Magnetic Freedom, Massive Storage: A First Look at the MSI DATAMAG SSD
Case & Components
Introduction: The Bottleneck Isn't Performance—It's Storage and Stability
With the advent of the iPhone 15 Pro series, which first introduced USB-C and direct-to-drive ProRes recording, mobile videography reached a new zenith in quality and specifications. Now, with the iPhone 17 series on the market continuing this support, the core challenges for creators remain the same: insufficient storage and poor shooting stability.
High-resolution 4K videos consume vast amounts of a device's internal memory, forcing creators to interrupt their shoots to offload footage. While traditional external SSDs can solve the capacity issue, they introduce a new problem: dangling cables. During dynamic, on-the-move filming, these cables can be easily snagged, leading to interrupted recordings or, even worse, a dropped and damaged drive. The MSI DATAMAG Magnetic SSD was engineered to solve both of these fundamental obstacles in one elegant package.
Tech Deep-Dive: What is a Magnetic SSD?
Snap and Go: The Unmatched Advantage of Magnetic Design
A magnetic SSD combines the high speed of a solid-state drive with the convenience of a magnetic attachment design Its strength lies in the perfect synergy between these two components:
- The Inherent Strengths of SSDs: Utilizing flash memory with no moving parts, SSDs are naturally shock-resistant, durable, and compact. Their high-speed read and write capabilities are essential for handling 4K or even 8K video files.
- The Versatility of Magnetic Attachment: This mechanism allows the SSD to securely snap onto any desired surface with a built-in magnetic system, unleashing its full potential and resolving the stability issues of conventional storage solutions. For devices without native magnetic support, such as laptops or tablets, the included metallic ring provides the same snap-and-go convenience.
By attaching directly to your device, this design dramatically shortens the cable's suspension distance. This effectively eliminates the risk of port disconnection from accidental snags and tugs, ensuring a stable connection and a more efficient workflow.
Finally, its high-speed USB-C port supports the USB4 interface, ensuring broad compatibility and lightning-fast data transfer with a wide range of devices.
Unleashing the iPhone's ProRes Potential: Meeting Apple's Official Recording Standards
Not just any external drive can handle the demands of smooth ProRes video recording on an iPhone. Apple has established stringent technical requirements, all of which the DATAMAG is designed to meet:
- Format: Supports APFS or exFAT.
- Transfer Speed: Requires USB 3 with a minimum speed of 10Gbps.
- Sustained Write Speed: A minimum of 220 MB/s for 4K 60fps recording and 440 MB/s for 4K 120fps.
- Power Consumption: Maximum power draw does not exceed 4.5W.
- Capacity: Available in high-capacity options of 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB.
More Than Fast, It's Unyieldingly Stable: Decoding DATAMAG's Peak Performance
The DATAMAG supports the high-speed USB4 interface, capable of up to 40Gbps, injecting lightning-fast speed into your workflow and providing excellent expansion capabilities for your laptop, iPad or Android tablet. Our benchmarks confirm this, with sequential read speeds surpassing 4000MB/s and write speeds exceeding 3600MB/s. This means backing up tens of gigabytes of 4K footage or transferring large project files can be done in a flash, significantly boosting productivity.
More critically, the DATAMAG maintains these near-peak read/write scores even under the demanding SEQ128K Q32T1 stress test. This is a testament to the stability of its controller and firmware tuning, guaranteeing that it won't drop frames or lose speed during prolonged recording sessions.
- Peak Speeds for Daily Large File Transfers (SEQ1M Q8T1)
This metric tests the maximum sequential read/write speed for large, contiguous data blocks—think copying a 4K movie, backing up an entire video project, or installing a massive game. Our tests show the DATAMAG achieving a staggering sequential read speed of over 4,000 MB/s and a write speed of over 3,600 MB/s. Transferring dozens of gigabytes becomes a near-instantaneous task. - Proof of a Superior Controller (SEQ128K Q32T1)
What truly sets the DATAMAG apart is its performance in the more rigorous SEQ128K Q32T1 test. By using smaller data chunks and a higher queue depth, this benchmark simulates sustained read/write performance under extreme load, serving as the ultimate trial for a drive's controller and stability. Impressively, the DATAMAG delivers results nearly identical to its SEQ1M Q8T1 performance (reads approaching 4,000 MB/s and writes holding steady around 3,600 MB/s), proving its mettle for professional use.
Product Design: Intelligent Features Beyond Storage
Industrial Design that Blends Form and Function
The DATAMAG features a lightweight aluminum alloy chassis that not only provides a premium feel but also offers scratch and drop resistance. Crucially, this metal casing acts as an effective heat sink, dissipating the thermal energy generated during high-speed transfers. Its design allows it to seamlessly attach to a laptop lid or the back of a phone, integrating perfectly into any daily, work, or creative scenario.
Data Management and Backup
Recorded content is automatically saved to the DATAMAG and can be directly accessed and managed through the native "Files" app. For users concerned with data privacy, this offline storage method offers a secure and rapid solution for data transfer and backup.
User Profile Analysis
- Professional Videographers: This group prioritizes stable sustained write speeds and excellent thermal management to ensure zero dropped frames during long takes. The DATAMAG's aluminum body and high-performance specs are engineered specifically for them.
- Photographers & General Users: For backing up large photo libraries and occasional video recording, the 1TB model is typically sufficient. Portability and aesthetic design are key considerations for this demographic.
- Hybrid PC/Mobile Power Users: For workflows that require frequent transfers of massive files between an iPhone and a high-end Windows PC, the DATAMAG's blistering transfer speeds are a game-changer, dramatically reducing downtime and enhancing overall efficiency.
Conclusion
The emergence of the magnetic SSD is about more than just adding storage to a mobile device. As exemplified by the MSI DATAMAG, it represents a fundamental optimization of the mobile creative workflow through the deep integration of high-performance storage with a convenient magnetic ecosystem. It resolves the long-standing conflict between quality, capacity, and convenience, marking a pivotal step forward for the future of mobile content creation.
More product information:
Datamag 20Gbps: https://www.msi.com/External-Storage/DATAMAG-20Gbps
Datamag 40Gbps: https://www.msi.com/External-Storage/DATAMAG-40Gbps
Datamag 20Gbps: https://www.msi.com/External-Storage/DATAMAG-20Gbps
Datamag 40Gbps: https://www.msi.com/External-Storage/DATAMAG-40Gbps
Download App now: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/datamag/id6742432053
