Oyen U35 Bolt+ SSD Review: Blazing Speed, Troubling Thermals

Experience Unprecedented Speed with a Critical Caveat

Unveiling the Oyen U35 Bolt+: A Glimpse at its Initial Promises

Oyen Digital recently introduced its U35 Bolt+ USB4 (80Gbps) portable SSD, a device making bold claims about its performance. Advertised to deliver up to 6,000 MB/s transfer speeds, it stands as a potential record-breaker in speed tests. This level of performance is truly exceptional, rivaling the theoretical peak of Thunderbolt 5, despite the U35 being a standard USB4 device. It appears Oyen has managed to extract even greater efficiency from USB4/Thunderbolt 5 technology, as initial testing confirms it meets and even surpasses these promised speeds. However, there's more to this story than just raw velocity.

First Impressions: Aesthetics and Build Quality of the U35 Bolt+

Before diving into performance metrics, let's consider the physical aspects of the Oyen U35 Bolt+. Frankly, it won't win any design awards. Its appearance and dimensions are comparable to the Glyph EX40, though arguably less appealing. The light grey rectangular design is rather unremarkable, and the accompanying silicone bumper, unlike the EX40's robust counterpart, feels thin and insubstantial. It easily detaches, leading one to question its protective efficacy. Many might find the device more aesthetically pleasing when used without this flimsy cover.

The main unit incorporates a slender silicone layer on each side, interspersed with aluminum edges. While not offering significant impact protection, this design does enhance the device's grip, making it slip-resistant.

Beyond the single 80 Gbps USB-C port, the only other notable physical feature is a deeply recessed reset button on the back. The U35 comes equipped with a one-foot, 80 Gbps/240w cable, an ideal length for portable use, especially when connected to a laptop on the go.

Delivering on Speed: A Deep Dive into the U35 Bolt+'s Performance

Oyen positions the U35 Bolt+ as an advanced SSD for "creators and power users," promising sufficient power for 8K video and extensive VFX tasks, thanks to its impressive 6,000 MB/s transfer speeds. These are indeed ambitious targets, as such speeds would surpass all but the integrated SSDs found in the latest MacBook Pro models. To fully harness this performance, users will need a computer compatible with the newest USB4 and Thunderbolt 5 standards; even a 2023 M2 Ultra model will only achieve about half the potential speed, a fact that has been independently verified.

Our standard SSD evaluation protocol involves a three-stage test: initial speed measurement out of the box, a second test after filling the drive to capacity, and a final test post-formatting. This comprehensive approach not only assesses the SSD's thermal management capabilities during intense usage but also its ability to maintain consistent performance regardless of data load or deletion cycles.

When tested on the newest MacBook Pro with an M5 Max chip, the U35 Bolt+ demonstrated remarkable speeds. Initially, it recorded read speeds of 6,064.4 MB/s and write speeds of 6,278.8 MB/s. These figures are nearly double those of the Glyph EX40 and over 1,000 MB/s faster than the OWC Envoy Ultra, which were previously top performers. Only the internal SSD of the MacBook Pro could outperform these results. Even after being filled and subsequently emptied, the U35 Bolt+ maintained consistently high speeds, indicating a robust onboard controller that effectively preserves theoretical maximum performance.

The Unforeseen Challenge: Thermal Throttling in the U35 Bolt+

Despite Oyen's assurances of a "rugged aluminum design and integrated cooling core," the U35 Bolt+ experiences significant thermal throttling under continuous, heavy use. After being filled to its 4TB capacity, its performance metrics dramatically declined: write speed dropped to 2,244.5 MB/s, and read speed decreased to 5,585.3 MB/s. This represents an alarming 63% reduction in write performance, an anomaly not observed in other tested drives.

To confirm the thermal issue, the SSD was allowed to cool for approximately 20 minutes before re-running the tests, which yielded the improved figures presented in the performance chart. Given its passive cooling system, the drive requires a considerable amount of time to dissipate heat after becoming warm. While the chart reflects performance after cooling, it's crucial to note that even a slight temperature increase in the U35 Bolt+ can lead to a substantial performance drop.

Interestingly, even at its most stressed, the U35 didn't feel excessively hot to the touch; its warmth was comparable to other SSDs after handling a 4TB load. This suggests that the controller might be overly conservative in its thermal management. Regardless of the underlying cause, weak thermal performance stands as the primary disadvantage of this SSD.

The Oyen U35 Bolt+: A Fast Drive with a Thermal Trade-off

It's important to acknowledge that despite the significant performance dip under heavy thermal loads, the speeds achieved by the Oyen U35 Bolt+ are still likely more than sufficient for the majority of photographers and videographers. Even when thermally compromised, the drive maintained ample speed to handle ProRes 422 HQ 8K and 12K video playback.

Considering its competitive price, many users might find the U35's trade-offs acceptable. As of this publication, it represents a leading option in the market. However, with new drives like Glyph's upcoming model on the horizon, Oyen's reign at the top may be short-lived.

Exploring Alternatives: Competitive Landscape and Pricing

Oyen has managed to keep the U35 Bolt+ competitively priced, avoiding the high costs seen elsewhere in the SSD market. The 4TB version is priced at $969, which is considerable but still reasonable when compared to less powerful devices from brands like SanDisk (which is not recommended due to reliability issues) and Samsung, which demand $650 and $800 respectively for the same capacity.

In the Thunderbolt drive sector, prices escalate further. LaCie offers a Thunderbolt 5 SSD for $1,600, the OWC Envoy Ultra is priced at $1,200, and SanDisk's Thunderbolt 3 SSD costs $920 (again, SanDisk is not advised). The Glyph Atom EX40 also falls into a similar price bracket.

The Oyen U35 Bolt+ is also available in smaller capacities: the 2TB model retails for $599, and the 1TB version for $459.

Final Verdict: Is the Oyen U35 Bolt+ the Right Choice for You?

The Oyen U35 Bolt+ presents a compelling dilemma. While its thermal limitations make a blanket recommendation difficult, its impressive speed and attractive pricing might sway users for whom these thermal issues are not a major concern. For those specific individuals, this SSD offers a highly performant and cost-effective solution.