Orico C10 1TB Portable SSD review

Orico C10 1TB Portable SSD: 30-second review

From the outset, the Orico C10 10 Gb/s Portable SSD hits you with its unique hanging hole design and range of capacities from 256 GB to 2 TB. In this review, I’ve looked at the 1 TB version, which provides plenty of storage for most data file types, including 4K video and enables you to store a good quantity of footage and data without issue.

The design of the drive instantly makes it stand out compared to many of the best portable SSD units I’ve reviewed, being slightly larger than most but retaining a slim line design that features a tough aluminium casing along with a unique ABS plastic hanging hoop. This hoop can be used to tether the SSD to an internal bag loop or even the exterior of your bag or equipment.

Setting up and using the drive is simple, with the drive arriving pre-formatted in the exFAT file system, which, although it can, of course, be reformatted to match whichever OS system you plan to use. Alternatively, you can keep it in exFAT if you need cross-compatibility with both Mac and PC systems.

Transfer rates are generally impressive, although limited to 10Gbps, which is half that of the more common 20Gbps drives. However, you will find that this is far more compatible with most devices. In fact, this quoted speed is far more honest than those fast drives as you can expect the same performance across Linux, Mac or PC systems with there variance in transfer rates, making it a true cross-compatible SSD.

In use, there is little to fault; the transfer rates remain consistent, and even when the drive is under load and under sustained use, the performance remains steady. When used with DaVinci Resolve for editing and rendering 4K video, the performance is solid. The drive, while slightly larger than some other portable SSDs of this style, dissipates heat well, with little to no thermal throttling, even during intensive use.

What really stands out alongside the drive’s portability is the large hanging hoop. This first makes it easy to secure the inside of a bag, therefore making it easy to locate when working in the field. Secondly, it can be hung with others in the studio, labelled, and ready to go when needed. However, while the hoop does make it easy to store, there is still the matter of the USB cable that isn’t integrated into the design. So, while hanging or tethering the actual drive is convenient, you’ll still need to search for the cable to connect it to your computer.

Overall, the slightly older technology and reduced transfer rates—although still impressive—make this drive exceptionally good value. While there are faster drives available, for many Mac users, this drive is undoubtedly the best option. Although it doesn’t reach the high transfer rates quoted by Orico, the performance is more than sufficient for most users.

Orico C10 1TB Portable SSD: Price & availability

The Orico C10 is widely available and can be purchased through online retailers such as Amazon, and directly through the Orico website by clicking here.

Orico C10 1TB Portable SSD: Design & build

The C10 has been designed as an easy-to-transport slimline drive that will easily fit into your pocket without adding much bulk or weight. However, while it’s slim, it’s still relatively long at 132 mm, and alongside the drive, you’ll also need the USB Type-C cable provided to connect to your computer. While the size is compact at just 12 mm in depth, it’s by no means the smallest portable SSD on the market. However, with its full aluminium alloy and ABS plastic construction, it is both lightweight and durable. Inspecting the drive, I noticed that it does feel exceptionally high quality, which is exactly what you need for a device likely to spend most of its life rattling around in the bottom of a bag or pocket.

While there’s nothing too exciting about the drive specifications, the standout feature has to be the large hanging hole, which enables you to loop in a cord to tether it to a bag or hang it on a hook. This simple feature is unique, making the drive easy to store and organise.

Aside from the relatively tough build, the other main feature is the USB 3.2 port at the base; this connects to the supplied USB Type-C cable, which features a USB Type-C to Type-A adapter if needed and further maximises compatibility with various systems.

One of the advantages of the USB Type-C connector is its compatibility, especially with that adapter, making it usable with most Android, iOS, macOS, and PC systems. It can also be used as additional storage for a range of devices, including smartphones, tablets and even cameras, supporting both data and applications.

Orico C10 1TB Portable SSD: Features

The main feature of the C10, over speed or capacity, is its hanging hole design, which enables you to place it on a hook for easy access when additional storage is needed. It also means you can tether it inside a bag or to equipment to prevent it from getting lost. At the same time, this might seem like a minor feature, but in professional settings, such small details can make a significant difference.

When it comes to the interface, it utilises USB 3.2 Gen 2, offering a maximum transfer rate of 1,000 MB per second—more than sufficient for most applications. What’s more, whether it’s used with a Mac. PCs or other systems should sustain those speeds until they are used with an older connection type, such as USB Type-A or Type-C 5 Gbps. The aluminium and ABS design helps dissipate heat from the internal SSD while also providing a degree of protection from the odd knock or bash. This means you don’t need to worry too much if you accidentally drop it or throw it in a bag with the rest of your kit.

Otherwise, in terms of features, this is a straightforward portable SSD, simply designed to store your files in an easy, fuss-free manner.

Orico C10 1TB Portable SSD: Performance

There’s a lot to like about the Orico C10. Its slimline design makes it easy to attach to a variety of equipment, such as the back of a MacBook Pro or iPad Pro with velcro, or tether into the inside of a camera bag, ensuring it’s always there and easily locatable. However, while the drive can be attached or tethered, the USB cable is separate, so you may need to dig around a bit to find it in your bag.

In terms of physical design, it’s an ultra-portable and durable SSD. Although tough, it would have been nice to see some form of protector for the port to prevent dust and debris from accumulating over time. That said, the hanging hoop is a standout feature, large enough to stick your finger through, making it easy to carry and transport or, ultimately, conveniently to hang on a hook.

When it comes to performance as a storage device, while it only supports USB 3.2 Gen 2, the transfer rate is more than fast enough to handle files from memory cards or a computer quickly, and in reality, far faster than traditional hard drives or even most people will need for day to day use. In tests on a Mac, the transfer rates were exceptionally good, with read and write speeds close to the quoted figures. On a PC, the transfer rates were similarly impressive and, in some cases, the write speed was actually faster than the read speed.

In real-world use, this drive performed well as a working drive for editing photos in Photoshop and video in DaVinci Resolve. It kept up with the demands of both applications, handling editing and rendering tasks for 4K video without issue. During testing, while the drive did get warm, it never became overly hot, and if there was any thermal throttling, it was negligible and went unnoticed.

As an all-around portable storage solution, the Orico Portable SSD C10 doesn’t boast advanced features like rugged waterproofing or ultrafast transfer rates, but it delivers exactly what you need. Its unique selling point—the hanging hoop—proves genuinely useful, making this a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable portable storage drive for all types of professional work and applications.

Should you buy the Orico C10 1TB Portable SSD?

The sheer simplicity of the design of the Orico C10 portable SSD instantly makes it stand out. I really like the fact that it has a hanging hoop, which essentially enables you to quickly hang it on a hook on your desk or wall, making it easy to find and accessible when you need it. The design of the drive also features two large flat surfaces, which can be easily labelled. If you have four or five of these drives for different uses or content, labelling them makes organisation simple. If they’re all hung in a row, like a set of tools, then they’re, of course, easy to locate.

While the transfer rates might not be at the upper end of portable SSDs we’ve recently seen, 1,000 MB/s is more than enough for most tasks. With a USB Type-C interface, the drive is also compatible with most devices and many cameras that accept external storage solutions.

For general use, the fact that it easily slips into a pocket and features a tough aluminium and ABS plastic construction means you don’t have to be too delicate with it. Additionally, as it’s an SSD with no moving parts, it’s less likely to break during transport.

One of the advantages of using slightly older technology is the cost. This drive is slightly cheaper than some other options, with the 1 TB version reviewed here priced at a very reasonable £60 or $60, which is excellent value for that amount of storage.

Suppose you are looking to transfer and store files, use it as additional storage for a video system, or boost your MacBook’s internal storage affordably. In that case, the Orico Portable SSD C10 is a perfect option.

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

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Looking for more storage options? We’ve reviewed the best external hard drives for Mac.