UnifyDrive UT2 overview: pocket-sized powerhouse

After I used to consider a Network Attached Storage (NAS) drive, I pictured an enormous, clunky metallic field crammed with noisy exhausting drives. However the UnifyDrive UT2 completely adjustments that. It is not a lot larger than my iPhone 15 Pro Max or an ordinary power bank, and will simply slip into a big pocket. Even higher, it could actually run with out being plugged in, because of its built-in battery, and it could actually deal with some duties all by itself, making it a great companion for any inventive skilled who finds themselves within the subject usually.

The UnifyDrive UT2 is greater than only a common NAS — it is excellent for backing up recordsdata should you’re a content material creator on the go, and you may even hook it as much as your TV to play motion pictures and video content material with an HDMI cable. In case you simply want it as an everyday USB drive, you possibly can plug it instantly into your pc or cellphone. It is full of 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 Selection

UnifyDrive UT2

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

Professionals

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

Cons

• Quick battery life
• Costly

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Value, specs, and availability

The UnifyDrive UT2 transportable NAS is at present solely out there for pre-order from UnifyDrive’s Kickstarter page. After November 1, it would start transport and develop into 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 inventive professionals, notably photographers and videographers, in thoughts. As such, it is available in a rugged rubber sleeve that’s paying homage to the sleeves that LaCie exterior exhausting drives include. The system 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 system for exhaust vents and all of your ports. You possibly can 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 possibly can throw two 8TB SSDs within the UnifyDrive UT2, maxing out its inside storage functionality at 16TB.

Talking of ports, for such a compact system, 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 system, 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 digital camera bag or backpack — or perhaps a jacket pocket — with out having to fret about harm.

You get virtually every thing it’s worthwhile to 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’ll need to supply your individual M.2 SSDs, which may add up rapidly should you do not already personal them. If you wish to max out the UnifyDrive UT2 with two 8TB M.2 SSDs, you may be taking a look at 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 package deal, 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 beneath the circuit board, offering ample processing energy for inventive workloads. In case you set up two M.2 drives into the UT2, you possibly can arrange a standard NAS RAID configuration of your selecting.

As a photographer and videographer, I used to be extraordinarily joyful 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 enable 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 every thing 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, you may also use the companion UnifyDrive cell and desktop app to again up your smartphone to the NAS. I wasn’t capable of take a look at out the cloud backup function because it’s nonetheless at present beneath improvement, however UnifyDrive advised me will probably be out there on day one as soon as the UT2 ships in November. Cloud backups shall 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 straightforward — you possibly can run the UT2 as you’d a standard NAS by connecting to your router by way of the Ethernet jack, or you possibly can hook up with it wirelessly by way of Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 help. Be aware that in preliminary setup, you will have to be linked to LAN in an effort to replace the system for Wi-Fi connectivity to be usable.

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

Efficiency and battery life: UnifyDrive UT2

An infinite variety of use instances

The UnifyDrive UT2 runs on UnifyDrive’s personal working system referred to as UDOS. If 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 means of 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 extra options resembling HDMI output and flash drive mode, which permits the UT2 to be acknowledged as an exterior storage system.

I discovered the guided setup simple to comply with, though as I discussed earlier, there are a ton of options packed into this tiny NAS. I’ve spent hours prior to now few weeks testing the UnifyDrive UT2, and I have not made my manner by means of all of the options but. Nonetheless, I proceed to be impressed by all of the function choices of the UT2. Whereas the system itself can match within the pocket, do not let its small measurement 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 skill to obtain media instantly from media playing cards was my favourite function general. You should 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 you need to do is solely insert your media card into the suitable slot and double-click the facet button. As soon as the NAS beeps twice, it would 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 at all times acknowledged by the UT2. You possibly can handle and watch your obtain inside the UnifyDrive app, and the UT2 offers off three beeps to warn you that downloading is full. As soon as your recordsdata have been uploaded to the UT2, they are often accessed by way of LAN or Wi-Fi. A number of customers can hook up with a single UT2 NAS, making the UT2 be a wonderful collaborative device. On the subject of 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 linked by way of Wi-Fi was about 5.5 MB/s with a learn velocity of 8.9 MB/s.

Nonetheless, 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 potential speeds, you will wish to switch recordsdata by way of USB Sort-C, which supplies a median write velocity of 298 MB/s and a learn velocity of 317 MB/s. Be aware that whereas there’s a built-in UPS battery, it does not present the most effective 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. Nonetheless, because of the huge 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 develop into certainly one of my favourite units I’ve had the chance to overview in 2024. It is an extremely formidable mission with a ton of options, but it surely’s additionally a wonderful transportable NAS for inventive professionals, and realistically, the most effective 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 study all of the options of this nice system, it is undoubtedly definitely worth the time.

As talked about earlier within the overview, a number of customers can hook up with the UT2 concurrently and entry recordsdata, making it an important device for a manufacturing setting. I can see this being an indispensable device on movie units and photograph shoots because of how a photographer can shoot from their digital camera, add every thing rapidly to the NAS, all whereas permitting others to view and work with the recordsdata uploaded. You can even use the included HDMI 2.1 cable to attach the UT2 to a projector or TV and current your recordsdata 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 fastened within the close to future. Total, I believe the UnifyDrive UT2 is likely one of the greatest productiveness instruments for a inventive skilled.

Whereas it has a considerably steep MSRP of $600, there is no NAS available on the market as small because the UT2 and full of as many options. One of many stunning issues about NAS’s is that the probabilities of what you do with them are infinite, and that is undoubtedly the case with the UnifyDrive UT2.

Editor’s Selection

UnifyDrive UT2