REVIEW – If you’re concerned about data protection, seeking the security and simplicity of personal cloud storage, or yearning to run a personal video streaming service from your DVD collection, UnifyDrive’s UT2 is ideal, thanks to its ultra-portability and an extensive list of valuable features. Please join me for a closer look!
⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $599.00
Where to buy: UnifyDrive
What is it?
The UnifyDrive UT2 is a network-attached storage (NAS) device with two M.2 NVMe drive sockets, integrated ports, one-touch backup capabilities, a built-in backup battery, and a remote control for HDMI video.
What’s included?
- UT2 unit with flexible case
- USB Power adapter
- USB-C Power cable
- Ethernet cable
- Remote control
- Two AAA batteries
- User manual
Tech specs
- Weight: 306g, 10.8 oz (without drives), 317g with case
- Color: titanium grey
- Power source: USB-C, built-in UPS (Up to 30 minutes of battery backup power)
- USB power requirements: 12V, 2.75A
- Maximum capacity: 16TB
- OS: Custom UDOS with an intuitive interface and multi-device connectivity
- Communications: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, 1xEthernet 2.5GB/S RJ-45, HDMI 2.1
- Processer: RK3588 (4xCortex-A76 + 4xCortexA55)
- GPU: ARM Mali-G610 MC4
- NPU: Independent NPU, up to 6 TOPS
- Memory: 8GB LPDDR4X
- OS storage: 8GB eMMC
- NAS storage: 2xPCI M.2 for up to 16TB
- Max transfer speeds: DD/TF, CFExpress – up to 312MB/S (read/write), SSD 812MB/s (read), 769 MB/s (write)
- Display: external HDMI 2.1 with 4K output (display not included)
- UPS: 1xUSB- C (Version 3.2 Gen1 with DLP), 1xUSB-A (Version 3.2 Gen1)
- Card slots: 1xUHS-II SD, 1xCFExpress (Type B/A (adapter required)
- AI media tagging and file organization
- One-button backup capabilities
- Separate personal and team workspaces
- Smart power management
- Cooling: Low noise, smart adaptive fan, and passive ventilation
- Supports Docker (macvlan, SSH, storage mitigation)
- RAID support: 0, 1, UDR technology
- Data security: Full isolation, Secure sharing
- Network protocols: SMB, NFS, FTP, iSCSI
- Remote access: UD Link mode, Stable connection
- Cross-platform compatibility: Android, iOS
Design and features
UnifyDrive’s UT2 NAS storage first launched on Kickstarter in late 2024, raising just over $1 million from around 2,400 backers. That’s very impressive! They have now released the production model, and I was excited to have a look.
For starters, the UT2 supports both RAID 0 and RAID 1, but you must decide how you want to configure it before starting.
For clarity, RAID 0 combines the storage of both drives into a single drive. For example, if you have two 4TB drives, RAID 0 turns them into a single 8TB drive. It’s useful if you plan on taking a great big ‘ole pile of data with you wherever you go. Once the price of 8TB NVMe drives drops, I plan to make a portable backup of my home NAS for travel and an off-site backup of all my essential files.
Raid 1 mirrors the data, with both drives containing the duplicate content as protection against catastrophic drive failure. I’ve long been an advocate of keeping data copies, but…
Okay, hold your horses. I can hear the hubbub already. Some argue that NAS isn’t a backup, and that if a file is deleted or infected with malware, both RAID 1 drives will contain the same data. True, but it’s pretty handy to make backups of other devices, such as phones, laptops, or memory cards. I use RAID 1 on my home NAS and routinely run backups from all of my home’s devices. Knowing I have redundancy gives me peace of mind.
It’s worth noting that NVMe drives are not included with the UT2 and can be expensive. 4TB drives are over $200, and 8TB skyrockets to over $600. Maxing out the memory, plus the cost of the UT2, will run over $1500. Still, I think it’s a reasonable price to pay considering the UT2’s features (My current desktop NAS solution was about the same price without as many bells and whistles. You’ll need to supply your drives, and they’ll be formatted when initializing. Be sure to back up any data before plugging them into the UT2. UnifyDrive supplied a single 512GB drive for testing.
The UT2 arrived in a well-padded box with a small USB-C power supply and cord, Ethernet cable, and, much to my surprise, a remote control and two AAA batteries.
I was pleasantly surprised by the small footprint. Tucking the UT2 into a backpack will be no problem.
The UT2 case is rubbery and comes off with slight twisting.
The UT2 has a battery inside. UnifyDrive specifically states it’s a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) designed to keep the system powered for about 30 minutes. It’s a great tool in situations or locations where power is unreliable, intended to keep the juice flowing for long enough to finish wrapping things up. If you’ve ever lost power while a drive is writing and suffered data corruption, you’ll appreciate the benefits of this feature. Plan on power from an adapter or power bank for extended usage.
Air slots on the drive side help keep the UT2 cool. A fan inside occasionally runs, but noise levels are very low.
UnifyDrive included the screwdriver needed to open the UT2 for drive installation, which was a nice touch. Everything went smoothly, and the fit was perfect.
The UT2 is essentially a small computer with some excellent tricks!
Cables and the power supply are also included in the box.
There’s an illuminated power, USB-C power socket, RJ45 Ethernet port, and HDMI on one end. Four LEDs adjacent to the power port indicate Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, drive, and device status. It’s impressive that the UT2 supports Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections. They even included a Wi-Fi Hotspot enabling the UT2 to work as a router through the Ethernet connection, allowing other devices to connect to the internet. Road warriors, rejoice!
The W-Fi button is on one side.
The one-touch copy button is on the other.
The other end houses sockets for USB-A, CFe, SD, and a USB-C data port that’s DisplayPort compatible. To use the ports, you might need an adapter.
UnifyDrive’s app controls the configuration and initialization of the UT2. It took about 30 minutes to get everything purring along. I was able to connect through Bluetooth and enter Wi-Fi credentials without difficulties.
The main device page provides access to all the functions the UT2 offers.
I started by tapping the phone backup. The process took about an hour for over 4000 photos. For perspective, the backup was faster to my laptop, and all of the files transferred to an eternal 4TB NVMe drive considerably faster in about a third of the time. The processor overhead slows the process, but I’m still impressed with the performance.
My next step was to review the configuration settings. I was not disappointed with the number of customization options. Bravo, UnifyDrive!
The UT2 continued to impress me with its HDMI port and USB-C DisplayPort capabilities. Connect it to a TV or projector and review your daily content, listen to tunes, or watch high-definition movies. I have backed up my DVD library and loaded a few titles to the UT2 for testing. There was occasional buffering while watching movies on my iPhone, but I could easily remedy the issue by dropping the resolution. There was no buffering using the HDMI port, even at the highest bitrate.
UnifyDrive comes with a remote control, making on-screen navigation a pleasure. There were many business trips that I would have loved to have the UT2 as a travelling companion, especially when there was only one channel in a language I understood, and unable to stream video due to horrifically crappy or security compromised internet access. My entire video collection in one place – amazing. Being able to have my own “Netflix-type streaming” to rewatch all of the Predator and Alien movies over a multi-week business trip – priceless.
Speaking of internet access, the UT2 also has a Hotspot mode. When connected using an Ethernet cable, it can become a wireless router and broadcast Wi-Fi. Thanks to the User File Management capabilities, I could share my video library with a coworker or in-laws in adjacent rooms, while keeping my work files isolated. Brilliant! I’ll plan to experiment and see if I can get VPN to work on it to help keep it more secure when traveling.
For those times when I don’t want to use a wireless connection, I was impressed with the UT2’s ability to connect and transfer files via USB-C. There’s a menu setting to enable it, and it consumes some storage space, but it’s an outstanding addition to the device’s utility. Bravo, UnifyDrive!
Still not enough connection options? The operating system supports “UD Link” to access the UT2 through the internet. At this point, I didn’t need to use the functionality, but it’s good to know it’s available.
Final thoughts
UnifyDrive has done a commendable job of packing a ton of features into their UT2 NAS. I’m impressed by the thoughtfulness and engineering that went into packing this much into a small package. Combining a wired and wireless NAS, onboard one-button file transfers (ideal for videographers, photographers, and data hoarders 🙂 ), USB file sharing, and a delightfully featured HDMI photo, video, and music player with a remote, it’s a memory-storage powerhouse. It’s not the fastest, but what it lacks in speed it makes up for in chameleon-like utility. I love it! Brilliantly done, UnifyDrive! Thank you!
What I like about The UnifyDrive UT2 NAS
- Small
- Portable
- Built-in card readers with one-button backup
- Built-in UPS for up to 30 minutes of operation
What needs to be improved?
- Large-capacity M.2 NVMe drives are still pricey, but I’m optimistic that prices will drop.
- A larger capacity battery would be nice
Price: $599
Where to buy: UnifyDrive
Source: UnifyDrive provided a free sample for this review but did not provide input, guidance, or editing before publication.
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