Orico Mecha O20 2TB evaluate: Get this rugged exterior SSD as an alternative of the Samsung T9

Orico is finest recognized for its HDD and SSD enclosures, and the Chinese language producer has been at it for over 15 years. The model has just lately ventured into Thunderbolt 4 docking stations, storage servers, and SSDs, and I am kickstarting protection with the Mecha O20, a rugged exterior SSD that is aiming to go up towards the likes of the Essential X10 Professional and Samsung T9.

The Mecha O20 is obtainable in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage variants, and the 2TB mannequin I am utilizing is obtainable for $167 on Amazon, an attractive 30% low cost on its $239 retail worth. The low cost makes it a significantly better worth than its rivals, and having used the Mecha O20 for the higher a part of a month, I can confidently say that it holds up towards the perfect that this section has to supply.

Design is a key speaking level of the Mecha O20, so let’s begin there. Whereas most exterior SSDs have an enclosure that is weather-resistant and tumble-proof, Orico is taking issues to a complete new degree. The chassis of the Mecha O20 is made out of an aluminum alloy, and it’s sturdy in its personal proper. However what’s fascinating is that Orico added silicon casing to the chassis, and that enables it to resist the weather significantly better.

The most effective half is that the USB-C port can also be coated by a silicone plug, and you will have to carry the flap to get to the connector. The one concern with that is that as a result of the port is recessed, you’ll be able to’t use all USB-C cables; the standard Acefast cables I exploit have a bigger USB connector, they usually had been too massive; this is identical drawback as having a cumbersome telephone case.

Fortunately, Orico features a 20Gbps cable with the package deal, and it has a 2-in-1 connector that doubles as USB-A or USB-C primarily based heading in the right direction machine. I plugged the SSD into a number of Android telephones, Home windows machine, and the iPhone 15 Professional Max, and it labored straight out the bat — no have to configure something. 

The chassis and added silicone casing makes the Mecha O20 bulkier than most exterior SSDs, however it is not so massive that it impacts portability — you’ll be able to nonetheless carry it round in a bag with ease. At 189g, it is not heavy both, and the gray coloration scheme is inconspicuous.

There is a hanging loop to 1 aspect, and in the event you’re so inclined, you’ll be able to connect the SSD to the surface of your bag — it’s proof against rain, tumbles, and grime. The SSD comes with an IP54 ranking, so whereas it is not advisable to dunk it in water, it holds up extremely effectively in every other state of affairs.

The Mecha O20 makes use of a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface, and meaning you get a 20Gbps bandwidth, with reads going as much as 2,000MB/s. There aren’t many gadgets that use the Gen 2×2 interface, and in that state of affairs, it switches to the 10Gbps USB normal. In my utilization, I noticed reads going as much as 1,829MB/s and writes of 1,634MB/s, and that is among the many highest of any exterior SSD I examined.

Random learn/writes hovered on the 200MB/s determine, and once more, that is a terrific exhibiting by the SSD. I did not see any points transferring hundreds of photographs and movies from the Vivo X100 Extremely and Pixel 8 Professional, and the shifting a whole lot of gigabytes of information from Home windows. On this regard, it has confirmed to be simply as dependable because the finest exterior SSDs.

Consequently, I’ve no qualms recommending the Mecha O20. I’ve a dozen exterior SSDs, and the Mecha O20 simply has essentially the most rugged design. Because of the Gen 2×2 interface, it’s among the many quickest SSDs round as effectively, and I did not see any points in day by day use. For those who’re in want of an exterior SSD and need one thing that does not value as a lot as Samsung, the Mecha O20 is the one to get.