Planck: The world's smallest SSD?

Avowedly phone-first and offering up to 2TB of storage, the new Planck SSD just clips onto the bottom of a smartphone and heralds a whole new generation of tiny storage.

It's difficult to know what to be more impressed with: the technology itself or an adroit (and probably quite expensive) press campaign that has got the new Planck SSD absolutely everywhere days after it launched on Kickstarter. Either way, the tiny 2TB SSD is a success already, and is in danger of being over-subscribed fairly soon unless its developers find some manufacturing capacity from somewhere.

It's billed as the world’s smallest, cable-free, rigging-free external storage device, designed with creators and professionals in mind. Storage capacity options of 1TB and 2TB are coupled with a NVMe chip with 1050 MB/s read and write speeds. Plug-and-play compatibility ensures seamless integration with iPhone and Android smartphones, cameras, laptops, and gaming consoles.

While being carefully agnostic with it statements, it's also being positioned rather firmly for iPhone users, enabling real-time ProRes 4K at 60/120 fps recording directly from an iPhone 15 Pro or later models.

A shockproof design withstands drops of up to 3 meters, thanks to an aluminum and PC plastic build. The device is also water-resistant, protecting it against environmental elements (excluding the USB port) and boasts an advanced thermal design that dissipates heat efficiently, ensuring consistent performance even during extended, demanding workflows.

But wait, there's more...

Alongside the SSD, there is also the PlanckBank USB-C hub. This enables dual SSD connectivity, allowing users to manage two Planck SSDs simultaneously for streamlined workflows. Its 4K HDMI output provides real-time content review on external monitors at 60Hz, ideal for live editing and collaborative projects.

The hub also supports PD charging up to 140W, powering smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Equipped with USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, the PlanckBank achieves speeds of up to 10Gbps (1050 MB/s).

Pricing and availability

Planck SSD is currently available in 1TB ($125) and 2TB ($199) configurations, with the PlanckBank Hub priced separately and around the $70 mark. These are super early bird prices though, and are likely to edge up. Ship date is currently projected as May. More info here.

tl;dr

• The Planck SSD offers up to 2TB of storage, featuring plug-and-play compatibility with smartphones, cameras, laptops, and gaming consoles, achieving 1050 MB/s read and write speeds.
• Designed for creators, it supports real-time ProRes 4K recording on iPhone 15 Pro and later models, while its shockproof and water-resistant construction ensures durability.
• The accompanying PlanckBank USB-C hub allows dual SSD connectivity and includes 4K HDMI output for real-time content review, along with PD charging capabilities up to 140W.
• Pricing starts at $125 for the 1TB model and $199 for the 2TB model, with the PlanckBank Hub available for around $70; shipping is projected for May.