Best USB4 NVMe Enclosures: M.2 SSD Drives with 40Gbps Speeds

I have previously covered the confusing mess of names for USB and the differences between USB4 vs USB 3.2 Gen 2.

Technically, USB4 can be 20Gbps for USB4 Gen 2×2, which is also the same speed as USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, even though there are differences between the two.

However, I wanted to find an enclosure for an NVMe drive that would provide the best speeds possible.

I previously reviewed the Sabrent EC-SNVE, which is only 10Gbps with USB 3.2 Gen 2×1. With a PCIe 3.0 drive has speeds up to 3500MB/s or 28000 Mbps. So if you want the fastest external storage possible, you need a USB4 SSD or to install an NVMe drive into a USB4 enclosure.

With a PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe drive such as the FURY Renegade or the KC3000 you have read/write speeds of around 7,000/7,000MB/s or 56000Mbps. However, from what I can tell, USB4 enclosures don’t support PCIe 4.0

I have also reviewed the excellent Orico Montage MTQ-40G external SSD, which was the first USB4 SSD to launch, and it has read speeds rated as up to 3,126MB/s. I was able to achieve 3,340MB/s for sequential reads and nearly 2000MB/s for writes.

If you would prefer to use your own NVMe drive, then there are several USB4 enclosures available on Amazon. However, it would appear that some are advertised as USB4 but are, in fact, Thunderbolt, so you need to be careful about what you pick.

Best 40Gbps USB4 NVMe Enclosures

Acasis TBU401 40Gbps M.2 NVMe Enclosure

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	NVMe Enclosure for Thunderbolt, Tool-Free 40Gbps Aluminum...	No ratings yet	£104.99	Buy on Amazon

This USB4 enclosure appears to be the best all around option. It is the most affordable choice on Amazon, and it has the best reviews.

The is a toolless enclosure that is compatible with M-key 2280 drives. There is an included thermal pad to reduce thermal throttling.

The description states that this is not compatible with Samsung 970 EVO Plus SSD, SN850 and iPad. Not recommended ADATA, CRUCIAL, and other non-mainstream SSDs.

Their own test reports state that the WD Black SN850 has transfer speeds of 2717MB/s read and 2748MB/s write. Some user reviews report speeds of up to 3000MB/s for some drives.

A lot of users seem to buy this for the Mac M1 or M2, though that will be using Thunderbolt.

ORICO 40Gbps M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure

About the same price as the Acasis, but less positive reviews. Reviews criticise the build quality and suggest it should have been an aluminium housing.

One reviewer suggested this is one of the best options to buy because it uses the Realtek RTL9210 controller, which is superior to the Jmicron or AMS controller.

This model confirms it is also compatible with Thunderbolt3/4, USB3.2/3.1/3.0 interfaces.

USB4 Enclosures that I do NOT recommend

There are a few enclosures on Amazon that are listed as being compatible with USB4, but reviews and even product descriptions indicate this may not be the case.

These products are Thunderbolt 3, which is not the same as USB4, and therefore, you may not get the 40Gbps throughput USB4 is capable of. Many of the good reviews these drives get are from people using them with Macs and, therefore, Thunderbolt.

Yottamaster USB4 NVMe Enclosure

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	Yottamaster 40Gbps NVMe Enclosure with Heatsink, Aluminum...	No ratings yet		Buy on Amazon

This has basically the same specification as the Acasis, but the reviews are not as positive.

I am not specifically recommending this one because user reviews suggest it may not be USB4 at all.

It works with Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) and USB 3.1 Gen2 (10Gbps) modes and may not even support USB 3.2 Gen2x2 mode (20Gbps).

The controllers used are JH7440 and JMS583. JHL7440 is a Thunderbolt 3 controller (40Gbps), while JMS583 supports up to USB 3.1 Gen2 (10Gbps). JHL7440, while supporting 40Gbps, is a Thunderbolt 3, not USB4/Thunderbolt 4, controller.

Yottamaster USB4(40Gbps) NVMe Enclosure

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	Yottamaster 40Gbps NVMe Enclosure for 2280 NVMe SSD, M.2 USB...	No ratings yet	£99.98	Buy on Amazon

Same brand as above, but different enclosure, I would guess it is the same hardware inside.

This model appears well-reviewed, but the reviews are all for the other enclosures models on that page, not the USB4.

It is listed at £140, but when I checked the Amazon page, there was a 20% off voucher taking it down to £112, which is about the same as the other enclosures I have listed.

This is an aluminium enclosure with a heatsink, so it hopefully has better cooling than the ORICO.

SANZANG 40Gbps M.2 NVMe enclosure

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	NVMe Enclosure compatible with Thunderbolt 3/4 USB...	No ratings yet	£89.99	Buy on Amazon

This is the cheapest option I could find. This model confirms it uses the JHL7440 chip, but as mentioned above, that’s a Thunderbolt controller, not USB4.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.

Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API