M.2 stick + aluminum enclosure = external SSD
Unlike most external SSDs, with the Addlink P21 ($87.44 for 1TB as tested), you can open up the enclosure and see what makes it tick. At heart, it’s an M.2 SSD clad in a sturdy aluminum case. When paired with a computer with the right connection, the P21 can generate snappy USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 throughput speeds, although its benchmark results overall were at best average for its ilk. It is competitively priced for a Gen 2×2 external solid-state drive at its 1TB capacity, but most people seeking an external SSD will do better with the Editors’ Choice-winning Crucial X10 Pro.Design: An M.2 Stick in an SSD Enclosure
The aluminum-clad P21, green with white trim, is long and thin, measuring 0.5 by 1.5 by 4.6 inches and weighing 4.1 ounces. On top, you’ll notice the Addlink logo and drive capacity. Both the top and the bottom are textured with two lengthwise grooves that make the P21 easy to grip, and the two long sides are gently curved. In the center of one short end is a USB-C port that supports USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, with a maximum rated throughput of 20Gbps when paired with a compatible computer. A USB-C-to-C cable is included, as is a soft cloth pouch with a drawstring for holding the P21 and its cable.
On the other short end is a movable slider—it’s actually a latch that, when released, lets you pull the drive mechanism free of the case, revealing a removable Addlink PCI Express 3.0 internal SSD. Indeed, the P21 is essentially a gumstick-style M.2 SSD housed within a standard SSD enclosure—seemingly, the Addlink B21, which the company sells for $28.44 with no drive inside. The enclosure has a grille and internal airflow channels for heat dissipation.
The SSD stick itself, which does not appear to be one that Addlink sells separately, is removable, and you could conceivably replace it with a higher-capacity M.2 SSD, although there’s little reason to since the P21 comes in capacities up to 4TB, as detailed in the chart below. You also have no reason to swap it out for a faster internal SSD: PCIe 3.0 SSDs already have a maximum throughput of 3,500MBps read and 2,700MBps write, and whatever faster-rated stick you put into the enclosure won’t exceed the maximum speed of the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 USB-C interface, which is 2,500MBps for read and write.
