Dockcase Smart MagSafe SSD enclosure hands-on: Storage expansion for iPhone 16 Pro Max and more
Since the device's inception, the iPhone has plagued users with its set amount of storage that tends to fill up with photos, media, and apps over a short period of time. This has become increasingly pertinent with the onset of the hungry storage demands of new video formats like ProRes, which can consumer up to 1 GB for only 10 seconds of video (at 4K/30 fps). However, Dockcase may have an elegant solution. The Dockcase Smart MagSafe M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure is a MagSafe-compatible SSD enclosure that allows users to easily attach an external storage drive for files, photos, and even to directly capture ProRes video.
Design and Case - Compact and well-built metal case
Like most of Dockcase's accessories, the Smart MagSafe enclosure is very well-built. The case is a small puck with a metal underside and glass top. The side of the case is also made of metal, giving the entire case a premium feel. There are four short rubber pads on the underside to protect the back of a phone from getting scratched. In practice, this works very well; even when the case is attached quickly, it leaves nothing more than smudges from the rubber feet that can be quickly wiped clean.
The enclosure measures about 60 mm in diameter and 15 mm thick and weighs roughly 55 grams.
There are two screws on the underside of the case, allowing users to access and swap out the M.2 SSD. The Smart MagSafe enclosure supports either 30 or 42 mm B&M or M Key M.2 drives. SATA drives are not supported, so at least a PCIe 3.0 x2 drive is recommended. Both PCIe Gen 3 and Gen 4 drives are supported, though they will be limited to PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.
The display on the case relays simple information and is bright enough for general outdoor use. Keep in mind, reading the display is not necessary to use the drive. Via this built-in screen, the enclosure relays basic information about the installed drive, including the drive's manufacturer, size, and health alongside current transfer speed and power-loss protection (PLP) status. Clicking and holding the button on the side of the case allows users to display more details about an installed drive, change some options for the drive, and details on any active data transfers.
In addition to the options button, there are two USB-C ports on the side of the device. One is to connect the drive to a device (e.g., iPhone, computer) for data transfer, and the other works as a power delivery pass through. Dockcase offers two models, one that allows 15 Watts of power pass through and one that offers up to 100 Watts of pass through (via PD 3.0). The drive itself needs 5 Volts at 3 Amps to power on, so an iPhone or iPad with a USB-C port delivers adequate power to use the drive.
Features and Usability - Securely attached storage
The Dockcase Smart MagSafe enclosure is rated at USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds, meaning that it can transfer data at rates up to 10 Gbps (on paper, at least). In practice, the enclosure hits roughly 7-8 Gbps, or around 900 MB/s. Transferring large files via a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port on a Windows machine pegged the enclosure at 160 MB/s for movies and roughly 350 MB/s for large folders (10 GB+).
These speeds make the enclosure more than suitable for a convenient external storage device for media. Playing back 4K movies directly off the drive to an iPhone and an iPad were smooth with no issues. Photos loaded instantly, and file transfers were lightning fast. Considering its MagSafe compatibility, the Dockcase Smart enclosure could make a great travel companion to store UHD movies on.
Additionally, the Dockcase Smart MagSafe enclosure offers fast enough speeds for recording ProRes video directly to the drive. Apple recommends a drive that can support transfer rates up to 220 MB/s or 440 MB/s for 4K60 or 4K120 ProRes video, respectively. The enclosure definitely meets these requirements. In practice, there were no issues recording 4K60 ProRes video to an iPhone 15 Pro. 4K120 ProRes video could not be tested at the time of the review.
The magnets in the enclosure are extremely strong and hold the enclosure tight to an iPhone, even when the phone is shaken. We did notice the magnets’ strength was lessened with a MagSafe-compatible case; the enclosure attached but did not feel as secure. As such, a thin MagSafe case (or maybe none at all) should be used to ensure the enclosure is securely attached.
Pros
+ great build quality
+ quick transfer speeds
+ MagSafe-compatible for easy use
+ small size
+ easy to swap SSDs
+ handy screen for quick info
Cons
– can only use 40 mm SSDs (and 32 mm with adapter)
– limited to PCIe Gen 3 x2 speeds
– not easy to use with Lightning-based iPhones and iPads
– a bit pricey - no SSD included
Conclusion: Expandable storage best-suited for iPhone 16 Pro
The Dockcase Smart MagSafe M.2 NVMe SSD enclosure is a compact and convenient way to add external storage to an iPhone. Its MagSafe compatibility makes securing it to an iPhone a snap, and it offers fast enough transfer speeds to support recording ProRes video directly to the drive.
The best part is that the SSD inside is upgradeable. This means if the drive fails or runs out of storage, a user can quickly and easily replace it with a new or larger SSD.
Additionally, the enclosure is a boon to serious iPhone cinematographers. The enclosure supports up to 2 TB SSDs, meaning each drive could theoretically hold over 300 minutes, or 5 hours, of ProRes 4K60 video per drive. Additionally, the Smart MagSafe enclosure isn’t limited to iOS and iPadOS; since it uses USB-C, it can connect to a macOS, Windows, or Linux machine as well. Even as a standalone SSD enclosure, it works very well.
The biggest drawback is compatibility. Since the Smart MagSafe enclosure uses USB-C, it can only comfortably be used with iPhones and iPads that have a USB-C ports, such as the new iPhone 16 Pro Max. Devices like the iPhone 14 or older will require a Lightning to USB-C dock as well as external power to use the drive. That said, since almost every iDevice on sale uses USB-C at this point, the Dockcase Smart MagSafe enclosure is a good investment for upping an iDevice’s storage.
The Dockcase Smart MagSafe M.2 NVMe SSD enclosure is currently available via a Kickstarter campaign. Considering Dockcase’s reputation for delivering high-quality and feature-rich drive enclosures and the versatility of this enclosure particularly, it is highly recommended for Apple users.
Transparency
The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was given to the author by the manufacturer free of charge for the purposes of review. There was no third-party influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
