UnifyDrive UT2 evaluation: pocket-sized powerhouse

After I used to think about a Network Attached Storage (NAS) drive, I pictured a giant, clunky metallic 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 a regular power bank, and will simply slip into a big pocket. Even higher, it will possibly run with out being plugged in, because of its built-in battery, and it will possibly deal with some duties all by itself, making it an excellent companion for any artistic skilled who finds themselves within the discipline typically.

The UnifyDrive UT2 is greater than only a common NAS — it is excellent for backing up information for those who’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. In the event you simply want it as a daily USB drive, you possibly can plug it immediately into your pc 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 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 permits you to entry, share, and again up your information anytime, wherever.

Professionals

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

Cons

• Brief battery life
• Costly

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Worth, specs, and availability

The UnifyDrive UT2 moveable NAS is presently solely obtainable for pre-order from UnifyDrive’s Kickstarter page. After November 1, it would start transport and turn out to be obtainable 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 full, with as much as 25% off for pre-orders, bringing the full 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, 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 onerous drives include. The machine 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 machine 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 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 facet 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 digicam bag or backpack — or perhaps a jacket pocket — with out having to fret about injury.

You get nearly every little thing you have 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 will want to offer your personal M.2 SSDs, which might add up rapidly for those who 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.

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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 below the circuit board, offering ample processing energy for artistic workloads. In the event 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 completely happy 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 permit 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 finished, 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 cellular and desktop app to again up your smartphone to the NAS. I wasn’t capable of check out the cloud backup characteristic because it’s nonetheless presently below improvement, however UnifyDrive advised me it is going to be obtainable on day one as soon as the UT2 ships in November. Cloud backups will probably 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 simple — you possibly can run the UT2 as you’d a traditional NAS by connecting to your router through the Ethernet jack, or you possibly can hook up with it wirelessly through Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 assist. Observe that in preliminary setup, you may should be linked to LAN with a purpose 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 hook up 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 pictures whereas nonetheless within the discipline, and my associate at residence was capable of edit the photographs as they got here in. It is a newer method for me to make use of a NAS, and I used to be impressed with how streamlined and easy it felt to add my photographs on the market within the wilderness whereas they have been obtained at residence for modifying.

Efficiency and battery life: UnifyDrive UT2

An countless variety of use instances

The UnifyDrive UT2 runs on UnifyDrive’s personal working system known as UDOS. Whenever you get began, you may must obtain the UnifyDrive desktop or cellular app, and join the UT2 to a LAN connection to replace the UDOS firmware. When you launch the app, you may 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 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 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 method by means of all of the options but. Nevertheless, I proceed to be impressed by all of the characteristic 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 means to obtain media immediately from media playing cards was my favourite characteristic total. 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 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 would start downloading all of the media saved on the cardboard.

All through my testing, I discovered no drawback 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 information have been uploaded to the UT2, they are often accessed through LAN or Wi-Fi. A number of customers can hook up 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 typical write time once I had the NAS linked through Wi-Fi was about 5.5 MB/s with a learn velocity of 8.9 MB/s.

Nevertheless, 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 doable speeds, you may need to switch information through USB Sort-C, which supplies a median write velocity of 298 MB/s and a learn velocity of 317 MB/s. Observe 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. Nevertheless, because of the large connection choices, I might hold the UT2 going whereas out within the discipline by connecting it to an influence financial institution.

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Do you have to purchase the UnifyDrive UT2?

The UnifyDrive UT2 has turn out to be one in every of my favourite units I’ve had the chance to evaluation in 2024. It is an extremely formidable venture with a ton of options, however it’s additionally a superb moveable NAS for artistic professionals, and realistically, the most effective one obtainable. 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 machine, it is positively well worth the time.

As talked about earlier within the evaluation, a number of customers can hook up with the UT2 concurrently and entry information, making it an awesome 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 digicam, add every little 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 group 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 likely one of 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 lovely 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