For Mac users who need large, fast, and scalable storage, the new OWC Express 4M2 Ultra offers a compact solution that eliminates the trade‑off between speed and capacity.
OWC has released the world’s first certified Thunderbolt 5 four‑slot NVMe M.2 SSD enclosure. The Express 4M2 Ultra brings high‑performance, expandable, and RAID‑ready storage to Mac users of every level.
Apple’s newest Macs ship with Thunderbolt 5, a port that can deliver up to 80 Gb/s—far beyond what most high‑capacity RAID drives have been able to utilize until now. The Express 4M2 Ultra takes full advantage of that bandwidth, delivering real‑world speeds up to 6,622 MB/s and supporting up to 32 TB of raw capacity in a form factor barely larger than a hardcover book.
And it’s also DIY‑friendly.
Maximum Flexibility
The enclosure is available both empty and pre‑populated with drives, so you can start with what you already own or go straight to a turnkey solution. If you already have NVMe M.2 SSDs, order the empty chassis, install your drives, and save. If you’re building from scratch, choose a pre‑configured model and enjoy a plug‑and‑play experience. Either way, adding or swapping drives later is straightforward.
Each unit supports up to four M.2 2280 or 2242 NVMe SSDs, for a total capacity of 32 TB. It supports RAID 0, 1, 4, 5, 10, and JBOD, all managed through OWC SoftRAID (included with select models).
With the 80 Gb/s bandwidth of Thunderbolt 5, the enclosure’s RAID configurations can reach real‑world speeds of up to 6,622 MB/s. That throughput is more than enough for 12K RAW video, 8K multi‑cam sequences, and large‑batch image processing without bottlenecks.
What’s New Compared to the Standard Express 4M2
The original Express 4M2 is a USB4‑based enclosure that offers excellent compatibility across Thunderbolt 5/4/3 and USB‑3 hosts, with peak speeds around 3,200 MB/s. The Ultra model replaces USB4 with native Thunderbolt 5, doubling transfer rates and adding a second Thunderbolt 5 port.
The second port enables daisy‑chaining of up to five additional Thunderbolt devices. This means you can connect the Ultra and then chain another display, peripheral, or even another Ultra together. Multiple Ultra units can be daisy‑chained to create a single, massive volume while preserving performance.
Because the enclosure uses Thunderbolt 5, it remains compatible with Thunderbolt 4, USB‑4, and, on Mac, Thunderbolt 3. The result is a future‑proof, cross‑platform solution.
Built to Fit Any Desk Setup
The chassis is made from aircraft‑grade aluminum, providing robust thermal management. A smart adaptive fan keeps noise low during light workloads and ramps up cooling when you’re pushing through heavy 8K edits. All four bays support hot‑plug and are individually bootable on macOS.
At just 2.36 in. wide, 4.84 in. tall, and 4.60 in. deep—and weighing under 2 lb—the Express 4M2 Ultra occupies minimal desk space while delivering maximum performance.
See It Live at NAB 2026
The OWC Express 4M2 Ultra will debut publicly at NAB 2026 in booth #N2373, North Hall. If you’re attending, it’s a must‑see.
The Ultra is available for pre‑order now, with pricing starting at $399.99 for non‑SoftRAID models and $549.99 when SoftRAID is included. Shipping is expected to begin in Q3 2026.
Pre‑order the OWC Express 4M2 Ultra →
Tech lover, multimedia creator, and marketing manager for OWC's Rocket Yard and Mission Control blogs.