The funky pocket-sized external storage enclosure from Dockcase that accepts tiny M.2 NVMe SSE drives boosts your videography and photography.
Recording to a Dockcase with iPhone 15 Pro | Image: Christian Zibreg/iDB
Recording ProRes LOG video with your iPhone or shooting high-quality footage with a DSLR eats up storage fast. However, with the iPhone 15 Pros, you can shoot directly to a storage device like a thumb drive or SSD connected to the USB-C port.
Dockcase has the right accessory for this, a compact SSD enclosure weighing just fifty grams and measuring 53mm wide, 43mm deep and 15mm tall. Made from an aluminum alloy and tempered glass, it looks and feels premium in your hand.
Designed primarily for videographers and photographers, the new Dockcase Pocket M.2 NVMe Smart SSD Enclosure-Photography Edition, as it’s called, accepts the smallest 2230 size NVMe M.2 drives up to two terabytes in capacity.
Hands-on with the Dockcase Pocket M.2 NVMe smart external SSD enclosure-Photography Edition
Plug it into your iPhone’s USB-C port and I can guarantee you won’t see a “Slow Recording Speed” message—this thing can transfer data up to 10Gbps.
The braided USB-C 10Gbps cable is included | Image: Christian Zibreg/iDB
However, an SSD no larger than one terabyte is recommended when shooting ProRes LOG video with an iPhone 15 Pro due to the iPhone’s USB-C Power Delivery interface maxing out at 4.5 watts of power.
With USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds and low-power operation, Photography Edition of the Dockcase Pocket M.2 NVMe Smart SSD Enclosure is ideal as an external drive to capture 4K HDR video at 60FPS with an iPhone 15 Pro or snap up RAW photos.
Shooting ProRes LOG video to a Dockcase | Image: Christian Zibreg/iDB
It works with any DSLR equipped via the USB interface and mounts on your computer like any regular storage device. This means you can use this accessory to transfer large files, back up your computer, etc. I especially liked the Read Only Mode, which prevents data modification during file transfer.
It supports up to 2TB SSD | Image: Christian Zibreg/iDB
You’ll need to supply your own SSD, but everything else is included in the box. Aside from the enclosure itself, you get a detachable braided USB-C 10Gbps cable and a tiny screw with a screwdriver to open the case.
Drive installation and setup
Installing your SSD is as simple as unscrewing the rear panel, connecting the SSD to the logic board, putting the rear panel back and screwing it in place.
The purple capacitor is for power loss protection | Image: Christian Zibreg/iDB
The enclosure is compatible with the 22x30mm size NVMe M.2 drives. Dockcase has confirmed it works with Western Digital’s PC SN530 and PC SN740, as well as the Kioxia BG4, Hynix BC711 and Samsung PM9910. For those wondering, it supports both the M Key M.2 (NVMe/PCle) and B&M Key M.2(NVMe/PCle) interfaces.
Testing the speed of my 128GB We Hynix SSD | Image: Christian Zibreg/iDB
Like with other storage enclosures Dockcase makes, this one has an internal capacitor that holds enough power for three seconds of operation—enough to finish writing data in case of power loss. This important feature gives me peace of mind that I won’t lose any data if the drive suddenly disconnects.
Plug-and-play operation
This thing is lightweight and portable | Image: Christian Zibreg/iDB
Of course, you may need to format the drive to work on both Mac and Windows. After that, it’s ready for action. I plugged the enclosure into an iPhone 15 Pro using the included USB-C cable and Apple’s Camera app immediately recognized it as an external storage device for capturing video.
With a dongle, you can use this enclosure on devices with the legacy USB-A interface, but the transfer speed will take a hit. Android devices and USB-C smartphones that support the OTG feature can record videos directly to the Dockcase enclosure with the Open Camera app.
A neat M.2 reader to boost your videography
The handy LCD screen for status information | Image: Christian Zibreg/iDB
If you plan on using this enclosure with a DSLR, the 1/4″ screw holes on both sides give you flexibility in terms of integration with other photography equipment like tripods, mounts, stabilizers, etc.
Another perk the Dockcase Pocket M.2 NVMe Smart SSD Enclosure-Photography Edition shares with other Dockcase enclosures is an integrated 1.33-inch LCD screen displaying useful drive health information.
A quick glance lets me check real-time readouts of the SSD’s temperature, storage capacity, read and write speed, etc by using a D-key on the enclosure to navigate the menus. One of the options in the menus enables you to rotate the screen 90 degrees clockwise to match your shooting orientation, making it easier to read.
One of the best things about the Dockcase is the ability to upgrade the firmware to take advantage of the latest features and capabilities of your SSD.
A sleek storage enclosure for just about anyone
The enclosure supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 | Image: Christian Zibreg/iDB
If you’re serious about photography and videography, investing in a compact storage enclosure allows you to use your own SSD.
With the Dockcase Pocket M.2 NVMe Smart SSD Enclosure-Photography Edition, you get a highly portable enclosure with a handy status display and features like power loss protection and read-only mode that prevent accidental data loss.
Thanks to high throughput and low latency, you can safely use it as an external drive to capture ProRes LOG video with the iPhone 15 Pros. Regular tech-savvy enthusiasts who don’t care about shooting video on an external drive might still be interested in a funky pocket-sized enclosure to host their external SSD storage.
Pricing and availability
Dockcase will boost your photography game | Image: Dockcase
You can back the Dockcase Pocket M.2 NVMe Smart SSD Enclosure-Photography Edition on Kickstarter. It’s available in Matte Black and Stripe Mirror finishes, with super early bird pricing set at $79. Considering the enclosure will retail for 129 when it launches, you can save $50 by becoming a backer.
Dockcase has a history of successful crowdfunded campaigns. This is their eleventh Kickstarter campaign, and it’s already past its funding goal.
For further information about this company’s products, including the various USB-C docking stations, hubs, external storage enclosures and other Type C accessories, hop over to the official Dockcase website.