- The OWC Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 8TB SSD reaches speeds of over 6000MB per second.
- Bus-powered operation eliminates the need for external adapters or power blocks
- Compatible with Macs, Windows systems, tablets and other platforms
OWC has announced an 8TB version of its Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 external SSD, expanding a lineup already focused on high-bandwidth portable storage.
According to OWC, this device is the first Thunderbolt 5 external SSD to reach this capability while remaining fully bus-powered without reliance on external adapters.
It delivers transfer speeds of over 6000 MB per second. per second under suitable conditions and supports a wide range of modern computing platforms.
Thunderbolt 5 interface
The Envoy Ultra 8TB relies on a PCIe Gen4-class internal architecture paired with the Thunderbolt 5 interface that Intel introduced to ease data transfer limitations for demanding workloads.
OWC claims the drive can also draw the maximum possible bandwidth when connected to Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3 or USB4 systems.
However, performance varies depending on the host’s hardware.
“The Envoy Ultra is … robust, reliable and fast in ways you actually feel in real work, not just on a spec sheet … you get over 6000 MB per second without external power, adapters or noise,” said Larry O’Connor, founder and CEO, Other World Computing (OWC).
“With this, the first and only 8TB Thunderbolt 5 SSD, professionals no longer have to choose between speed, capacity or portability.” he added.
The Envoy Ultra uses a fanless aluminum chassis that dissipates heat passively, eliminating mechanical noise during sustained operation in quiet work environments.
The enclosure has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, allowing limited exposure to moisture while remaining vulnerable to full submersion.
However, this portable SSD is designed to withstand physical stress during transport.
Power is drawn directly from the host system through an integrated Thunderbolt cable, eliminating the need for external power supplies or detachable adapters during mobile use.
The drive is compatible with Macs, Windows systems, iPad Pros, Chromebooks and Surface devices, allowing use across multiple platforms without separate hardware variants.
“Thunderbolt 5 is designed to remove bottlenecks, giving creators and power users the freedom to work at full speed wherever they are,” said Ben Hacker, General Manager, Client Connectivity Division, Intel.
“OWC’s 8TB Envoy Ultra is a great example of pairing Thunderbolt 5 performance with massive capacity and a truly portable design that enables workflows that weren’t practical before.”
The 8TB Envoy Ultra is priced at $1,699.99, much higher than the lower-capacity Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 SSD, which starts at $449.99. It is available at OWC’s official store and major retail platforms.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can too follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, video unboxings, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
