We’re thrilled to announce that the OWC Express 4M2 Ultra has been honored with Future’s Best of Show Award at NAB 2026, presented by TV Tech. The award recognizes the Express 4M2 Ultra as one of the most innovative and impactful products showcased, as determined by a panel of engineers and industry experts who evaluated each entry on innovation, feature set, perceived value, and real‑world application.
Future’s Best of Show Awards are among the most respected accolades in the broadcast and production technology community. The awards aim to “provide an outstanding overview of new technology on the show floor and shine a spotlight on the very best,” according to the editorial team.
Maximum Performance in a Compact, DIY Package
The Express 4M2 Ultra is the first certified Thunderbolt 5 four‑slot NVMe M.2 SSD enclosure, making it the only enclosure currently designed to harness the full bandwidth of Thunderbolt 5 on the latest Macs. This makes it the go‑to solution for Mac users, creatives, and production professionals who demand the fastest DIY RAID performance in a tight form factor.
With speeds of up to 6,622 MB/s, users can install their preferred NVMe M.2 drives and configure them in RAID 0, 1, 4, 5, 10, or JBOD. Such throughput transforms what’s achievable on set, in post‑production, and on the move. Whether working with high‑resolution RAW footage, large audio sessions, or demanding data pipelines, the Express 4M2 Ultra stays in step.
Built to Perform Quietly and Scale Reliably
The enclosure’s aircraft‑grade aluminum body plays a crucial role in thermal management. A smart adaptive fan works in concert with the aluminum chassis to keep temperatures in check under sustained heavy loads, without disrupting quiet production environments.
But the Express 4M2 Ultra’s true differentiator is its scalability. The unit supports chaining multiple enclosures into a unified, high‑capacity volume.
A second Thunderbolt 5 port allows daisy‑chaining up to five additional Thunderbolt devices—including further Express 4M2 Ultra enclosures—to create a single, massive‑capacity volume. The unit is compatible with Thunderbolt 5, 4, 3 (Mac only), and USB4 systems, making it a versatile investment for both current and future workflows.
With Thunderbolt 5 and true DIY flexibility, the Express 4M2 Ultra gives users the power to design the exact performance and capacity they need—and scale it as projects grow. It’s a drive that not only keeps pace with modern production but stays ahead of it.
Availability and Pricing
The OWC Express 4M2 Ultra is available for pre‑order now, with prices starting at $399.99 for non‑SoftRAID models and $549.99 when bundled with OWC’s SoftRAID software for RAID management. Strong early demand at NAB suggests units will ship in late Spring.
Learn more and reserve yours today here.
Tech lover, multimedia creator, and marketing manager for OWC's Rocket Yard and Mission Control blogs.