Orico MagPro Portable SSD A20PLUS review
Orico MagPro Portable SSD A20PLUS: 30 Second Review
Specification
color: black
size: 75×65.5x12mm
Transmission rate: 20Gbps
capacity: 512GB/1TB/2TB
interface: Type-C USB3.2 Gen 2×2
cable: 0.13MC to C 20Gbps
Supported systems: Windows/Linux/Mac OS/iPhone
The A20PLUS is a portable SSD designed for use with an iPhone, but it can also be used with other phones. This drive enables you to increase internal capacity up to 2TB while also unlocking the power of ProRes video recording. The SSD uses magnetic technology that clips to the back of your phone and stays secure without the need for any other type of fixture. A short ribbon USB cable then connects the SSD to your smartphone to access the drive’s contents.
It couldn’t be easier to set up and use. The driver on the back of the phone, while it does add a little extra weight, actually makes the phone easier to handle, allowing for a better grip.
When used with an iPhone, you can unlock the ProRes video format, which can be accessed through Apple’s Camera app. This essentially allows you to shoot flat footage that can then be graded for a professional film look.
In addition to iPhone use, the drive works equally well with any Mac, PC, or Linux machine, and its 20Gbps interface enables ultra-fast transfer speeds of up to 2000MB/s. There are common limitations, so while most PCs will let you reach maximum transfer speeds using a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface (if you’re using a Mac), most PCs come with Thunderbolt 3 or 4, which slows down USB Performance of 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface to 10Gbps.
However, while this does limit transfer speeds on your Mac, you can still expect up to 1000MB/s, which is still very good. Overall, the relatively compact design, solid support on the back of the phone, and impressive transfer speeds make it a Best Portable SSD If you want to expand the capacity of your iPhone.
Orico MagPro Portable SSD A20PLUS: Price and Availability
The Orico MagPro Portable SSD A20PLUS is widely available and can be purchased through online retailers such as Amazon and Walmart, or directly from the Orico website here.
Orico MagPro Portable SSD A20PLUS: Design and Build
The design of the Orico MagPro Portable SSD A20PLUS is simple, with a large tile design that blends perfectly with the back of the smartphone. The drive is designed for use with the Apple iPhone series, essentially expanding the internal storage space. If you need to store large data files, videos or images, you can place them on the drive, plug in and access them via the USB Type-C port on the phone’s base. One of the great features of using such a drive is the ability to access the ProRes video file format through the camera, which is not natively available on Apple’s own iPhone internal storage.
The drive is relatively small, measuring 75 x 65.5 x 12 mm, and weighs just 41 grams, plus 6 grams with the small cable. It doesn’t add significant weight when you add it to the back of a smartphone. Interestingly, the drive is designed to fit nicely into the phone, rather than adding bulk or making it difficult to operate like other such drives.
While the SSD is designed for use with an iPhone and its MagSafe technology, a metal ring with an adhesive backing is also included in the box. The ring attaches to a non-MagSafe case or the back of an Android phone, allowing you to attach the drive exactly the same way as an iPhone. This is a very good addition.
Once the optical drive is in place, you can plug in the USB Type-C cable. Through testing, I found that this loop adds a nice rest between your index and middle fingers, allowing you to hold the phone steadily while recording with one hand.
Overall, the design of the Orrick MagPro Portable SSD A20PLUS is very well thought out. MagSafe technology for iPhone users allows you to easily connect via USB Type-C cable. Again, for Android users, adding a metal ring that sticks to the back of your phone could provide this neat solution.
Since the drive features USB Type-C technology, you can easily plug it into your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or any other device that accepts USB Type-C portable SSDs.
Orico MagPro Portable SSD A20PLUS: Features
As a portable SSD, the feature set is relatively limited. The main USP here is MagSafe compatibility, which allows you to secure the drive to the back of your iPhone to increase internal storage and unlock the ability to record ProRes video.
The drive has transfer speeds of up to 20Gbps, which is impressive, although you’ll need a compatible USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 device to access these speeds. In terms of storage capacity, three different options are available, ranging from 512GB to 2TB. For this review, I reviewed the 1TB version.
One of the nice things about this drive is that Orico designed its own custom Type-C cable, which is specifically designed to create a small loop between the drive and whatever device it’s connected to. This helps prevent the cable from getting pinched during use.
Otherwise, when it comes to features, the only thing that really stands out is your choice of blue or silver. Our review sample was of the blue variety, and to be honest, it looked closer to gray.
Orrick MagPro Portable SSD A20PLUS: Performance
Benchmark
Crystal disk mark: Read: 1929.69 MB/sec Write: 1860.85 MB/sec
As SSD: Read: 1822.43 MB/sec Write: 1612.59 MB/sec
Aja: Read: 1795 MB/sec Write: 1508 MB/sec
Behavior: Read: 1920 MB/sec Write: 1740 MB/sec
Starting with the Orico MagPro Portable SSD A20PLUS, the first step is to connect it to your Apple iPhone. For this test, I used an Apple iPhone 15 Pro, housed in the MOUS iPhone MagSafe case. Installing the drive into the back of the case is simple, and the connection between the drive and case is nice and secure.
Trying to use a non-MagSafe case with an SSD has proven that the connection between the drive and the back of the phone is less secure, so it’s worth noting that if you’re using a non-MagSafe case with your iPhone, you may need to remove the case to make sure it’s nice and secure connection.
Once the phone is in place, the drive can be looped back and connected to the phone’s base using a custom USB Type-C to Type-C cable. Once connected, the drive is ready and you can access the files stored on the drive through your iPhone’s interface.
To quickly access anything on the drive, all you need to do is go to the Files app on your iPhone, and under “Places,” you should see your Orico drive appear. When you click on it, you will see a list of all the files stored on the drive, which makes it very easy to use. One of the main reasons to use a portable SSD on an iPhone is to access the camera’s ProRes format. Here, if you go to the Apple Camera app and click “Video,” at the top, where the ProRes logo is usually crossed out, you can click to access higher bitrate video formats and capture professional-grade footage in your on the smartphone.
When it comes to performance and usage on the iPhone, everything is very well integrated and both the physical and data connections are secure, allowing for quick access to files and watching videos or music that you may want to take with you for offline access.
The process is equally simple when using the drive on an Android device. You simply plug it into the USB Type-C port on the base and use the browser app again to access the drive’s contents. I tested it with Vivo X100 and had no issues. The connection speed is also fast enough to watch high-resolution videos without any issues.
One of the great things about this drive is that it uses standard USB technology, specifically the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface, which enables transfer rates up to 20Gbps. While this does allow for super-fast transfer rates and the ability to use the drive as a work drive (not just for storage), there are some limitations. To maximize transfer speeds, you’ll need a machine that also supports the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface. Although this interface is widely used on many PCs, it is not available on Mac systems. So, while the drive itself is capable of delivering transfer rates of 2000MB per second on a Mac system, it will be downgraded to 10Gbps due to the interface Apple uses.
Tested on Apple iPhone 15 Pro, this SSD performed very well. Compared to many other portable SSDs designed for iPhone use (even those with MagSafe technology), what I really like is how secure it feels when it’s in place. The design also improves the usability and feel of the phone.
You should buy Orico MagPro Portable SSD A20PLUS
The Orico MagPro Portable SSD A20PLUS is a well-designed iPhone accessory ideal for the workplace, where you can increase the internal storage capacity so that you can store large files while retaining the phone’s internal storage for essentials.
When using it, the drive is easy to understand—you just attach it to the back of your phone, secure it with magnets, and plug in a USB Type-C cable. That’s it. Once done, you can access the files on the drive and play them through your iPhone. Likewise, when accessing the ProRes video format through the Apple Camera app, once the drive is connected, you can simply click on the icon and ProRes will be activated, giving you access to this high-resolution professional file format, which will see you A leap in video quality.
In addition to iPhone use, it is also available for Android operating systems. So, if you need to increase the internal storage space of your Android smartphone, you can also use this drive. While you might just use a microSD card (which is a more integrated solution), you still have options if you really need one. Even more usefully, thanks to the USB Type-C port, you can connect it to tablets and other devices (including laptops) for use as a more standard portable SSD. Here, it works extremely well due to its small size and sturdy construction.
With a device that supports the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface, you can get transfer rates very close to 20Gbps, which is impressive. The design also provides good heat dissipation, allowing you to maintain these transfer rates even if the drive is in constant use for a while. When used with Mac systems, performance decreases, with transfer rates dropping from 20Gbps to 10Gbps. However, this isn’t an issue with the drive, but rather the technology Apple has implemented, such as Thunderbolt 3 and 4, rather than the USB option.
After testing, the hard drive performed very well, and the 1TB capacity is more than enough for most videos and large data files. iPhone transfer rates have proven to be fast enough to transfer work documents, images, and videos quickly. Likewise, the transfer bitrate is very good when connected to laptops (Mac and PC systems), making it a great solution for mobile devices and laptops.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Row 0 – Cell 1 | Row 0 – Cell 2 | Row 0 – Cell 3 |
| value | This is great value if you’re looking for extra storage for your iPhone. | 5/5 | Row 1 – Cell 3 |
| design | The magnet connectors hold securely and the ribbon cable is relatively discreet and secure. | 4.5/5 | Row 2 – Cell 3 |
| feature | This drive keeps things simple, giving your iPhone the storage it needs without making things overly complicated. | 4/5 | Row 3 – Cell 3 |
| Performance | While ultra-fast transfer rates are possible, these rates are limited by the technology used by Apple. | 4.5/5 | Row 4 – Cell 3 |
| all | Excellent design and excellent value for money considering storage expansion and access to the ProRes file format. | 4.5/5 | Row 5 – Cell 3 |
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