- OWC Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 8TB SSD reaches speeds over 6,000 MB per second
- Bus-powered operation eliminates the need for external adapters or power bricks
- Compatible with Mac, Windows systems, tablets and other platforms
OWC has announced an 8TB version of its Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 external SSD, expanding a line that already focuses on high-bandwidth portable storage.
According to OWC, this device is the first Thunderbolt 5 external SSD to achieve this capacity while remaining fully bus-powered, without relying on external adapters.
It offers transfer speeds of over 6000 MB per second under suitable conditions and is compatible with a wide range of modern computing platforms.
Lightning 5 interface
The Envoy Ultra 8TB is based on an internal PCIe Gen4 class architecture combined with the Thunderbolt 5 interface, which Intel introduced to alleviate data transfer limitations for demanding workloads.
OWC claims that the drive can also consume the maximum possible bandwidth when connected to Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, or USB4 systems.
However, performance varies depending on host hardware.
“Envoy Ultra is… robust, reliable and fast in a way that really feels like real-world work, not just on a spec sheet… you’ll get over 6,000 MB per second without external power, adapters or noise,” said Larry O’Connor, founder and CEO of Other World Computing (OWC).
“With this, the first and only 8TB Thunderbolt 5 SSD, professionals will no longer have to choose between speed, capacity or portability.” he added.
The Envoy Ultra uses a fanless aluminum chassis that passively dissipates heat, eliminating mechanical noise during sustained operation in quiet work environments.
The housing is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, allowing for limited exposure to moisture while remaining vulnerable to total submersion.
However, this portable SSD is designed to withstand physical stress during transportation.
Power is drawn directly from the host system via 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 on multiple platforms without separate hardware variants.
“Thunderbolt 5 was designed to eliminate bottlenecks, giving creators and power users the freedom to work at full speed, wherever they are,” said Ben Hacker, General Manager of Intel’s Client Connectivity Division.
“OWC’s 8TB Envoy Ultra is a great example of combining Thunderbolt 5 performance with massive capacity and a truly portable design, enabling workflows that were previously impractical.”
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 on the official OWC store and major retail platforms.
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