Everyone agrees that backing up data regularly is an essential process that should never be skipped. Unfortunately, lots of people pay lip service to backing up and then wail when their drive fails or their laptop is stolen.
Of course, you could set up some sort of backup in the cloud, but that can end up costing a monthly subscription and takes time to upload. But what if you could have a simple backup system that could keep your data safe in your own cloud and even allow other members of the family or colleagues to use it?
The UnifyDrive UT2 is a hybrid storage device that covers just about every scenario imaginable thanks to its dual NVMe drive bays that can take M.2 2280 SSDs. It can work as a Network Attached Storage device or as a simple USB external drive while also offering Wi-Fi connectivity, an Ethernet port and around 20 minutes of battery backup for emergencies. You can think of it as a Swiss Army knife for data storage.
The UnifyDrive UT2 is about the same size as a smartphone and is powered by a Rockchip RK3588C processor which controls access to the two M.2 slots. The wireless networking function can be run in Wi-Fi or AP mode where the access point mode lets you access data stored on the UT2 without an Internet connection. The wireless protocol is Wi-Fi 6 and supports one-click Wi-Fi and AP mode switching, making it ideal for use with various environments, including hotels and campus networks.
As well as the SSD storage, the UT2 also has high-speed SD and CFe card slots for backing up images from video and still cameras. The card slots can back up data to the UT2’s SSDs with one click and the SD UHS-II and CFe slots can support speeds up to 312MB/s.
Although the UT2 has a battery backup for emergencies, for most of the time it is powered by the included main adapter that ships with the kit. The UT2 can also be powered by a power bank, making it ideal for backing up work on location, especially when there’s no mains electricity.
As if all those features weren’t enough, the UTR2 can also connect to a TV, projector or AR glasses via its HDMI port. There’s even a remote provided for controlling the video output which can even work with PowerPoint presentations. With both SSD bays fully loaded, the UT2 can potentially hold hundreds of 8K movies on up to 16TB of storage.
To keep the UT2 cool and efficient, there is a U-shaped airflow design inside the case which forms a negative pressure wind tunnel with a fan forcing air through it to cool the SSDs and processing chips, improving the system’s overall efficiency even when handling large amounts of data traffic.
Setting up and controlling the UT2 is done via the Android or iOS versions of the free Unify app. You first need to create a user account and then the initial setup process can take up to 20 minutes and will probably update the UT2’s firmware at the same time. You can also set up a local account for directly using the UT2 with a host computer via USB when it’s not plugged into a network or connected to the Internet.
The UT2 can support multiple account logins but ensures complete isolation between those accounts to maintain individual user’s privacy. This means family members or colleagues can’t access each other’s data, but each account can choose to share their files, albums and media content with other accounts, providing sharing capabilities but with essential privacy safeguards.
Once an account has been set up and activated for the UD Link service with an email address, users can then access the UT2 over the internet with stable connections in various network environments. The UT2 can also be attached to a local router or network switch via Ethernet and it will appear on the network as a Samba server.
The two SSD bays can be configured separately or pooled together as a larger volume using RAID 1 or UT2’s unique UDR mode. Each bay can hold an 8TB M.2 2280 SSD giving a total of 16TB of potential storage. Unlike RAID 1, which stores a full copy of all data on each disk, the Unify UDR mode lets users decide which files should receive the dual backup treatment and which files only require a single backup copy. This ensures data security and improves the disk utilization which reduces storage costs.
SSDs can be encrypted to ensure the data is only accessible through the UnifyDriv app, protecting the stored data even if the UT2 is stolen or mislaid. As well as working with Android and iOS devices, the UT2 can also function with Windows PCs, Macs, web browsers and soon there will be a firmware update enabling the UT2 to work with smart TVs. When that feature comes, users will be able to use the drive to stream movies directly to a TV.
When used as a backup device for photos, the UT2 can function just like the photo gallery on a smartphone, but stored on the user’s private cloud. The UT2 also includes functions like backup, data restoration and space management. There is an AI-driven face and scene recognition algorithm, reverse image search, OCR text extraction, natural language search, baby albums, duplicate finder and other photo detection modes. There’s a lot of power built into this device that makes it particularly appealing to photographers.
As far as backing up goes, the UT2 has a one-click backup function that lets the user choose between backing up their data to the SSDs as a NAS or as a virtual USB drive when connected directly to a computer or other computing device. The ability to back up to the virtual USB drive is a new feature that’s accessible by upgrading the Unify Drive app with the latest firmware.
To view the backups when they are held on UT2 as a NAS, users have to use the Unify Drive app, which is designed to provide the necessary data encryption and security features. To view backups on the UT2 as a USB drive, users can simply connect the the device to their computer and the UD-Flash Drive folder will appear on the desktop, enabling full access without the Unify app, just like a regular USB drive.
In the future, to enhance the UT2’s usability, there are plans to implement a feature that will let users access NAS content directly without having to use the Unify Drive app so that when the UT2 is plugged in, it will just appear on the desktop.
Verdict: The Unify Drive UT2 is an ingenious product that does everything you might want from a multipurpose storage device. You can use it as a NAS or a local virtual USB storage device, depending on which approach works best for you. With both the SSD bays filled, there’s plenty of space for storing massive amounts of data up to 16TB, including space for hi-res movies which can be played out directly to a TV, video projector or other display technology via the UT2’s HDMI port. For photographers, the integrated SD and CFe card slots make backing up videos or stills into a one-click process. The UT2 can be powered with the supplied mains adapter or even a power bank. There’s also an emergency backup option from the built-in rechargeable battery that can keep things ticking over during a power cut for around 20 minutes, enough time to tidy things up and close everything down. It’s hard to criticise the UT2, although I think the Unify Drive app could be a little more polished and the speed of the unit when it’s used as a NAS will depend on the speed of your network or internet connection, but if you want a hybrid storage solution that can backup and keep data safe from almost anywhere in the world, there’s nothing else quite like it in a handy and portable package with such a lot of potential storage space.
Pricing & Availability: The Unify UT2 is available now on Kickstarter and has already attracted 1,342 backers raising a total of $549,652 , which means it’s 2,748% funded. The price for a single UT2 starts at $399 for early funders, although the regular price will be $599. The M.2 2280 SSDs cost extra so budget for those too.
Tech Specs:
- CPU: Rockchip RK3588C, 4Cortex-A76 + 4Cortex-A55, 2.4GHz.
- GPU: ARM Mali-G610 MC4, 6TOPS.
- Memory: 8GB, LPDDR4X.
- Disk Support: M.2 2280 SSD, PCIe 3.0
- SSD: NVMe M.2 * 2, 8GT/s.
- USB: USB 3.2 Gen 2 * 1.
- Type-C: Data port (USB 3.2 Gen 2) * 1, supports 8K/30Hz output, 5V/1.5A power supply; PD power port (12V/3A).
- Ethernet: 2.5GbE RJ-45.
- eMMC: 32GB, eMMC V5.1.
- HDMI: HDMI 2.1 supports 8K/60Hz output.
- SD: 3.0, supports SD/TF (TF requires card adapter).
- CFe: 1 slot, 5Gbps, supports CFe-A, CFe-B.
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax), dual antenna.
- Bluetooth: 5.0.
