The OWC Express 1M2 is a 4TB, USB4 bus-powered portable NVMe external SSD for people who need portable storage and backup for production-level audio, design, or photography workflows.
Recommended For
- Video editors working with 4K, ProRes, or other demanding footage who want a portable drive for editing projects directly over USB4 or Thunderbolt 4.
- On-location production teams and DITs moving large camera files who need fast media offloads from a bus-powered drive, without carrying a separate power adapter.
- Photographers and video creators transferring large RAW libraries or project folders who value quick file transfers and a high-capacity external workspace.
- Mac and PC users who move projects between computers and want one drive that supports USB4, Thunderbolt, and slower USB-C connections, with speed depending on the host port.
Real-World Use Scenarios
- A video editor keeps active footage and project files on the Express 1M2 to work from external storage; on a USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 computer, large media transfers can feel much less like a wait than with a slower portable drive.
- A photographer or videographer copies a shoot to the drive between sessions, using it as a portable project or backup store; PCWorld’s real-world 48GB transfer test found the drive handled large transfers quickly, though results depend on the computer’s port.
- A production crew member offloads camera media on location and carries it back to the editing workstation; the bus-powered drive avoids needing a separate power brick, and a compatible USB4 or Thunderbolt connection helps reduce offload time.
- A designer or audio producer stores working project files on an external drive to free space on a laptop; the Express 1M2 provides portable NVMe storage, with transfer experience varying according to the computer and port used.
- A user moves a large project or archive between a Mac and PC; the drive supports USB and Thunderbolt connections, but the connection standard—and any required cross-platform file-system setup—can affect compatibility and speed.