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Sabrent’s 16TB Rocket XTRM-Q provides responsive performance in most workloads, but it isn’t quite the fastest Thunderbolt 3 SSD to have passed through our lab. While the SLC write cache is absolutely massive, sustained write performance can be quite disappointing depending on how full the device is. However, it is the highest-capacity external flash-based SSD we’ve tested, making it a great option for the modern data hoarder and prosumers alike.
Not only would it make for a solid, high-capacity workspace, it is also potentially great for those looking to tack on more storage to their SFF build, or even for mini-NAS applications. As a matter of fact, that falls into my exact use case. I have connected the drive to an Intel NUC 11 Pro, and together these devices shrink my active NAS down from a large and power-hungry 24-bay 4U chassis to a compact, low-power, and easily hidden combo that is perfect for storing all my media and testing data.
We would have liked to see the drive come with USB support, but those purchasing this unit are more likely to have Thunderbolt 3 support than not. Given the eye-watering price, we also would have liked to see it with a five-year warranty instead of three years.
The 16TB Rocket XTRM-Q is priced very high with most of the cost incurred by the flash media itself, which leaves it out of the price range of your average gamer or storage enthusiast.
With an Intel Optane-like cost of $2,899.99, the massive 16TB Rocket XTRM-Q is not just one of the highest-capacity storage devices we have tested, but also one of the most expensive. At this price, nothing else compares to the sheer capacity and performance that it provides.
If you’re looking for something more portable, cheaper, but still fairly high capacity, the 8TB Rocket XTRM-Q is a solid alternative at roughly half the cost. If you don’t need quite as much storage but still want lightning-fast Thunderbolt 3 performance can’t go wrong with something like Samsung’s X5 or LaCie’s Rugged RAID Pro. And if you just want something high-capacity and at a lower cost, Lacie’s 2big RAID may be up your alley instead, though it can’t come close to matching the speed of the Sabrent 16TB Rocket XTRM-Q.
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