Who needs a RAID storage unit or a hub with a handful of Thunderbolt 5 ports? I’ll tell you who: Video editors, 3D animators, and digital artists who generate gigabytes of data and must move that data between devices at a decent speed. These are the professionals OWC is targeting with its latest crop of hardware introduced at CES 2025.
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First up is the ThunderBlade X12, a RAID storage shuttle that offers not only huge storage capacity but also the high sustained data transfer rates needed for traditional workloads such as 4K and 6K, 8K video, and for more demanding workloads such as 12K RAW video and stereoscopic 360 VR.
OWC ThunderBlade X12 tech specs
- Speeds up to 6,500MB/s
- Capacities from 12TB to 96TB
- RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configurations
- Premium build
- Dimmable LED lights
- Enhanced thermal stability
The OWC ThunderBlade X12 is slated for release in March.
OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub
Next up is the Thunderbolt 5 Hub, which transforms a single port on your computer into three Thunderbolt 5 ports and a single USB-A port. It features up to 80Gb/s of bi-directional data speed – doubling what is offered by Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 – and up to 120Gb/s for display bandwidth.
Thunderbolt 5 Hub specs
- Add three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports and a USB-A port to a Mac, PC, or iPad Pro
- Up to 80Gb/s of bi-directional data speed
- Up to 120Gb/s for higher display bandwidth needs
- Connect Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4, or USB-C machine or device with 100% compatibility
- Create three separate daisy chains of devices – even bus-powered – and remove devices from one chain without affecting the other chains
- Can deliver up to 140 watts of power for devices such as laptops
- Connect to the latest and future Thunderbolt, USB-C, and DisplayPort displays for incredible 4K, 5K, 6K, and up to three 8K displays
- Fanless cooling
- Aluminum enclosure
For a pro-grade bit of kit, the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub isn’t expensive either, priced at $189.99.