ASUS launch 20Gbps TUF Gaming A2 SSD enclosure

The TUF Gaming A2 is a portable storage powerhouse

ASUS has just released a next-generation version of their popular TUF Gaming A1 SSD enclosure, doubling its speeds using the USB 3.2 Gen 2X2 interface. The new ASUS TUF Gaming A2 boasts 20 Gbps transfer speeds, IP68 dust/water resistance levels, and U.S. MIL-STD-810H durability standards. This is a fast, rugged SSD enclosure. Perfect for your on-the-go storage needs.

This new SSD controller supports both SATA and NVMe SSDs. However, this enclosure’s maximum connectivity speeds are only available with NVMe SSDs. 20 Gbps translates to 2.5 GB/s, meaning a strong PCIe 3.0 or faster SSD can saturate this interface. The A2 supports M.2 2242, 2260, and 2280 SSDs.

SSDs can be installed toollessly using ASUS’ Q-Latch design, removing the need for fiddly M.2 SSD screws. Regardless, tools are necessary to access this enclosure’s storage compartment, as it is secured using four Allen bolts.

(Images from ASUS)

This SSD enclosure is designed to work in practically all environments. Its rubberised design makes it easy to grip and highly drop-resistant. The enclosure supports Windows 11, macOS, mobile devices (Android/iOS), and modern gaming consoles (Xbox and PlayStation 5). ASUS has also confirmed that this drive works well with their ROG Ally gaming handheld, making it useful for game transfers (given the limited storage capacity of ROG Ally-style devices).

While faster storage enclosures are available, all of them are incredibly expensive. Just look up the price of Thunderbolt 4/USB4 SSD enclosures, and you will quickly see the appeal of 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 solutions. 20 Gbps is plenty fast for most use cases and much faster than the 10 Gbps SSD enclosures that are more commonly available.

You can join the discussion on ASUS’ new TUF Gaming a2 SSD enclosure on the OC3D Forums.