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I gave my Mac mini M4 the ultimate upgrade with this Mac Pro-style case — and it fixes some of my biggest complaints
I gave my Mac mini M4 the ultimate upgrade with this Mac Pro-style case — and it fixes some of my biggest complaints

Tom's Guide

time4 days ago

  • Tom's Guide

I gave my Mac mini M4 the ultimate upgrade with this Mac Pro-style case — and it fixes some of my biggest complaints

When it comes to putting together the perfect desk setup for your needs, a little customization can go a long way to making a great product even more useful. Don't get me wrong, the Mac mini M4 is easily one of the best mini PCs you can get today but as I noted in my Mac mini M4 review, it isn't perfect. The upgrade from 8GB to 16GB of unified memory is certainly a welcome change as is its powerful new M4 chip and completely redesigned aluminum case. However, after spending 8 months with the Mac mini M4, my original gripes with the device still ring true today. For starters, the Mac mini M4 doesn't have any USB-A ports whatsoever. Instead, you get two USB-C ports on the front and three Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back. While this is fine if you're using Apple's wireless accessories like a Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse, it isn't ideal if you have older peripherals you'd rather use instead. The Mac mini M4's power button is also in an odd position on the underside of the device. If you leave your computer running 24/7, then this might not be a problem. However, if you like to power your computer down at the end of the day while saving a bit on your electric bill at the same time, it's less than ideal. Finally, the base version of the Mac mini M4 only comes with 256GB of storage. This likely isn't enough for most people and upgrading to a higher storage tier costs $200 each time you do so which makes what is normally a very affordable Mac at $599 less enticing. While there are a lot of different hubs and stands which address the Mac mini M4's biggest downsides like this one from Satechi, I recently tried out Orico's new MiniPro Dock Case. I think I might finally be done customizing my Mac mini for good, especially now that it looks like a mini Mac Pro. This all-aluminum enclosure for your Mac mini M4 or Mac mini M4 Pro gives your mini PC a Mac Pro-style look in a much smaller package. It also adds more ports, gives you the ability to add up to 8TB of additional storage with an M.2 SSD and you can easily reach your Mac mini M4's power button. Just like the Mac mini M4 itself, Orico's MiniPro Dock Case also features an all-aluminum chassis. However, unlike some of the other stands and hubs you can get, this one doesn't go under or on top of Apple's smallest Mac yet. Instead, you literally put your Mac mini M4 inside and close the lid. To prevent scratching and your Mac mini M4 moving around inside it, Orico has outfitted its MiniPro Dock Case with a silicone inner lining that holds the device in place. While the sides of the case have a smooth matte finish, the front and back have those same circular cutouts you'd find on the significantly more expensive Mac Pro. There are also two carrying handles on top and metal feet on the bottom to complete the look. However, you won't find any optional wheels like the ones for the Mac Pro but at $699 for the wheels themselves, you're probably better off without one of Apple's most expensive optional accessories yet. Installing your Mac mini M4 inside Orico's MiniPro Dock Case is as simple as can be. You just push the slider on top to remove its side panel and from there, you just push your Mac mini inside. I like this approach over some of the other hubs I've seen as you get a completely self-contained unit that also keeps your Mac mini M4 safe from scratches. While I haven't tried it yet (nor do I plan to), I bet the MiniPro Dock Case would also protect the computer if it happened to fall off your desk. Orico sells two versions of its MiniPro Dock Case: one with a free slot for an SSD and one with a pre-installed SSD. I decided to check out the former as not only is it cheaper but you can also expand its storage all the way up to 8TB. To access the SSD slot, there's a removable panel on the bottom of the case and you get a pad of thermal paste to put under your SSD to keep it cool once it's installed. Opening the bottom panel and moving my 1TB WD-Black SSD from my Satechi Mac Mini M4 Hub & Stand to Orico's MiniPro Dock Case was a breeze and only took a few minutes. With my Mac mini M4 and SSD both installed, it was time to plug everything back in and take my new faux Mac Pro for a spin. I have to admit that with both the Mac mini M4 on its own and with Satechi's stand and hub underneath it, I was often inclined to tuck this Apple-powered mini PC out of the way. Now with it inside the MiniPro Dock Case, I felt like it deserved to be front and center which is why I put it on the left side of the desk shelf on top of my desk. Not only is it now a conversation piece but with the underside of the Mac mini M4 exposed, the computer is getting a lot more airflow too. Just like with Satechi's stand and hub, the MiniPro Dock case uses a single cable to connect to your Mac mini M4. One nice touch with this case though is that it's a detachable cable instead of a hardwired one like on Satechi's which means you can always replace it later on if you need to. I also like the fact that Orico sprung for a braided white cable as this definitely fits better with Apple's whole aesthetic. Around front, you get easy access to both a microSD and an SD card reader at the very bottom. However, there are also large square and rectangular cutouts that allow you to easily reach the Mac mini M4's front ports. They sit a bit farther back inside the MiniPro Dock but I actually kind of like this as they blend into the case when you don't need them but are easy to reach when you do. Besides its unique look and just how easy it is to add extra storage, the other great thing about the MiniPro Dock case is that the Mac mini M4's power button is much more accessible. On hubs and stands where your Mac mini sits on top, you still have to reach around the back to access it but this way, it's just right there by all the ports at the back. Speaking of rear ports, all of the Mac mini M4's original ones are contained within a similar cutout on the back of the case. However, in addition to these ones, you also get two USB-A ports on either side under them with an extra USB-C port in between. At my Mac desk setup, I'm using one of those USB-A ports for the full-size Satechi SM3 Slim Mechanical Keyboard and the other for a trackball mouse from Logitech. While a lot of people have moved on to using Bluetooth for their peripherals, I still prefer 2.4 GHz wireless USB dongles. The reason for this is that I often move from using one mini PC to another and I just plug one of them in and be ready to go as opposed to having to go through the Bluetooth pairing process each time. It's worth noting though that the Logitech Ergo M575S mouse and Satechi SM3 keyboard I'm currently using at this desk setup both have Bluetooth support too. Satechi SM3 Slim Mechanical Keyboard: $119 at AmazonThis low-profile, full-size mechanical keyboard works with both Mac and Windows and comes in either a light gray/white or dark gray/gray variation. You can connect up to two devices over Bluetooth, use the included 2.4 GHz dongle or connect it to your computer over USB-C. The SM3 also features low-profile brown switches and a rechargeable 2,500 mAh battery. From the Geekom A6 to the Khadas Mind, there are tons of great mini PCs out there for different workflows and desk setups. However, with the Mac mini M4, there are endless accessories that allow you to customize the look and experience of using Apple's mini PC. While you can get a similarly-specced, Windows-based mini PC for the same price or even cheaper, you're losing out on the ability to customize it after the fact. Whether you want a hub with more ports, a stand or even an under-desk mount, the possibilities are almost endless. They're not just for looks either as you can see with Orico's MiniPro Dock Case and Satechi's Mac mini M4 Hub & Stand since they both allow you to add additional storage without having to pay the Apple tax to do so. Whatever option you decide to go with, you always have the freedom to change things up later while bringing over any extra storage you added. As for me, I plan on keeping my Mac mini M4 in this MiniPro Dock Case for the foreseeable future as not only do I love its unique look but with the computer now standing up vertically, it helps free up even more space on my desk.

The New Orico FlashPod S20 SSD Adds Storage To Phones And Laptops
The New Orico FlashPod S20 SSD Adds Storage To Phones And Laptops

Forbes

time16-05-2025

  • Forbes

The New Orico FlashPod S20 SSD Adds Storage To Phones And Laptops

If you're about to buy a new smartphone and you can't decide whether to splurge on some very expensive extra memory, this new portable SSD storage from Orico could be a more versatile alternative for storing more videos, photos, music and other data that you want to access on your smartphone. The Orico FlashPod S20 is a compact and portable SSD that's no larger than a human adult thumb and is designed for use on the go. Aimed at smartphone owners or laptop users, this tiny SSD is both magnetic and can plug into a USB Type-C port directly, whether it's on a MacBook, Windows laptop, iPhone, iPad or Android device. Compatible with Windows, macOS, Android and more, this tiny SSD is available in 512GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities and offers data transfer speeds up to a maximum of 20Gbps, although that depends on the speed of the host device and some MacBooks and iPhones may top out at 10Gbps speeds. For those who need less space, there is the S5 version of the Orico FlashPod S5, which comes in 65GB, 128GB and 256GB capacities and a slower maximum data transfer speed of 5Gbps. The FlashPod drives can handle PD charging up to 100W for stable and efficient backups without power interruption. With real-world data transfer speeds up to 1,944Mbps, the Orico FlashPod supports external streaming of 4K ProRes video at 60fps, leaving a smartphone's internal memory free for other data. With a transfer speed of up to 20Gbps, the FlashPod can record without frame drops or lag. By streaming and storing video externally on a FlashPod S20, videographers and TikTok creators can easily transfer their footage to a laptop by moving the FlashPod from their phone to a laptop or desktop. Alternatively, video can be edited directly on the SSD while it's plugged into the smartphone. The FlashPod S20 has a metal case and measures 59 x 26 x 11mm and has a more efficient cooling performance than plastic-housed SSDs. The case can be attached magnetically to the back of a MagSafe smartphone using the supplied USB Type-C cables. Alternatively, for phones with USB Type-C ports, like the latest iPhones or Android models, the FlashPod can be plugged directly into the port. The Orico FlashPod S20 is available now from with prices starting from $79.99 / £60.21 / €71.25 for a 512GB version.

Orico Addresses The Need For Speed With Industrial-Grade NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD
Orico Addresses The Need For Speed With Industrial-Grade NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD

Forbes

time16-04-2025

  • Business
  • Forbes

Orico Addresses The Need For Speed With Industrial-Grade NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD

The new Industrial-grade IG740-PRO SSD can achieve read speeds up to 7,450MB/s. If you want to upgrade the storage on your laptop or fancy creating an ultra-fast external drive, there is very little that can beat the latest generation of NVMe SSDs. The latest SSD to be announced by storage specialist Orico is the IG740-PRO Industrial-grade 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD with PCIe 4.0 interface and has a theoretical sequential read speed up to 7,450MB/s. The new SSD uses TLC NAND and features advanced data security and a heatsink for controlling thermal build-up. The SSD is aimed at high-performance industrial PCs, personal laptops, external drive housings and even Sony PlayStation 5. Orico says its new SSD has been engineered with rigorous multi-level testing to create an M.2 SSD with a mean time between failure exceeding 1.5 million hours. It also has a low raw bit error rate and enhanced write endurance for mission-critical applications in industrial and enterprise settings. Powered by a PCIe 4.0 interface and using NVMe 2.0 protocol, the IG740-PRO SSD is available in 1TB and 2TB capacities. It can deliver read speeds of up to 7,450MB/s, although that does depend on the host device. It can also deliver 1000K IOPS for smooth multitasking and ultra-responsive computing. The new IG740-PRO NVMe SSD is designed for mission critical applications and is available in 1TB and ... More 2TB capacities. Other advanced features include controlled BOM and firmware, power-loss protection, LDPC ECC error correction, flash management technology and AES encryption to ensure comprehensive data safety and reliability in critical applications. Orico claims its Industrial SSD is suitable for edge computing, AI and big data applications, supporting industrial use with reliable performance, while delivering high speeds even with personal PCs, PS5, VR devices, and more, ensuring versatility across various applications. For those seeing efficiency and stability, Orico says its SSD has exceptional TBW or Terabytes Written for reliability and speed. The 2TB NVMe has a TBW 1200 TBW, promising long-lasting durability and high performance. The Orico IG740-PRO achieved speeds hip top 3,053MB/s on a Mac mini M2 Pro. To see what kind of performance everyday users can expect, I put one of the 2TB Industrial SSDs into an Orico high-speed USB 3.2 external housings which I connected to a Thunderbolt port on my Mac mini M2 Pro. Using the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, the SSD returned a write speed was 2760.1MB/s and read speed was 3,053MB/s, which is not far off what the internal 1TB Apple SSD that my Mac mini can achieve. So, for anyone thinking of adding storage to a Mac, this could be one answer. A word of warning about SSDs. Many people think because they are solid-state drives and not mechanical hard drives, that SSDs will run cool. Some do but many do not. Very fast SSDs need efficient cooling whether that is a heatsink or an enclosure with a fan. It's worth bearing in mind that an SSD that's not properly cooled can drop out or cause reliability issues. Pricing & Availability: The Orico IG740-PRO Industrial 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD with PCIe 4.0 interface is available now from Amazon and is priced at $139.99 for the 2TB version and $66.49 for the 1TB model.

Orico Reveals New K20 Mini SSD For Adding Smartphone Storage
Orico Reveals New K20 Mini SSD For Adding Smartphone Storage

Forbes

time30-03-2025

  • Forbes

Orico Reveals New K20 Mini SSD For Adding Smartphone Storage

The problem with smartphones is that sooner or later you find yourself running out of storage, especially if you are an iPhone user. Apple charges a hefty premium for extra storage capacity so it can pay to look for an alternative. Storage brand Orico has just announced its latest ultra-thin and portable SSD designed specifically for use with smartphones. With a case that measures just 7.5mm and weighs in at a negligible 45g, this lightweight SSD is designed for use on the go and won't block a smartphone's camera lens. Equipped with N52 strong magnets and with a magnetic force of 18N, the Orico K20 Mini can securely clamp magnetically to the back of a smartphone, enabling the user to make one-handed videos while recording footage directly to the SSD. Made from premium aluminum alloy with a sand-blasted satin finish, the silver SSD matches Apple's phone designs well. Available in capacities of 512GB, 1TB and 2TB, the Orico K20 Mini can support 4K ProRes video recording and storage, with enough capacity to record many hours of video footage. Sporting data transfer speeds up to 2,050MB/s, the Orico K20 Mini works seamlessly with macOS, iOS on iPhone 16 and higher, Windows and Android devices for efficient multi-device usage. The SSD is supplied with a flat ribbon-style cable connection for plugging into the host device and can handle video resolutions up to 4K at 120Hz. For smartphones that don't have a magnetic surface, Orico supplies a slim metal ring that can stick to the rear of a smartphone or a laptop so the SSD can be clamped on like a limpet. As well as being useful for storing RAW video and photos, the Orico K20 Mini can also be used for backing up laptops or storing large amounts of data such as audio files, movies, spreadsheets or databases. The data transfer speed is fast enough to work directly from the SSD. The new Orico K20 Mini SSD is available now in capacities of 512GB, 1TB and 2TB with prices starting at $68.99 / £53.30 / €63,95.

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