Key Takeaways
- Transportable NAS with pocket-sized portability.
- Constructed-in UPS battery backup.
- Glorious connectivity choices accessible.
After I used to think about a Network Attached Storage (NAS) drive, I pictured a giant, clunky steel field crammed with noisy onerous drives. However the UnifyDrive UT2 completely modifications that. It isn’t a lot greater than my iPhone 15 Pro Max or an ordinary power bank, and will simply slip into a big pocket. Even higher, it could possibly run with out being plugged in, due to its built-in battery, and it could possibly deal with some duties all by itself, making it a super companion for any artistic skilled who finds themselves within the discipline usually.
The UnifyDrive UT2 is greater than only a common NAS — it is good for backing up recordsdata in the event you’re a content material creator on the go, and you may even hook it as much as your TV to play films and video content material with an HDMI cable. If you happen to simply want it as an everyday USB drive, you’ll be able to plug it immediately into your laptop or cellphone. 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 recordsdata anytime, wherever.
- Pocket-sized portability
- Constructed-in UPS battery backup
- Glorious connectivity choices
- Brief battery life
- Costly
See our course of
How we test and review products at Pocket-lint
We do not do arm-chair analysis. We purchase and take a look at our personal merchandise, and we solely publish purchaser’s guides with merchandise we have really reviewed.
Value, specs, and availability
The UnifyDrive UT2 transportable NAS is at present solely accessible for pre-order from UnifyDrive’s Kickstarter page. After November 1, it’ll start transport and develop into accessible from Amazon for a MSRP of $600. If you buy any of the pre-order bundles from UnifyDrive’s Kickstarter, it can save you a bit of cash on the overall, with as much as 25% off for pre-orders, bringing the overall all the way 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 paying homage to the sleeves that LaCie exterior onerous 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 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 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.
Associated
I took the Panasonic S9 to the Renaissance Fair, and it made my content perfectly Insta-worthy
The Panasonic S9 is a colourful compact mirrorless digicam that is straightforward to be taught, however lacks some high-end options.
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 injury.
You get virtually every little thing you could 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 have to to supply your individual M.2 SSDs, which might add up shortly in the event you do not already personal them. If you wish to max out the UnifyDrive UT2 with two 8TB M.2 SSDs, you’ll be taking a look at spending roughly $1600 for simply the drives.
Associated
Best NVMe SSDs: Our choice of the fastest and best storage drives you can buy
NVMe drives have gotten an increasing number of widespread. With the rise in reputation of PCIe gen 4, they’re additionally getting quicker and quicker, however that are one of the best?
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 underneath the circuit board, offering ample processing energy for artistic workloads. If you happen to set up two M.2 drives into the UT2, you’ll be able to arrange a standard 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 may also 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 characteristic — it let me shoot a session and add every little thing to the NAS as quickly as I used to be carried out, with out even needing to the touch my laptop computer.
Associated
How I turned a forgotten phone into a fully functional NAS
Turning an previous cellphone right into a NAS is not as troublesome as you may assume.
Along with backing up your SD playing cards, you can too 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 characteristic because it’s nonetheless at present underneath improvement, however UnifyDrive advised me will probably be accessible on day one as soon as the UT2 ships in November. Cloud backups might be a good way to additional backup the NAS by connecting your Google Drive as a second fail-safe backup.
The app allows full entry to the UnifyDrive UT2, and it offers customers with an immense variety of options.
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 connect with it wirelessly through Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 assist. Notice that in preliminary setup, you will must be related to LAN to be able to replace the system for Wi-Fi connectivity to be usable.
Associated
5 reasons why turning your old phone into a NAS is worth it
Reworking your previous cellphone right into a NAS is a enjoyable challenge to create your individual server and be taught extra about your gadgets.
I really like that the wi-fi connection additionally permits you to use the NAS within the discipline. A number of computer systems can connect 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 photographs whereas nonetheless within the discipline, and my accomplice at dwelling was capable of edit the images 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 images on the market within the wilderness whereas they had been obtained at dwelling for enhancing.
In fact, you’ll need some type of web connection, however I used to be capable of obtain this with my iPhone’s hotspot. There is a built-in hotspot characteristic inside the UT2.
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. While you get began, you will have to 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 can take you thru the method of formatting your M.2 drive(s) and establishing your RAID configuration and arrange for added 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 straightforward to comply with, though as I discussed earlier, there are a ton of options packed into this tiny NAS. I’ve spent hours up to now few weeks testing the UnifyDrive UT2, and I have never made my manner by all of the options but. Nonetheless, I proceed to be impressed by all of the characteristic 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.
Associated
5 things I hope to see in the Sony A7 V camera
It has been three years for the reason that Sony A7 IV got here out, so we’re dreaming of the following iteration of Sony’s spectacular hybrid digicam.
As a photographer and videographer, the UnifyDrive UT2’s skill to obtain media immediately from media playing cards was my favourite characteristic total. You should utilize the SD card slot, which accepts microSD and TF card adapters, or the CFexpress Kind-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 important 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’ll 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 may handle and watch your obtain inside the UnifyDrive app, and the UT2 provides off three beeps to provide you with a warning that downloading is full. As soon as your recordsdata have been uploaded to the UT2, they are often accessed through LAN or Wi-Fi. A number of customers can connect with a single UT2 NAS, making the UT2 be a wonderful collaborative device. Relating to learn/write speeds of your uploads, your mileage will range relying on which connection technique you might be utilizing. The typical write time after I had the NAS related through Wi-Fi was about 5.5 MB/s with a learn pace of 8.9 MB/s.
Nonetheless, after I examined utilizing the UT2’s built-in hotspot, I used to be capable of take down a mean write pace of 60 MB/s and 78 MB/s learn. If you’d like the quickest potential speeds, you will need to switch recordsdata through USB Kind-C, which offers a mean write pace of 298 MB/s and a learn pace of 317 MB/s. Notice that whereas there’s a built-in UPS battery, it does not present one of the 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. Nonetheless, due to the broad connection choices, I may hold the UT2 going whereas out within the discipline by connecting it to an influence financial institution.
Associated
DJI’s Osmo Action 5 Pro could put mirrorless cameras on notice
The DJI Osmo Motion 5 Professional’s upgraded sensor is all about gentle and dynamic vary.
Must you purchase the UnifyDrive UT2?
The UnifyDrive UT2 has develop into one in every of my favourite gadgets I’ve had the chance to evaluate in 2024. It is an extremely bold challenge with a ton of options, but it surely’s additionally a wonderful transportable NAS for artistic professionals, and realistically, one of the best one accessible. 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 system, it is positively well worth the time.
As talked about earlier within the evaluate, a number of customers can connect with the UT2 concurrently and entry recordsdata, making it a terrific device for a manufacturing surroundings. I can see this being an indispensable device on movie units and picture shoots due to how a photographer can shoot from their digicam, add every little thing shortly to the NAS, all whereas permitting others to view and work with the recordsdata uploaded. You may also 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.
0:56
Associated
I skipped an outdoor TV in favor of this mini projector instead
Planning a film evening? Bringing this outdoors for nighttime viewing works manner higher than I anticipated.
Whereas it was a bit disappointing to see that not all UHS-II SD playing cards labored correctly with the NAS, the group 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. General, I feel the UnifyDrive UT2 is among the greatest productiveness instruments for a artistic skilled.
Whereas it has a considerably steep MSRP of $600, there is not any NAS in the marketplace 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
Trending Merchandise
