Congratulations to OWC; its OWC ThunderBlade X12 SSD is the winner of our Best Desktop Storage award at NAB 2025 in Las Vegas.
The OWC ThunderBlade X12 is an external SSD that can handle high-resolution video projects and large-scale creative workflows. It combines speed, mobility and reliability for modern film sets and editing bays.
Speed and capacity
OWC says the OWC ThunderBlade X12 SSD can reach peak speeds of up to 6,600 MB/s and maintain write speeds of around 5,990 MB/s across the entire volume. The device houses 12 NVMe M.2 SSDs, making it possible to configure up to 96 TB of total capacity.
Its Thunderbolt 5 interface is intended to offer faster file transfers. This could benefit creators juggling big projects like 8K or even 12K RAW footage.
Striving for reliable protection
Each ThunderBlade X12 includes SoftRAID, OWC’s software for creating and managing RAID sets. OWC explains that with RAID 5, you can keep working if a single SSD fails. The system’s 3-2-1 backup principle suggests storing multiple copies of files in different places, with at least one copy off-site.
On-set workflow
For portable use, the OWC ThunderBlade X12 SSD features a fanless aluminum body to help with cooling. OWC notes that the design has non-skid feet, a locking power connector and optional cable stabilizers to keep everything secure on location.
The company also ships the device with a ballistic hard-shell carrying case, so users can pack it up quickly.
Connectivity and compatibility
There are two Thunderbolt ports on the ThunderBlade X12. One can connect directly to a Mac or PC. The other can daisy-chain extra Thunderbolt devices or add USB-C gear. OWC states that each
The SSD comes with a three-year limited warranty and meets both Intel Thunderbolt and OWC performance certifications.
Pricing and availability
The OWC ThunderBlade X12 SSD is available now for $2,499.
