Comparison of Thunderbolt 5 vs USB4/TB4 SSD enclosures including Lindy, OWC, Acasis — Flexx Memory guide 2025

Thunderbolt 5 vs USB4/TB4 SSD Enclosures in 2025: Which Should You Choose?

19 Nov, 2025
Posted by: Marian Bohacek

In 2025, external SSD enclosures are more powerful than ever. Thunderbolt 5 brings a big jump in bandwidth over Thunderbolt 4 and USB4, unlocking higher real-world speeds with PCIe Gen 4 NVMe drives. But that doesn’t mean USB4/TB4 enclosures are obsolete — far from it. This guide compares our top Thunderbolt 5 and USB4/TB4 NVMe enclosures so you can choose the right one for your Mac, PC or workstation.

Thunderbolt 5 vs USB4/TB4 — at a glance

Thunderbolt 5: up to 80 Gb/s (with bandwidth boost up to 120 Gb/s), ideal for pro workflows and PCIe Gen 4 NVMe speeds.
Thunderbolt 4 / USB4: up to 40 Gb/s, still excellent for fast external NVMe SSDs and everyday high-speed work.
With the right drive, TB5 enclosures can deliver roughly 2× the throughput of many USB4/TB4 options in heavy transfers.
All use the same USB-C connector and are backwards compatible with supported ports.

Thunderbolt 5 SSD Enclosures (Fastest Performance)

1) OWC Express 1M2 80G Thunderbolt 5/USB4 NVMe SSD Enclosure (Champion)

🏆 Best overall TB5 enclosure

Interface: Thunderbolt 5 / USB4 (up to 80 Gb/s)
Real-world speed: Up to 6,000 MB/s with a fast PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD
Form factor: Compact bus-powered aluminium enclosure
Cooling: Built-in heatsink design to manage sustained workloads
Compatibility: macOS / Windows / Linux

The OWC Express 1M2 80G is the ideal choice if you want to tap into everything Thunderbolt 5 can offer. Paired with a good Gen 4 NVMe SSD, it’s fast enough for multi-stream 4K and even 8K workflows, large project libraries and ultra-quick cloning or backup jobs. It’s also backwards compatible with USB4/TB4 ports, so you can buy it now and keep using it across future systems.

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2) Acasis TB501Pro 80Gbps SSD Enclosure – Thunderbolt™ 5 Compatible (Value)

💰 Best value TB5 enclosure

Interface: Thunderbolt 5 compatible (up to 80 Gb/s)
Real-world speed: Up to around 6,000 MB/s with a suitable NVMe SSD
Design: Aluminium body with good heat dissipation
Cooling: Thermal pads and metal shell help control NVMe temperatures
Compatibility: macOS / Windows / Linux

The Acasis TB501Pro is a brilliant choice if you want Thunderbolt 5 performance without paying for extra features you may not need. It delivers top-tier speeds for editing, backups and large data transfers, while keeping the design compact and straightforward. Ideal if you already own a good NVMe SSD or plan to upgrade in the future.

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USB4 / Thunderbolt 4 SSD Enclosures (High Speed & Great Value)

3) OWC Express 1M2 USB4/Thunderbolt 4 NVMe Enclosure

⚡ Best overall USB4/TB4 enclosure

Interface: USB4 / Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40 Gb/s)
Real-world speed: Typically up to 3,000 MB/s with a fast NVMe SSD
Form factor: Slim, bus-powered aluminium enclosure
Cooling: Integrated heatsink housing
Compatibility: macOS / Windows / Linux

The OWC Express 1M2 USB4/TB4 is a sweet spot for most users. It’s fast enough for 4K editing, Time Machine backup, Lightroom libraries and general high-speed external storage, without the higher cost of Thunderbolt 5. If your Mac or PC “only” has Thunderbolt 3/4 or USB4, this enclosure extracts almost everything those ports can offer.

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4) Acasis 40Gbps M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure – Thunderbolt 3/4 & USB4 (Tool-Free)

🧰 Best for easy installation & cooling

Interface: Thunderbolt 3/4 & USB4 (up to 40 Gb/s)
Real-world speed: Up to ~3,000 MB/s with a good NVMe SSD
Design: Tool-free M.2 installation, with optional fan variants
Cooling: Excellent for long transfers and heavy use
Compatibility: macOS / Windows / Linux

The Acasis 40Gbps NVMe enclosure is a fantastic choice if you swap SSDs often or care about temperatures during sustained writes. The tool-free design makes installation simple, and the optional active cooling is ideal for workloads like long 4K recording, frequent cloning or server-style use.

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5) Lindy USB4 NVMe M.2 SSD Enclosure – 40Gbps, Tool-Free, Aluminium Heatsink, USB-C

🔗 Best compact USB4 enclosure

Interface: USB4 (40 Gb/s, USB-C)
Real-world speed: Up to ~3,000 MB/s with a quality NVMe SSD
Design: Tool-free assembly with integrated aluminium heatsink
Cooling: Heatsink shell helps keep drive temperatures under control
Compatibility: macOS / Windows / Linux

The Lindy USB4 NVMe Enclosure is a great pick if you want a straightforward, well-built USB4 enclosure with excellent compatibility. The tool-free design makes it easy to install your drive, and the aluminium heatsink helps maintain performance during sustained transfers — ideal for everyday fast storage, photo libraries, and project files.

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6) Acasis 40Gbps Dual NVMe SSD RAID Enclosure – Thunderbolt 3/4 & USB4

🚀 Best for RAID performance & capacity

Interface: Thunderbolt 3/4 & USB4 (up to 40 Gb/s)
Drive slots: Dual M.2 NVMe SSD bays
RAID modes: RAID 0 (speed), RAID 1 (mirroring) and more (controller-dependent)
Use cases: 4K/6K editing, large project libraries, high-speed backup targets
Compatibility: macOS / Windows / Linux

If you need both speed and redundancy, the Acasis Dual NVMe RAID enclosure is ideal. In RAID 0 it can approach or exceed the limits of a 40 Gb/s link, while RAID 1 keeps a mirrored copy of your data for extra peace of mind. It’s a compact alternative to larger RAID arrays for editors and professionals on the move.

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Comparison Table: TB5 vs USB4/TB4 Enclosures

Model	Interface	Max Real-World Speed*	Key Features	Best For
OWC Express 1M2 80G (TB5)	Thunderbolt 5 / USB4	Up to ~6,000 MB/s	Compact TB5 enclosure, great thermals	Top-end pro workflows, future-proofing
Acasis TB501Pro (TB5)	Thunderbolt 5 compatible	Up to ~6,000 MB/s	Value-focused TB5, solid cooling	Fast editing & backup on a budget
OWC Express 1M2 USB4/TB4	USB4 / TB4	Up to ~3,000 MB/s	Slim design, great everyday speed	4K editing, backups, general storage
Acasis 40Gbps Single NVMe	TB3/TB4 / USB4	Up to ~3,000 MB/s	Tool-free, optional fan, cool running	Drive swapping, long transfers
Lindy USB4 NVMe Enclosure	USB4	Up to ~3,000 MB/s	Compact, tool-free, aluminium heatsink	Simple, fast USB4 external storage
Acasis 40Gbps Dual NVMe RAID	TB3/TB4 / USB4	Up to link limits in RAID 0	Dual-drive RAID, high capacity	Editors, RAID setups, project libraries

*Actual speeds depend on host port, NVMe SSD used, and workload.

How to Choose the Right Enclosure

I work with 4K/8K video, large production projects, or very heavy data: OWC Express 1M2 80G (TB5) or Acasis TB501Pro.
My Mac/PC only has Thunderbolt 3/4 or USB4 and I want something fast & simple: OWC Express 1M2 USB4/TB4 or Lindy USB4 NVMe enclosure.
I frequently swap drives or need better cooling for long writes: Acasis 40Gbps Tool-Free enclosure with/without fan.
I want speed plus capacity or redundancy in one compact box: Acasis Dual NVMe RAID enclosure.
I want to “future-proof” for my next machine with TB5: Go TB5 now (OWC Express 1M2 80G or Acasis TB501Pro).

FAQs

Will a Thunderbolt 5 enclosure work on a Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 port?

Yes. Thunderbolt 5 is backwards compatible. A TB5 enclosure will run happily on supported TB4/USB4 ports; you just won’t reach full TB5 speeds. It will perform similarly to a high-end TB4/USB4 enclosure on those ports.

Is there a noticeable real-world difference between TB5 and USB4/TB4?

For everyday tasks like light photo editing, documents and general backup, USB4/TB4 enclosures are already very fast. You’ll notice TB5 most when moving very large files, working with 4K/8K video, big project libraries or running multiple heavy tasks from the external drive at once.

Do I need a special cable for Thunderbolt 5?

To get full Thunderbolt 5 performance, you should use a certified TB5 cable (or at least a high-quality Thunderbolt-certified cable). Lower-rated or long USB-C cables can limit speed or stability.

Are these enclosures user-upgradeable?

Yes. All of the enclosures listed here are designed for M.2 NVMe SSDs and are user-upgradeable. You can start with a smaller drive and upgrade later, or move an existing NVMe SSD into the enclosure to reuse it as fast external storage.

Which enclosure is best for my MacBook Pro or Mac Studio?

If you have or plan to move to a Thunderbolt 5-equipped system, the OWC Express 1M2 80G or Acasis TB501Pro will give you the most headroom. For current TB3/TB4 or USB4 Macs, the USB4/TB4 enclosures above already provide excellent performance; choose based on whether you prefer simple single-drive setups, compact USB4 (like the Lindy enclosure), or dual-drive RAID.

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