Apple Compatible ThunderBolt 4 SSD's
Shopping for an blazingly fast and future-proof Mac compatible external ThunderBolt 4 data backup hardware solution? The combination of Thunderbolt 4 ports and solid-state storage technology is the optimal match for the newest Mac Studio, MacBook, iMac and Mac Mini computers with the universal Type-C interface. The TBolt4 port connector supports both 40Gbps Thunderbolt and (currently) 10Gbps USB 3.2 protocols in a unifying interface for nearly any type of Macintosh peripheral, old or new. Here we feature Mac friendly SSD backup drives for ThunderBolt 4 (USB-C) enabled laptop and desktop computers that incorporate TB4's extremely fast data interface.4 Best Thunderbolt4 - USB4 Compatible Drives To Buy
Top Recommendation: The very affordable Sabrent Rocket Portable SSD with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Ready universal chipset works on Macs old and new:
Best Performance For The Buck
The best choice for Thunderbolt 4 compatible external SSD's incorporate Intel's latest bridge chipsets to assure current and future interoperability. Fortunately a handful of the best Thunderbolt 3 SSD's are already available using this Intel chipset to operate now as a Thunderbolt 3 - USB 3.2 drive that's ready for the Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 future. Without this new chipset, older drives on the market are Thunderbolt 3-ONLY and can't be used on other computers only having 10GBps USB-C speed ports.
Below are 3 more recommended solid-state drives with the new Universal Intel chipset that will work great on your current Macintosh - and well into the Thunderbolt 4 future:
Lacie TBolt 4 Compatible SSD
Ultra Compact Thunderbolt 4 SSD Drive
Stylish Metal OWC Envoy Pro FX Thunderbolt 4-Ready SSD:
OWC TBolt 4 Compatible SSD
Super-Cooling Heatsink Enclosure
Solid-State Fantom eXtreme Thunderbolt 4-Ready SSD:
Fantom Extreme TBolt 4 Compatible SSD
Western Digital Black SSD Inside
Any of the above portable, external backup drives are a safe choice to leverage Apple's current generation of high speed ports, and will continue to work well as Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 device connectivity on Macintosh computers evolves.
Future Proof DIY Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 SSD Enclosures
Many Mac users will want to build their own ThunderBolt 4 backup drive using the off-the-shelf NVMe SSD solid-state drive modules of their choosing. Drive enclosure manufacturers are now offering full, future-proof 40Gbps USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 SSD enclosures using the latest TB4 controller chipsets.M.2 NVMe PCIe Thunderbolt 4 Certified Enclosures
Here's two of the first fully certified ThunderBolt 4 / USB4 NVMe SSD drive enclosures to reach the market. Read product pages carefully and check the vendor's website for the Brands & Models of the SSD blades they recommend for the fastest and most reliable operation. Some blades perform significantly better than others.Yottamaster Thunderbolt 4 + USB4 NVMMe SSD Heatsink Enclosure
Speeds Up To 2800MBps : With Type-C Thunderbolt & USB4 Cables
Ankmax Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 NVMMe SSD Enclosure
Up To 2800MBps Speeds : Includes .5m Type-C Thunderbolt 4Cable
Intel and Apple ThunderBolt 4 Technology
As initially envisioned, the ThunderBolt specification has evolved at a steady pace during this decade. Transitioning through the original 10Gbps Thunderbolt spec, the 20Gpbs 2nd generation Thunderbolt 2 also used the mini DisplayPort style of connector, and a doubling of Read / Write speeds was possible. With the transition to 40Gbps ThunderBolt 3 and 4, speeds are doubled yet again with a new, smaller unifying Type-C connector. With an Apple Thunderbolt 4 to Thunderbolt adapter, you can continue to use older mini DisplayPort TBolt devices on the latest TB3 or TB4 Macs, preserving any legacy data storage hardware investments.ThunderBolt 4 Backward Compatibility
Remember, a new Mac's Type-C ports speak both ThunderBolt and USB protocols. With an appropriate USB-C to USB-A adapter dongle or cable, older USB 1.1, 2.0 and USB 3.0 devices can be used on a modern ThunderBolt 4 port. Backward compatibility is assured, though older USB Apple peripherals won't derive any speed related benefit. There are also mini DisplayPort to ThunderBolt 3 adapters to help preserve your investment in older ThunderBolt 1 & 2 peripherals as well.Disclosure : Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPad, iPod, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini or iMac, OS X and several others are a registered trademark of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and other countries and regions. Several other computing peripheral, accessory, upgrade, add-on or gizmo and gadget mfrs, brands and product names which may be referred to at this page are registered trademarks of each respected technology corporate entity.