Top 15 Best NVMe Enclosures of 2025

NVMe enclosures let you use M.2 NVMe SSDs as high-speed external drives. In 2025, they’re especially relevant because most new PCs and laptops support Thunderbolt 4/USB4 (40 Gbps) and fast USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps) ports. This means external NVMe enclosures can nearly match internal SSD speeds, making them ideal for video editing, large backups, and gaming. We selected these enclosures based on transfer speed (interface bandwidth and real-world throughput), thermal performance (effective cooling), build quality, ease of installation, and brand reputation.

Selection criteria: We prioritized maximum interface speeds (USB4/TB4 or USB3.2 Gen2x2), robust cooling (fans or heat sinks), tool-free or easy installation, and reliable brands. We also considered any unique features (e.g. status displays, RAID support). Each pick is backed by expert reviews or benchmarks.

1. Orico M2V0-C4 (40Gbps Thunderbolt 4/USB4)

Type: Single M.2 NVMe (2280) enclosure, Aluminum chassis, includes USB-C cables (C–C and C–A).

Why we like it: This Orico enclosure connects at 40 Gbps (Thunderbolt 4 / USB4) and delivered ~3110 MB/s read, 1422 MB/s write in testing – roughly triple a 10 Gbps enclosure. It comes with an aluminum case that has ridges and an included thermal pad to keep SSDs cool. Reviewers praise its speed and broad compatibility. Notably, it worked seamlessly even on plain USB 3.2 Gen2 ports (mounting immediately without issues), unlike some USB4 docks.

• Pros: 40 Gbps throughput for PCIe 4×4 NVMe (real speeds ~3.1 GB/s); solid aluminum build with thermal pad for cooling; supports TB4/USB4 and backward USB 3.x.
• Cons: Supports only 2280-size drives; uses special Torx-like screws (though a driver is included); premium features make it pricier than basic enclosures.

2. UGREEN USB4 NVMe Enclosure (40Gbps, Active Cooling)

Type: Single M.2 NVMe enclosure, aluminum with built-in fan, includes USB4/TB4 cable.

Why we like it: This enclosure is a 40 Gbps USB4/Thunderbolt 4 device with a high-end thermal design. In benchmarks, it “delivers on its 40Gbps promise,” pushing modern PCIe 4.0 drives to nearly 3.2 GB/s reads and 3.1 GB/s writes. Its aluminum case and near-silent fan keep drive temperatures very low even under heavy load. The build is described as “premium” – smooth aluminum machining with precise fit, and the sliding toolless mechanism makes SSD swaps easy. It’s certified for Thunderbolt 4 (ASM2464PD chipset), so it works flawlessly with USB4/TB4 hosts and is backward-compatible with USB 3.2.

• Pros: Full 40 Gbps performance (tested ~3200 MB/s); excellent active cooling with almost silent operation; solid aluminum build and tool-free SSD installation.
• Cons: Premium price (~$80)hipsterpixel.co; bundled cable is somewhat shorthipsterpixel.co.

3. Sabrent EC-SNVE (10Gbps USB-C, Tool-Free)

Type: Single M.2 NVMe (and SATA) enclosure, aluminum, toolless.

Why we like it: Sabrent’s EC-SNVE is one of the best 10 Gbps enclosures for general use. Its tool-free flip-top design is highly praised – a side button pops open the lid which stays attached, making SSD swaps very easy. A built-in thermal pad on the lid presses the SSD against the metal case for heat dissipation. Performance is solid for a USB 3.2 Gen 2 enclosure (around 800 MB/s reads). In testing it was “within striking distance” of the fastest 10 Gbps models, and even posted the best 4K random I/O of its class. It supports both NVMe and SATA M.2 drives, though NVMe speeds are the highlight.

• Pros: Seamless toolless assembly; includes thermal pad for cooling; supports NVMe/SATA drives; strong 10 Gbps throughput (measured ~811/538 MB/s).
• Cons: No USB-A adapter included (USB-C only); limited to 10 Gbps interface (no TB3 support).

4. DockCase Visual Smart M.2 (10Gbps, Premium Design)

Type: Single M.2 NVMe/SATA (2230–2280) enclosure, aluminum bottom + tempered glass top, includes USB-C cable with Type-A adapter.

Why we like it: The DockCase Visual is a premium 10 Gbps enclosure notable for its built-in LCD status screen – a rare feature. The tiny display (1.33″) shows drive info such as capacity, free space, health status and even battery level. This model also has a short battery that provides 5–10 seconds of power-loss protection, helping prevent data loss if unplugged unexpectedly. Beyond the gimmicks, it’s well-made: a gunmetal aluminum chassis with a sleek tempered-glass top. Performance is on par with other 10 Gbps enclosures – roughly 700–1000 MB/s sequential. Reviews say it looks “swanky” and may justify the extra cost for its unique features.

• Pros: Unique integrated LCD status display; power-loss protection (built-in battery); attractive premium build (aluminum + glass).
• Cons: Glass top is fragile and easily smudged; extra features make it more expensive than typical 10 Gbps enclosures.

5. OWC Express 4M2 (Thunderbolt 3, 4×NVMe RAID)

Type: Four M.2 NVMe slots, Thunderbolt 3 interface, aluminum enclosure with silent active cooling fan.

Why we like it: For power users, OWC’s 4M2 packs four NVMe SSDs into one TB3 box. It can be configured as RAID-0 for massive speed or RAID-10/1 for redundancy. In practice it delivered ~2300 MB/s read and write in sustained transfers (Blackmagic test) using four drives – effectively saturating TB3 bandwidth. The aluminum case is compact and holds a quiet fan; reviewers noted that even under full load it remained “palpably quiet” and maintained performance without throttling. OWC includes SoftRAID software (licensing a raid controller) and provides DisplayPort output on the TB3 passthrough. Overall it’s a pro-grade solution – as one reviewer put it, its performance is “unrivaled” in its class.

• Pros: Supports up to 4 NVMe SSDs (up to ~2.3 GB/s in RAID‑0); compact aluminum design with quiet active cooling; built-in RAID via SoftRAID.
• Cons: Very expensive (~$349 with SoftRAID); requires external power (not bus-powered); overkill if you only need one drive.

6. Orico USB 3.2 Gen2×2 (20Gbps) M.2 Enclosure

Standout: This 20 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen2×2) enclosure doubles the bandwidth of typical 10 Gbps models. Reviewers found it moves large files “nearly twice as fast” as 10 Gbps drives. It uses an ASMedia ASM2364 chipset (same as used in 2× speed enclosures), and comes with a thermal pad and aluminum heatsink. In practice it reliably hits ~2000 MB/s sequential transfers (with a Gen4 NVMe SSD). The solid aluminum case feels robust, though it’s a bit heavier than cheaper 10 Gbps boxes. If your PC has a 20 Gbps USB-C port, this Orico maximizes it with minimal fuss.

7. ASUS ROG Strix Arion M.2 SSD Enclosure

Standout: A striking design with ROG RGB accent, this 10 Gbps enclosure offers tool-optional installation. It uses an ASMedia ASM2362 chipset (PCIe 3.0 ×2) and caps at ~1000 MB/s. Its all-aluminum shell is very rigid, and it includes both USB-C and USB-A cables in-box. As a bonus for gamers, it has RGB lighting (hence the Strix branding). Reviewers note it “performs as expected” for a 10 Gbps box and is “convenient, robust, and great-looking” – the main drawback is it’s pricier than generic 10 Gbps enclosures.

8. SSK Aluminum M.2 NVMe Enclosure (10Gbps)

Standout: An ultra-affordable 10 Gbps USB-C enclosure (~$20) that surprisingly holds up to high-end competition. The SSK box is solidly built from aluminum, comes with USB-C and USB-A cables, and even includes a screwdriver and thermal pad. In benchmarks it “is just as fast as its more expensive competitors,” fully saturating the 10 Gbps interface. Reviewers praise it as a low-cost way to reuse a spare NVMe SSD: its aluminum case and pad keep temperatures in check, and sequential speeds hit the 1000–1100 MB/s ceiling. The only caveat is a somewhat flimsy internal PCB spring clip, but for many users its value is unbeatable.

9. Plugable USB-C NVMe Enclosure (10Gbps)

Standout: A budget-friendly (~$50) USB-C to NVMe enclosure with a tool-free design. Reviewers highlight its ease of use – the case pops open without tools, and it comes with both Type-C and Type-A cables. It offers solid 10 Gbps performance (up to ~1000 MB/s). Tom’s Hardware gave it high marks for its combination of build and price, noting “the tool-free design makes dropping in an M.2 SSD a snap” and it delivers 10 Gb/s throughput reliably. One caveat is that some very old USB-C ports may have compatibility quirks, but in modern systems it performs well.

10. Yottamaster Swift Wind USB4 (40Gbps)

Standout: A new USB4/TB4 enclosure specifically built for next-gen SSDs. The Swift Wind is two-piece CNC aluminum (gray bottom + acrylic top) with an integrated fan. It’s completely toolless – the top slides off and plastic locking pins secure the SSD. In testing, it allowed Gen4 and Gen5 SSDs to run at full 40 Gbps speeds on Thunderbolt 4 (with proper host support). Critically, reviewers found almost no heat or noise even with fast drives, thanks to the ventilated design. It’s designed for PCIe 4.0/5.0 SSDs on the latest platforms, reaching the theoretical ~40 Gbps limit. (One note: it works best on recent Intel/Thunderbolt 4 systems as advertised.)

 

11. ACASIS TBU-405 (40Gbps Thunderbolt 4)

Standout: A Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 M.2 enclosure that advertises “Real Read/Write up to 3,100 MB/s” using PCIe Gen4 SSDs. It’s similar to the UGREEN and Yottamaster units (ASM2464PD chipset with active cooling). The TBU-405 is noted online for solid performance at full 40 Gbps speeds and a robust metal build. It’s compact and includes fans and thermal pads. (Detailed benchmarks are scarce in official sources, but manufacturer specs and user reports confirm ~3100 MB/s transfers on Thunderbolt 4.)

12. Sabrent EC-T3DN Thunderbolt 3 Dual NVMe Enclosure

Standout: A rare dual-drive Thunderbolt 3 enclosure from Sabrent. It holds two NVMe SSDs and supports software RAID. With one drive it hits ~1500 MB/s (PCIe 3.0 ×4 limit), but in RAID‑0 it reaches the full 2.8 GB/s TB3 bandwidth. The case is full aluminum (with removable base) and even includes a power adapter for the extra drive bay. Reviews note you can “create logical drives from two SSDs” or stripe them for maximum speed. This is a great choice when you need double capacity or built-in RAID in a portable Thunderbolt 3 box (the drawback is it needs the power brick to run both drives).

13. StarTech 4-Bay Thunderbolt 3 NVMe Enclosure

Standout: A high-end workstation enclosure (StarTech M2E4BTB3) that holds four M.2 NVMe SSDs behind Thunderbolt 3. It provides two TB3 ports (for daisy-chaining) and hardware RAID support. This is aimed at professionals who need huge capacity/speed (e.g. video editors). It delivers 40 Gbps and can run drives in RAID 0 or 5, although real-world speeds depend on drive selection. In short, it’s a mini RAID server – bulky and costly, but unmatched for heavy workloads.

14. Sonnet Echo Dual M.2 (Thunderbolt 3)

Standout: A Thunderbolt 3 dock with two NVMe slots (plus extra USB ports). The Echo Dual M.2 is essentially a toolless TB3 enclosure with built-in cooling and DisplayPort passthrough. It’s “utilitarian” in design, but it lets users plug in two NVMe SSDs to any TB3-equipped Mac or PC. It supports RAID and can serve as both a data dock and an external GPU host. Its key appeal is combining dual-drive storage with docking in one box.

15. VCOM 40Gbps Thunderbolt NVMe Enclosure (Model CU872)

VCOM’s CU872 is a pro-grade NVMe enclosure tailored for creators, engineers, and power users who require ultra-fast and reliable external storage. Built with full USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 compatibility, it supports up to 40Gbps bandwidth and real-world speeds around 2800 MB/s when paired with PCIe Gen4 SSDs, making it ideal for high-performance tasks like 4K/8K video editing, AI dataset transfers, and RAW photo backups.

Unlike cheaper enclosures limited to USB 3.2 Gen2 or Gen2x2, the VCOM CU872 fully utilizes next-gen connectivity protocols and supports up to 4TB of NVMe storage (M-Key or B+M Key, 2280 format). The enclosure is constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum alloy for excellent thermal performance, and its slim design (4.3" long and just 216g) makes it portable yet durable.

Summary of remaining picks (quick notes): Other notable enclosures include compact USB3.2 boxes (like a UGREEN or Asus ROG Arion) for basic use, and specialty NAS/RAID solutions (e.g. QNAP or Synology NVMe trays) for network storage. For average users, a 10 Gbps USB-C enclosure (items #3, #4, #8–#9) covers most needs; for enthusiasts, the USB4/TB4 models (#1, #2, #10–#12) unlock the newest SSD speeds. Finally, keep an eye on cooling: many modern enclosures add fans or heatsinks because high-performance NVMe SSDs generate heat.