4 SSDs, reaching over 6,000MB/s, though real-world testing showed speeds around 5,300MB/s. Sustained write speeds may drop after large transfers, but read speeds remain consistent. The SSD operates silently and remains only lukewarm even under heavy load due to its fanless design. To achieve its maximum speeds, a computer with Thunderbolt 5 support, like Apple's M4 Pro/Max Macs, is required. While backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and 4, the cost might not be justified without Thunderbolt 5 hardware. Compared to Thunderbolt 4 SSDs, the Envoy Ultra offers significantly higher speeds, but at a premium price point. If you own or plan to buy a Thunderbolt 5 Mac and need exceptional transfer speeds, the OWC Envoy Ultra is a strong contender, with its primary drawback being the non-detachable cable.