ORICO K20 1TB Magnetic Portable SSD Review: Tiny, Fast, and Phone-Ready

I went hands-on with the ORICO K20 1TB magnetic portable SSD after watching a creator test it by sticking it to the back of an iPhone and moving a 163MB file almost instantly. The size surprised me first. It’s truly palmable and featherlight, yet designed to magnetically latch to a smartphone, tablet, or laptop so you can record straight to an external drive without juggling cables.

In this review I cover build quality, real-world use with iPhone ProRes/HDR workflows, speed caveats, and how it stacks up to popular alternatives. I’ll also call out who should buy the ORICO K20 and who’s better off with a different external solid state drive.

What I Liked

Ultra-portable magnetic design

The K20 is smaller and lighter than many external drives I’ve used. It sits flush on the back of my smartphone and doesn’t make the rig top-heavy.

During quick handheld clips, the magnet kept the external drive in place so I could focus on framing instead of babysitting cables.

• Magnetic external attachment via MagSafe or the included magnetic attraction ring (adhesive) for non-MagSafe cases
• Great as on-device storage when you’re moving around

Phone-first ProRes workflow

On iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max, recording Apple ProRes HDR at up to 4K 120 fps directly to the K20 worked as intended per the product page. That’s crucial because high-bitrate Apple ProRes can overwhelm internal storage fast.

The creator’s demo also highlighted a key iPhone recording fact: certain formats like Log/ProRes require an external SSD connected, and the K20 makes this turnkey with USB-C.

• Skip cloud uploads and keep your content private while on set
• Ideal for immediate on-drive editing on a tablet or laptop

Snappy transfers for real files

Transferring a 163MB clip to the K20 completed almost instantly in the demo. That reflects the drive’s goal of near-instant dumping of takes.

While the headline number is up to 2000MB/s, speeds depend on your host port. I still appreciate how responsive it feels for typical creator files.

What Needs Improvement

Lighter shell vs rugged competition

The aluminum alloy body is slim, but it doesn’t feel as tank-like as some rubberized alternatives. Drives like the Samsung T7 feel more protected.

If you’re rough on gear, consider a case or a more rugged external hard drive style enclosure.

Host-port speed caveat (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2)

To hit up to 2000MB/s, your device must support USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. Some Apple computers won’t deliver full function even with Thunderbolt ports, per ORICO’s note.

Creators should verify their Mac, Windows laptop, or tablet computer port capabilities before expecting peak numbers.

How It Compares to Alternatives

vs Samsung T7

The Samsung T7 is well-known and feels sturdier with a more protective build. It’s not magnetic and typically tops out around 1050MB/s (USB 3.2 Gen 2), so the ORICO K20 can be faster on a 20Gbps port.

If you prioritize a magnetic portable SSD that sticks to your phone while shooting, the ORICO wins for convenience.

vs Lexar 1TB Professional Go Portable SSD

The Lexar model advertises up to 1050MB/s, USB 3.2 Gen 2, and a rugged IP65 design, plus support for Apple 4K 60fps ProRes. That’s compelling if you want water/dust resistance.

ORICO K20’s differentiator is magnetic mounting and support for iPhone 16 Pro 4K 120 fps ProRes HDR, which is a higher frame rate use case.

Who Should Buy This

Perfect for:

• iPhone 16 Pro / 16 Pro Max shooters capturing 4K 120 fps ProRes HDR straight to an external solid state drive
• Creators who want a magnetic external SSD that stays attached during mobile shoots
• USB-C smartphone, tablet, and laptop users who prefer local backup over cloud uploads
• Mac and Windows video editors needing fast shuttle storage

Skip if you:

• Rely on an iPhone with a Lightning connector and won’t use an adapter
• Need a rubberized, drop-rated external hard drive form factor
• Can’t confirm your port supports USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 and you require top-end numbers

Final Verdict

The ORICO K20 1TB nails the core brief: a tiny portable SSD that magnetically attaches to your phone and records Apple ProRes HDR without drama. It’s an elegant solution for iPhone, Android, iPad, Mac, and PC workflows where mobility matters.

If you can live with the lighter aluminum alloy shell and confirm your USB-C port situation, it’s an easy recommendation at its current price of $99.99.