USB-C is the sole port on Apple’s new 12-inch MacBook, and CalDigit today announced a version of its durable external drive that takes advantage of the new reversible USB 3.1 port. CalDigit Tuff features a USB-C port and cable for connecting the portable drive to the Apple’s ultra-thin notebook, and an included adapter cable ensures compatibility with the USB port that you’re used to seeing on your hardware as well. Since the new MacBook’s thin and light profile intends for it to venture out of your office and into the wild, CalDigit Tuff is ruggedized to endure drops, splashes, dust and other extreme environments.
CalDigit Tuff starts at $139.99 for 1TB HDD with availability starting in July (new MacBook orders currently deliver in 4-6 weeks). A solid state drive version with up to 1TB of storage will also be available while a higher capacity 2TB HDD option will be offered.
In addition to the durable Tuff USB-C portable drive, CalDigit also announced its new T4 nano storage solution with Thunderbolt 2. While CalDigit Tuff is intended for use on the road, CalDigit T4 nano is meant for use by professionals especially with 4K video editing workflows.
The drive is a 4-bay RAID featuring four removable PCIe SSDs. As the nano part of the name implies, CalDigit boasts a reduced footprint for the drive offering more desk real estate when in use. CalDigit T4 nano includes an HDMI port for connecting an external display directly to the storage.
CalDigit Tuff with USB-C features speeds up to 450MB/s with support already included for up to 550MB/s with USB 3.1 Gen 2 devices. CalDigit T4 nano with Thunderbolt 2 races at up to 1375MB/s transfer speed. Available in Q3 2015, CalDigit T4 nano will be priced at $2,499 for 2TB PCIe SSD.
Aside from CalDigit’s latest USB-C drive, we’ve seen solutions including cables and adapters from Belkin and Google, SanDisk, LaCie, and more. We recently reviewed the company’s Thunderbolt 2 hub.
