Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Addlink P30 Portable SSD review: 30-second review
Specs
Capacity: 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB
Transfer rates: 20 Gbps
Supported systems: Mac, PC, Linux, Android
Size: 58 x 26 x 11mm
Weight: 32g
As one of the larger portable SSDs designed for use with iPhone, the Addlink P30’s simplistic square design with MagSafe connector actually manages to balance its size with a strong connection and comfortable design. This makes it a great choice if you’re looking to expand your iPhone’s internal storage.
While its use with the iPhone is the primary focus, this drive, with its USB 4.0 connection (which is quite unusual for this style of drive), also makes it a good option as a general-use portable SSD that will suit anyone looking to utilise the drive for business or creative use.
Through the test, using the drive with my iPhone 15 Pro, the initial attachment to the back of the iPhone with the MagSafe connector held it in place securely, even with the case in place. The data connection from the iPhone to the drive is made through a neat ribbon cable which is of decent quality, however, it uses a standard style USB-C connector at either end, so does tend to stick out a few centimetres from the end of the phone, making it a little less neat than those SSDs that come with a right-angle connector.
A positive about this cable design is that it sits between your index and middle finger and actually provides a little bit of support when single-handedly holding your phone while filming.
One of the issues with MagSafe-only connections to iPhones, like this, is that if you want to use it with a mobile gimbal stabiliser such as the Insta360 Flow, then you need to find another way of mounting the drive—one that will be far less neat than the MagSafe connection itself.
With a USB 4 interface rather than the more standard USB 3.2 connectors, this drive offers far faster transfer rates than I would usually expect with this type of portable SSD. With the metal and plastic mix casing being lightweight yet solid, I found it was perfectly suited to be used for light ProRes video editing, as well as the more general storing of the files.
At the end of the test, while this is a portable SSD is on the larger side for use with an iPhone, it’s still incredibly compact. The 1TB capacity I’ve reviewed, coupled with the impressive transfer rate and decent pricing, makes it a great portable SSD option if you need to expand storage with your iPhone as well as with your laptop or other devices.
Addlink P30 Portable SSD: Price & availability
Just shy of $100/£100, this 1TB portable SSD is extremely reasonable considering the quality of its design, capacity, and speed. The drive itself is available in several different iterations, with 1TB being the smallest capacity and 2TB and 4TB options also available. The drive is available from multiple online retailers and can be purchased directly from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
Addlink P30 Portable SSD: Design & build
The Addlink P30 follows a similar design to many other portable SSDs with a distinct focus on use with the iPhone. The design and build are well balanced, with a plastic casing and a metal top plate that helps dissipate heat during use. This design also makes it extremely lightweight and gives it a robust feel. While the design is by no means premium, it looks great, and the quality of materials and manufacture are all decent.
Looking over the drive, the square design with the MagSafe connector fits neatly and securely to the back of your iPhone. While larger than some other iPhone expansion storage options, it is still extremely compact, measuring 64 x 64 x 12mm and weighing just 45g.
On the base of the drive is the USB 4.0 interface connector, which is quite unusual for a drive of this type designed for use with an iPhone. The iPhone is limited to a 10 Gbps transfer rate through its base port, but the USB 4.0 connection enables transfer rates of up to 40 Gbps.
This means it can keep up fully with all the demands of the iPhone, especially when shooting ProRes, and is equally suited to use with high-speed laptops, desktops, and other USB 4.0-compatible devices, which is now a universal standard.
The ribbon USB cable enables easy connection to a mobile or computer. It’s of decent quality, although a bit long if you’re using a standard-sized iPhone 15 Pro. A right-angle connector would be preferable, but the rubberised quality does enable easy positioning.
Addlink P30 Portable SSD: Features
A quick run-through of the headline features and the P30 comes in three capacities, with the smallest being the 1TB version reviewed here, joined by 2TB and 4TB options. Then there’s the magnetic design, which differentiates this from standard portable SSDs and places it in the same category as other iPhone expansion storage options.
It has a MagSafe connector that attaches directly to the back of your iPhone. For Android users, a mounting ring can be applied to the back of your phone to enable the same type of magnetic connection. Once connected, you have access to a huge amount of additional storage and can also enable Apple’s ProRes video feature to capture high-quality footage.
One key selling point is the USB 4.0 interface, which enables transfer rates of up to 4000MB/s. This is ideal for storing video footage from iPhone or Android and also if your DSLR or mirrorless camera, supports and external USB storage device such as the BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K.
Being small, means that it is of course ultra-portable. At 45g, it can fit inside any pocket or bag without adding noticeable bulk.
That USB 4.0 connection also means maximum compatibility. During testing, it worked with Windows, Mac, Blackmagic camera, iPhone, VX200, and PS5—each recognising the drive instantly.
Addlink P30 Portable SSD: Performance
Benchmarks
Crystal Disk Mark Read: 3980.45MB/s
Crystal Disk Mark Write: 3596.96MB/s
AJA System Test Lite Read: 2701MB/s
AJA System Test Lite Write: 2534MB/s
AS SSD Benchmark Read: 3035.14MB/s
AS SSD Benchmark Write: 2933.98MB/s
ATTO Disk Benchmark Read: 3780MB/s
ATTO Disk Benchmark Write: 3410MB/s
If you’re looking for a portable SSD for your iPhone in order to unlock ProRes video options, then there are plenty available—but few with more to offer that the P30. The Addlink P30’s standout feature is the USB 4.0 interface, which enables transfer rates of up to 4000MB/s. This is far above what the iPhone supports, but for laptops and desktops now offering USB 4.0, it means you can transfer video directly from your iPhone for editing, and even edit directly from the drive without slowdown.
In use I found that the drive connected solidly to the phone, and the full-size MagSafe connector gave one of the best physical connections tested recently. Its larger size is offset by how comfortably it sits on the phone, with the cable even offering hand support between your fingers.
The downside of the MagSafe connection is that once connected, using a mobile gimbal stabiliser is difficult, as the clamp often covers the MagSafe area. Gimbals don’t currently offer MagSafe-compatible clamps, meaning you’ll need to find alternative mounting or remove the drive during stabilised shooting.
When used with the iPhone, the drive is instantly recognised and enables ProRes footage recording. If I had the time and inclination I could have recorded 591 minutes, although several charges of the iPhone would be needed along the way, compared with zero minutes internally—recording ProRes to internal storage isn’t possible.
Switching to MacBook Pro M1 Max, the drive maintained excellent transfer rates. Write speeds were lower (around 1650MB/s), which is common for macOS. On an Asus P16, the drive performed far better, maintaining speeds around 3980MB/s without thermal throttling, even when editing a 15-minute 4K video from a Canon EOS R5C.
Overall, performance was solid throughout. While the drive lacks bundled software, its high speed and flexibility across the phones, cameras and computers tested.
Should you buy the Addlink P30 Portable SSD?
The P30 is a straightforward portable SSD with the added bonus of MagSafe compatibility, making it ideal for iPhones. During testing with the iPhone 15 Pro, it worked well keeping up with the demands placed on it, and most importantly enabling ProRes recording and fast storage access across all devices tested with.
While its max transfer speeds exceed the iPhone’s capabilities, when used with a MacBook Pro or Asus P15, the USB 4.0 interface delivers ultra-fast transfers—perfect for working drives or file offloads.
Build quality is balanced and while not premium this is a good quality drive. Though mostly plastic, the metal top plate improves heat dissipation and adds a slightly premium feel. It held up well during extended use and benchmarking.
Overall, the P30 offers large capacity options, good build quality, and that essential high-speed USB 4.0 interface, making it a great option for iPhone users or anyone needing a compact, fast SSD.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Header Cell – Column 1 | Header Cell – Column 2 |
|---|---|---|
|
Value |
Great value for money considering the capacity and speed |
5 |
|
Design |
Well-balanced design that offers plenty of flexibility over use |
4 |
|
Features |
The USB 4.0 interface and large capacity help make this drive stand out |
4 |
|
Performance |
There’s no doubting the performance across multiple devices |
5 |
|
Total |
A portable that keeps things simple and focuses on performance and compatibility |
4.5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Need more essential creative hardware for professionals? We tested the best monitors for photo editing
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(471x244:473x246)/CNN-New-Years-Eve-with-Anderson-Cooper-123124-9952e5f00fc1425f87113ba2bfb97b29.jpg "Anderson Cooper Says He Once ‘Hated’ New Year’s Eve While Co-Hosting CNN Broadcast")
