UnifyDrive UT2 assessment: pocket-sized powerhouse

After I used to consider a Network Attached Storage (NAS) drive, I pictured an enormous, clunky steel field crammed with noisy arduous drives. However the UnifyDrive UT2 completely adjustments that. It isn’t a lot greater than my iPhone 15 Pro Max or a regular power bank, and will simply slip into a big pocket. Even higher, it will probably run with out being plugged in, because of its built-in battery, and it will probably deal with some duties all by itself, making it a really perfect companion for any inventive skilled who finds themselves within the discipline typically.

The UnifyDrive UT2 is greater than only a common NAS — it is good for backing up information should 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. In case you simply want it as a daily USB drive, you possibly can plug it instantly into your pc 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 Selection

UnifyDrive UT2

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

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 moveable NAS is presently solely accessible for pre-order from UnifyDrive’s Kickstarter page. After November 1, it is going to start transport and change 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 whole, with as much as 25% off for pre-orders, bringing the whole all the way down to $450.

Design: UnifyDrive UT2

A rugged rubber case and an efficient cooling system

UnifyDrive designed the UT2 with inventive professionals, significantly 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 arduous drives include. The machine itself includes a sturdy all-metal chassis. The backplate is slotted for air flow, and there are correct cutouts within the rubber casing that wraps the machine 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 possibly can throw two 8TB SSDs within the UnifyDrive UT2, maxing out its inner storage functionality at 16TB.

Talking of ports, for such a compact machine, I used to be stunned 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 aspect of the machine, 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 nearly every thing that you must 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 personal 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 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 inventive workloads. In case you set up two M.2 drives into the UT2, you possibly can arrange a conventional NAS RAID configuration of your selecting.

As a photographer and videographer, I used to be extraordinarily pleased 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 aspect 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 carried out, with out even needing to the touch my laptop computer.

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Along with backing up your SD playing cards, you can even use the companion UnifyDrive cell and desktop app to again up your smartphone to the NAS. I wasn’t in a position to take a look at out the cloud backup function because it’s nonetheless presently underneath improvement, however UnifyDrive informed me it is going to be accessible on day one as soon as the UT2 ships in November. Cloud backups shall be a good 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’ll a traditional NAS by connecting to your router through the Ethernet jack, or you possibly can connect with it wirelessly through Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 assist. Notice that in preliminary setup, you may have to be linked to LAN with the intention to replace the machine for Wi-Fi connectivity to be usable.

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I really like that the wi-fi connection additionally allows you to use the NAS within the discipline. A number of computer systems can connect 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 photos whereas nonetheless within the discipline, and my companion at dwelling was in a position to 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 modifying.

Efficiency and battery life: UnifyDrive UT2

An infinite variety of use circumstances

The UnifyDrive UT2 runs on UnifyDrive’s personal working system referred to as UDOS. Once you get began, you may 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 may be taken via a guided setup which can take you thru the method of formatting your M.2 drive(s) and organising your RAID configuration and arrange for extra options equivalent to HDMI output and flash drive mode, which permits the UT2 to be acknowledged as an exterior storage machine.

I discovered the guided setup simple to observe, 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 via all of the options but. Nonetheless, I proceed to be impressed by all of the function choices of the UT2. Whereas the machine 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 potential to obtain media instantly from media playing cards was my favourite function general. 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 you need to do is solely insert your media card into the suitable slot and double-click the aspect button. As soon as the NAS beeps twice, it is going to 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 throughout the UnifyDrive app, and the UT2 provides 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 connect with a single UT2 NAS, making the UT2 be a superb collaborative device. In the case of learn/write speeds of your uploads, your mileage will range relying on which connection technique you might be utilizing. The common write time after I had the NAS linked 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 in a position to take down a median write pace of 60 MB/s and 78 MB/s learn. If you need the quickest doable speeds, you may need to switch information through USB Sort-C, which supplies a median 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 the perfect lifespan. On common, I used to be in a position to 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 preserve the UT2 going whereas out within the discipline by connecting it to an influence financial institution.

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Must you purchase the UnifyDrive UT2?

The UnifyDrive UT2 has change into considered one of my favourite units I’ve had the chance to assessment in 2024. It is an extremely formidable challenge with a ton of options, nevertheless it’s additionally a superb moveable NAS for inventive professionals, and realistically, the perfect 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 study all of the options of this nice machine, it is positively definitely worth the time.

As talked about earlier within the assessment, a number of customers can connect with the UT2 concurrently and entry information, making it an awesome device for a manufacturing surroundings. I can see this being an indispensable device on movie units and picture 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 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 staff 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 without doubt one of the finest productiveness instruments for a inventive 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 probabilities of what you do with them are infinite, and that is positively the case with the UnifyDrive UT2.

Editor’s Selection

UnifyDrive UT2