Akasa Launches USB-C NVMe SSD Enclosure with Supercapacitor

[TheLostSwede]

Over the past few months, we've seen an explosion of magnetic NVMe SSD enclosures on the market and now Akasa has joined the fray with its own take on the topic and the accessory maker has of course added its own twists to the storage enclosure. The AK-ENU3M2-08 as it's known as, houses a standard M.2 2230 NVMe SSD and it's compatible with Apple's range of iPhones for direct video capture to the drive in ProRes 4K resolution and it does of course attach to the MagSafe connector on recent iPhones.

However, what makes the Akasa product stand out is the inclusion of a supercapacitor, which the company says takes 5-6 minutes to charge and it's included as a data loss safeguard in case of a sudden power loss. That said, it's a bit hard to figure how useful this would be in real world scenarios, since if the drive lost power, it most likely also lost its data connection to the host device. Another neat feature is that Akasa allows for 100 W USB PD passthrough, something we haven't seen on similar devices. The downside is the 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 data interface, which is slower than some competing devices, but the other features might make up for the slower speed, depending on your use case. No pricing was announced.



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[bug]

That said, it's a bit hard to figure how useful this would be in real world scenarios, since if the drive lost power, it most likely also lost its data connection to the host device

If it aimed at Apple, you safely say "form over function".

 

[TheLostSwede]

If it aimed at Apple, you safely say "form over function".

It's a standard NVMe to USB-C enclosure, the only thing that is sort of Apple specific, is the magnetic part, but there are cases for Android phones that allows it to be hooked on magnetically to those as well.
The reason for my comment about the supercapacitor, is that the data "in flight" is never going be so large that it would need 5-6 minutes of power, if the data connection is lost. Since the drive is bus powered, it seems like a somewhat odd addition, but there might be some odd scenario where it saves your data from corruption.

 

[bug]

It's a standard NVMe to USB-C enclosure, the only thing that is sort of Apple specific, is the magnetic part, but there are cases for Android phones that allows it to be hooked on magnetically to those as well.
The reason for my comment about the supercapacitor, is that the data "in flight" is never going be so large that it would need 5-6 minutes of power, if the data connection is lost. Since the drive is bus powered, it seems like a somewhat odd addition, but there might be some odd scenario where it saves your data from corruption.

I got what you meant, it makes sense. Just poking at Apple on my part.

 

[GreiverBlade]

Spoiler: "Deja vu, i've been to this place before"

and i wonder if the Akasa model is magsafe on both side

and a need for a PD power supply to use 2TB??? what the heck is that, it's hilarious since the Sharge Disk 2230 enclosure (and the copycat from Satechi) can run a 2TB and a 10k rpm fan without needing that...
unless it's a 4.5W SSD (a SN770M 2tb use 3.45W on average, 4.40W max and is one of the more "hungry" 2230 ), well Hagibis and Eaget have the same requirement tbf.

no pricing announced, well, if that thing offer nothing much that was is seen with other magsafe 2230 enclosure ... and it would be priced higher than 40$ i would consider it DOA (Hagibis and Eaget are 33chf and 26chf respectively at lowest.)

 

[Wirko]

I got what you meant, it makes sense. Just poking at Apple on my part.

But aesthetically, approximately, it fits here:

 

[TheLostSwede]

Spoiler: "Deja vu, i've been to this place before"

View attachment 375015View attachment 375016

and i wonder if the Akasa model is magsafe on both side
View attachment 375018

and a need for a PD power supply to use 2TB??? what the heck is that, it's hilarious since the Sharge Disk 2230 enclosure (and the copycat from Satechi) can run a 2TB and a 10k rpm fan without needing that...
unless it's a 4.5W SSD (a SN770M 2tb use 3.45W on average, 4.40W max and is one of the more "hungry" 2230 ), well Hagibis and Eaget have the same requirement tbf.

no pricing announced, well, if that thing offer nothing much that was is seen with other magsafe 2230 enclosure ... and it would be priced higher than 40$ i would consider it DOA (Hagibis and Eaget are 33chf and 26chf respectively at lowest.)

Interesting, hadn't seen that one before. I think they're suggesting to use a power supply if you want full speed from the 2 TB drive, but maybe that varies depending on the SSD controller?

no pricing announced, well, if that thing offer nothing much that was is seen with other magsafe 2230 enclosure ... and it would be priced higher than 40$ i would consider it DOA (Hagibis and Eaget are 33chf and 26chf respectively at lowest.)

This one starts at US$90, although it includes 512 GB of storage at that price. Super basic feature wise though, but 20 Gbps data transfer support.

Digiera Launches USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Portable SSD

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www.techpowerup.com

 

[Wirko]

The reason for my comment about the supercapacitor, is that the data "in flight" is never going be so large that it would need 5-6 minutes of power, if the data connection is lost. Since the drive is bus powered, it seems like a somewhat odd addition, but there might be some odd scenario where it saves your data from corruption.

Indeed 5-6 minutes of backup power would be of no use and also impossible with a 3.3V, 3.3F capacitor, holding a maximum of 18 watt-seconds of energy. Here's what Akasa says, in familiar words (if you've read what @GreiverBlade has attached):


However, the capacitor could still be useful. It works roughly the same way as capacitor-based power loss protection in many enterprise SSDs. It doesn't prevent the loss of unwritten data after power failure. It prevents data corruption which, in the worst case, is not repairable.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Indeed 5-6 minutes of backup power would be of no use and also impossible with a 3.3V, 3.3F capacitor, holding a maximum of 18 watt-seconds of energy. Here's what Akasa says, in familiar words (if you've read what @GreiverBlade has attached):
View attachment 375029

However, it could still be useful. It's roughly the same thing as capacitor-based power loss protection in many enterprise SSDs. It doesn't prevent the loss of unwritten data after power failure. It prevents data corruption which, in the worst case, is not repairable.

Yeah, I've already fixed the news post, as I clearly had a brain fart when reading that...

 

[GreiverBlade]

Interesting, hadn't seen that one before. I think they're suggesting to use a power supply if you want full speed from the 2 TB drive, but maybe that varies depending on the SSD controller?

my Sharge Disk with a 2tb SN770M sustain near 1000 mb/s without any other power than the USB-C port of my Ally
and all external enclosure with a 10Gbps ( equal or less than 0.8 GB/s roughly ) will not go above that, i tested also with enclosure that need an extra power supply

you'd never get the full speed of the SSD ofc a SN770M is 5150 mb/s even with a 20 Gbps which is 2000 mb/s (well ... equal or less than 1.6GB/s )

i intend to get the Hagibis one later, since i have a spare SN770M 1tb and a Magsafe capable case for my S23

 

[LabRat 891]

Supercap writethrough protection is fantastic! Should be standard for mid-tier and higher NVMe enclosures, imo.
The cable looks removable/replaceable, and the PD pass-thru is a nice inclusion.
'Love the full-aluminum enclosure too. Round isn't my first choice but it's fine; looks industrial. Also, very 'attachable' to a steamdeck or other UMPC. Added weight/bulk being tolerable.

10gbps is pretty limited, but hopefully that makes the price more broadly-attractive.

 

[GreiverBlade]

Supercap writethrough protection is fantastic! Should be standard for mid-tier and higher NVMe enclosures, imo.
The cable looks removable/replaceable, and the PD pass-thru is a nice inclusion.
'Love the full-aluminum enclosure too. Round isn't my first choice but it's fine; looks industrial. Also, very 'attachable' to a steamdeck or other UMPC. Added weight/bulk being tolerable.

10gbps is pretty limited, but hopefully that makes the price more broadly-attractive.

no need to wait
Amazon Hagibis original 2230 enclosure that sit in my wishlist since a few month now
i doubt the Akasa will be less than 50eur

ofc you can find it also cheaper on AliExpress (the one i saw was 29chf)

 

[LabRat 891]

no need to wait
Amazon Hagibis original 2230 enclosure that sit in my wishlist since a few month now
i doubt the Akasa will be less than 50eur

ofc you can find it also cheaper on AliExpress (the one i saw was 29chf)

After being prompted to look, I see this kind of device is extremely common.
Now, to find a 2242 compatible version... like this

Amazon.com

 

[lexluthermiester]

The 2230 limitation is a big deal breaker..

 

[bug]

The 2230 limitation is a big deal breaker..

I mean, you can still get a regular size SSD fold it and it will fit in there. It won't work anymore, but it will fit.

 

[Chaitanya]

The 2230 limitation is a big deal breaker..

Dockcase has enclosures for 2280 and 2.5" sized SSDs with similar power loss proctection feature and it comes with display for extra functionality.

 

[Caring1]

The 2230 limitation is a big deal breaker..

A Dremel used on the edge of that housing can fix that.

 

[Wirko]

I mean, you can still get a regular size SSD fold it and it will fit in there. It won't work anymore, but it will fit.

That's why we urgently need foldable SSDs. And they would be so easy to make. Think of 2 or 3 rigid PCBs connected with flexible PCBs, like this:

 

[nienorgt]

Basically, a Hagibis MC100 with 3 screws instead of 4...

 

[bug]

That's why we urgently need foldable SSDs. And they would be so easy to make. Think of 2 or 3 rigid PCBs connected with flexible PCBs, like this:

View attachment 375075

Damn simple solution. Our evil overlords don't want us to have nice things, I tell you.

 

[Wirko]

Damn simple solution. Our evil overlords don't want us to have nice things, I tell you.

Otherwise we'd already have inflatable SSDs. You buy a bag of 1 TB SLC drives for 6 €, then inflate them to any number of terabytes, depending on how many bits per cell you're comfortable with.

 

[LabRat 891]

Otherwise we'd already have inflatable SSDs. You buy a bag of 1 TB SLC drives for 6 €, then inflate them to any number of terabytes, depending on how many bits per cell you're comfortable with.

I'm now imagining cheap QLC NVMe drives with 4+TB of 'bad binned' NAND soldered-on, config'd as 100% pSLC out of the box, and warrantied for use in that mode.
Optionally, the End User could reconfigure the drive to MLC, TLC or QLC, but with no warranty and a full cell-by-cell R/W test required.

That's why we urgently need foldable SSDs. And they would be so easy to make. Think of 2 or 3 rigid PCBs connected with flexible PCBs, like this:

View attachment 375075

Unironically, a 'modular m.2 module' would be kinda neat.
Pick what controller and DRAM cache you want, then just attach NANDcards to the M.2 board for capacity.

 

[Wirko]

Unironically, a 'modular m.2 module' would be kinda neat.
Pick what controller and DRAM cache you want, then just attach NANDcards to the M.2 board for capacity.

Even less ironically: stackable M.2 SSDs. So when you run out of mobo M.2 slots, you put a new SSD on top of another. No idea how to keep it small and cool at the same time.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Spoiler: "Deja vu, i've been to this place before"

View attachment 375015View attachment 375016

and i wonder if the Akasa model is magsafe on both side
View attachment 375018

and a need for a PD power supply to use 2TB??? what the heck is that, it's hilarious since the Sharge Disk 2230 enclosure (and the copycat from Satechi) can run a 2TB and a 10k rpm fan without needing that...
unless it's a 4.5W SSD (a SN770M 2tb use 3.45W on average, 4.40W max and is one of the more "hungry" 2230 ), well Hagibis and Eaget have the same requirement tbf.

no pricing announced, well, if that thing offer nothing much that was is seen with other magsafe 2230 enclosure ... and it would be priced higher than 40$ i would consider it DOA (Hagibis and Eaget are 33chf and 26chf respectively at lowest.)

It's around €33.

 

[GreiverBlade]

It's around €33.

oh, wait you meant the Akasa one? well, the price is okay then

yep 33chf for me on Temu and cheaper on AE

27.99chf for the Pro version i have in my cart waiting till i decide to press "order"


so, unless Akasa put their own cheaper than 33$ i would considere it "not worth it".
(on account of having only 3 screws instead of 4, since i don't know it's a double magsafe side like the Hagibis or it it has addons, like extra heatsink or cooler and whatnot)