HyperDrive Next: External Enclosure Offering 80Gbps Speed for Mac

Publication Date: 05.04.2026

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Internal storage upgrades for Mac are often expensive, leading users to turn to external media whenever possible. However, this comes with its own issues, such as sacrificing speed or reliability. HyperDrive Next aims to fill this gap by bringing exceptional performance to external drives for your Mac.

Introduced earlier this year at CES 2026, HyperDrive Next supports speeds of up to 80Gbps via USB 4 v2.0. This means it is beneficial not only for SSDs but also for other M.2 cards like AI accelerators and network cards. The enclosure offers two USB-C ports: one for data transfer and one for external power to support such capabilities.

Personally, my favorite feature of the HyperDrive Next is its ability to house an SSD with a heat sink. Many high-speed SSDs today come with heat sinks, but many M.2 enclosures do not support this. However, HyperDrive Next does. It also offers completely tool-free installation and has an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance.

I haven't had the chance to test its capabilities for AI cards or network expansion, but the 80Gbps support is the most significant feature that makes this possible compared to other options on the market.

In terms of SSD speeds, I tested using a 2TB WD Black SN850X and reached impressive values of 3167MB/s write speeds and 3092MB/s read speeds. For reference, the internal 2TB SSD in my M3 iMac has approximately 3273MB/s write and 2984MB/s read speeds. So, quite similar performance – this is great news if you are cautious about external drives for speed reasons.

Of course, your performance may vary depending on the drive you put inside the enclosure. Still, the extraordinary peak speeds, excellent aluminum casing, water and dust resistance (when using the included silicone sleeve), and versatility make HyperDrive Next a fantastic case for your M.2 accessories.

Priced at $199.99, it is a bit pricey, but definitely worth checking out for those who want the best. You can purchase it from Amazon.

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