Okay, let’s dive into a cool piece of tech that might just solve some storage headaches, especially for those of us constantly juggling files between devices or filling up our phones way too fast.
Running out of space on your phone or laptop is a modern-day frustration, isn’t it? High-resolution photos, 4K videos (especially fancy formats like ProRes on newer iPhones), games, and big project files all chew through storage like nobody’s business. External drives are a solution, but sometimes they feel bulky or clumsy, particularly when you’re on the move with just your phone. Orico seems to have spotted this gap and created something genuinely interesting: the K20 Mini Magnetic Suction Portable SSD. It’s small, claims to be incredibly fast, and has a magnetic trick up its sleeve.
What’s in the Box?
Getting started is straightforward. Inside the neat blue packaging, you’ll find:
- The Orico K20 Mini SSD itself: The star of the show, looking sleek and compact.
- A USB-C to USB-C Flat Cable: It’s a short one, around 12cm, designed to be unobtrusive, especially when connected to a phone.
- A Magnetic Ring: This is a thoughtful addition. It’s an adhesive metal ring you can stick to the back of a phone or case that doesn’t have built-in magnets, allowing it to work with the K20 Mini’s magnetic feature.
- User Manual: The usual paperwork explaining the basics.
Design, Look, and Feel
Picking up the K20 Mini, the first thing you notice is how incredibly small and light it is. It genuinely fits in the palm of your hand. The main body is crafted primarily from an aluminum alloy, giving it a premium, sturdy feel with a pleasant sandblasted silver texture (though it seems other color options might be available based on the packaging). There are some plastic components, likely around the port area and the magnetic base.
It’s impressively thin, measuring just about 7.5mm thick. The video shows it’s significantly slimmer than an iPhone (even one in a case). Its other dimensions are roughly 60mm by 68mm. Weighing in at around 38.8 grams according to the scale in the video, it adds virtually no noticeable weight when carried or even attached to a phone.
On one edge, you have the single USB-C port for both data transfer and power. Next to it is a tiny LED power indicator light, which is subtle and practical. The top surface features the Orico logo and the “K20 Mini Magnetic Suction Portable SSD” text. Flip it over, and you see the main attraction: the dark, circular magnetic area designed for attaching to devices, along with some key product information printed on it.
Features That Stand Out
Orico packed some neat capabilities into this tiny drive:
- Blazing Speed (Potentially!): Orico advertises read speeds up to a whopping 2050 MB/s. That’s seriously fast for a portable SSD! This kind of speed makes it theoretically ideal for demanding tasks like directly recording high-bitrate video (like 4K ProRes) or transferring massive files in seconds rather than minutes.
- Magnetic Suction Design: This is the K20 Mini’s unique selling point. The back of the SSD has strong magnets built-in, designed to snap securely onto Magsafe-compatible iPhones (like the iPhone 15 and upcoming 16 series mentioned) or any device using the included adhesive magnetic ring. This means you can potentially stick the drive right onto the back of your phone while recording or transferring files, eliminating dangling cables or needing a separate place to put the drive. It keeps things tidy and convenient.
- Wide Compatibility: The drive plays nice with various operating systems. It’s listed as compatible with macOS, Windows, and Android. This cross-platform flexibility is a big plus.
- Mobile Device Friendly: Beyond general OS compatibility, it’s specifically highlighted for use with the iPhone 16 series (implying full support for direct recording features expected with USB-C) and Android devices. Just plug it into a compatible phone’s USB-C port, and it should appear as external storage.
- Storage Options: You’re not stuck with one size. The K20 Mini comes in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities, offering flexibility depending on your storage needs and budget. The prices shown in the video are quite competitive:
- 512GB – $50.99
- 1TB – $84.99
- 2TB – $127.99
Performance Testing
The video includes a speed test using CrystalDiskMark on a Windows PC. Here’s where things get a bit nuanced. The test results shown (around 467 MB/s read and 456 MB/s write sequentially) are significantly lower than the advertised 2050 MB/s.
Why the difference? The presenter correctly points out that achieving those top-tier speeds requires a specific connection: USB 3.2 Gen 2×2. This standard offers a theoretical bandwidth of 20Gbps, matching the drive’s potential. However, the test PC’s motherboard, like many current systems, only supported USB 3.2 Gen 1 (which is essentially 5Gbps) or possibly Gen 2 (10Gbps). The drive’s speed is limited by the port it’s connected to.
So, while the drive is capable of much higher speeds, you need a compatible host device (a computer or phone with a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port) to actually experience them. On a more common USB 3.2 Gen 1 or Gen 2 port, you’ll get respectable SSD speeds (as shown in the test), but not the maximum advertised rate. This isn’t the drive’s fault, but rather a factor of the connection standard used. It’s an important detail to be aware of.
The video also demonstrated connecting the K20 Mini to an Android phone. It was recognized immediately as “USB storage 1,” and the presenter was able to start recording video directly to the external drive without any apparent issues or lag, showcasing its practical mobile usability.
One compatibility note highlighted was that while it works well with Android and newer iPhones (iPhone 15/16 series with USB-C), it likely won’t function properly with older iPhones that use the Lightning port or lack the necessary power delivery/reverse charging capability via their USB-C implementation (if applicable). The SSD requires power from the host device, which older iPhones might not provide sufficiently through their ports for this type of accessory.
Final Thoughts
The Orico K20 Mini Magnetic Suction Portable SSD is a clever and potentially very useful device. Its standout feature is undoubtedly the magnetic attachment, offering a unique convenience for mobile users, particularly those with Magsafe-compatible iPhones. The ultra-slim, lightweight, and premium-feeling design makes it exceptionally portable.
While the speed test in the video didn’t reach the maximum advertised numbers due to the host computer’s port limitations, the drive itself holds the potential for incredible speeds if connected via USB 3.2 Gen 2×2. Even at standard USB 3.1/3.2 Gen 1/2 speeds, it performs well as a portable SSD. Its compatibility with major operating systems and seamless integration with Android phones (and presumably newer iPhones) for direct file storage and recording adds significant value.
Given its features, build quality, storage options, and competitive pricing, the Orico K20 Mini earns a strong recommendation. It’s a well-thought-out product that addresses a real need for convenient, fast, and portable storage in a mobile-centric world.
