SK hynix Tube T31 2TB Stick Type SSD with DRAM | up to 1000MB/s | 10 Gbps | USB-A 3.2 Gen2 | External Solid State Flash Drive Compatible with Mac, Window PC, Gaming Console

I recently got my hands on the **SK hynix Tube T31 2TB Stick Type SSD**, and it’s a game-changer for portable storage. Here’s my honest review after using it extensively:Design and Build 9/10The Tube T31 looks like a regular USB stick, but don’t let its compact design fool you—it’s packed with SSD-level performance. The aluminum casing feels sturdy and premium, while also helping with heat dissipation during heavy use. It’s slightly bulkier than a typical USB flash drive, which might make it awkward if you’re using adjacent USB ports, but the trade-off is worth it for what’s inside.Performance 9/10This little stick delivers **blazing-fast speeds of up to 1000MB/s**, thanks to its USB-A 3.2 Gen2 interface and onboard DRAM. File transfers are incredibly quick, whether it’s large video files, game installations, or backups. I’ve used it to transfer multi-gigabyte files, and it performs consistently without slowing down. The DRAM cache ensures smooth performance, which is something you won’t find in cheaper drives. However, it lacks TRIM support, so if you’re constantly writing and deleting large files, you might see some performance degradation over time.Compatibility 8/10Plug-and-play functionality makes it super easy to use across PCs, laptops, and even gaming consoles. I tested it on my PlayStation 5, and it worked flawlessly for storing and running games. The only downside is its reliance on USB-A—if you’re using a device with USB-C ports only, you’ll need an adapter, which feels a bit outdated in 2025.Pros:- **Insane speed** for its size (up to 1000MB/s).- **Compact and durable** aluminum design.- Onboard DRAM for sustained performance.- Perfect for gaming, backups, and portable storage.Cons:- No TRIM support, which could affect long-term performance.- Slightly bulky, might block nearby USB ports.- USB-A only, requiring an adapter for USB-C devices.My Final VerdictThe **SK hynix Tube T31 2TB SSD** is a powerful and portable solution for anyone needing high-speed, high-capacity storage. It’s perfect for gamers, content creators, or anyone who wants SSD performance in a pocket-sized device. While it’s not without its minor flaws, like the lack of TRIM and USB-C, the overall performance and build quality make it a fantastic investment. Highly recommended!

Intended use: USB-A backup/transfer driveThis thing rocked as I performed multiple 1TB transfers. It did get hot but not excessively.No slow downs in transferring large amounts of files of all sizes. Verified 10Gps throughput by using USB-C 3.2 on a laptop.Only dings (slight): fairly chubby so USB port access could be physically limited but in the same category as some 2230 M.2 based USB drives.Now my go to transfer drive.

If you're looking for a really fast drive in the form factor of a USB stick, here it is. (It's not as fast as an internal NVMe drive, but anything that connects to a standard USB port can't be.) If you carry around a small flash drive for quick backups or reimaging of systems, this is about as good as it gets. If you catch it on sale it's around the same price as an ordinary thumb drive with the same capacity, but it's a far better drive.This is actually an M.2 SSD in a stick-shaped case. Its read speed is as high as a USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 (also known as SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps) drive can be; it saturates the USB bus. That, in turn, is as fast as a USB-A port can go; higher speeds would require a USB-C connection. The rated write speed isn't QUITE that fast but it's close, and independent testing showed it beating that spec and saturating the bus. If you plug it into a Superspeed 5Gbps port it will only be half as fast, but will still equal or beat any other drives; it won't be fast in a USB 2.0 (480 Mbps) port but it will still work, and will be as fast as any drive can be on that slow port.SK Hynix doesn't publish a TBW spec for this drive, but it's likely to be comparable to other consumer SSDs; hundreds of terabytes written per terabyte of capacity. It supports S.M.A.R.T and TRIM, though many operating systems won't make full use of those on an external drive.The form factor is the one negative here. Being able to plug directly into a USB-A port is handy, but the drive is big enough that it blocks adjacent ports on many systems and won't fit into some laptops at all. If you regularly face space constraints, you might prefer the X31 Beetle from SK Hynix instead; that's essentially the same drive in a small package with a USB-C port, and comes with C-C and A-C cables for use with computers with either type of port. Because of the need for included cables, the X31 Beetle is usually slightly more expensive than the T31 Tube.