Glyph Atom EX20 20Gbps SSD Review: Lightning Speed, Premium Price

The Glyph Atom EX20 is a sleek, high-performance external SSD that delivers blazing-fast 20Gbps speeds, but its hefty price tag and a problematic included cable might give some buyers pause.

Design and Build Quality

The Atom EX20 immediately impresses with its minimalist, all-black design. The silicone jacket with its textured tread pattern provides excellent grip and a premium feel. At 7.5 ounces, it has substantial heft that conveys quality without being cumbersome. The compact dimensions (4.4″ x 2.4″ x 1″) make it portable enough for professionals on the go.

Both the Type-C port and activity LED are conveniently positioned on one end, with the port offset to the left for easy cable management. The overall aesthetic is professional and understated—perfect for creative professionals who need reliable, fast storage.

Performance: Blazing Fast When It Works

Once the cable issue was resolved (more on that below), the 4TB Atom EX20 delivered exceptional performance that placed it at the top of our 20Gbps SSD rankings. In CrystalDiskMark 8 sequential read/write tests, it posted numbers that rival some internal NVMe drives.

The drive truly shines in 4K random read/write operations, competing directly with premium options from Corsair and Crucial. During our 48GB real-world transfer tests, the EX20 consistently delivered impressive speeds, though it didn’t quite match the peak performance of the Crucial X10 in FastCopy benchmarks.

The 4TB capacity proved advantageous in our 450GB write endurance test, with ample secondary cache preventing significant throttling throughout the entire test.

The Cable Problem: A Major Oversight

Here’s where things get frustrating. The included 7-inch Type-C cable caused significant performance issues on our test systems. On Windows, write speeds dropped to a mere 50-80MB/s, and on M4 Mac, it plummeted to just 20MB/s—despite read speeds remaining over 2GB/s.

This inconsistency is particularly vexing because it suggests the cable can handle high-speed data transmission for reads but fails during writes. The solution? Use a Thunderbolt cable instead. Thunderbolt cables are manufactured to tighter tolerances and are fully compatible with USB standards.

This isn’t an isolated incident—we’ve encountered similar issues with the TerraMaster D1 SSD Pro. However, given the Atom EX20’s premium price point, shipping with a substandard cable is a significant oversight that Glyph should address immediately.

Pricing: Premium with a Capital P

The Atom EX20’s pricing structure is eye-opening:

• 1TB: $310
• 2TB: $420
• 4TB: $700
• 8TB: $1,500

These prices are notably higher than competing 20Gbps SSDs, approaching the territory of faster 40Gbps USB4 drives. For context, the 40Gbps Glyph Atom EX40 is only slightly more expensive and offers better value. Alternatively, the OWC 1M2 enclosure paired with an NVMe SSD can deliver similar or better performance for under $300.

Given the current NAND price inflation affecting the entire storage industry, these prices might soften in the coming months if market conditions improve.

Should You Buy It?

Buy if:

• You need maximum performance from a pre-populated 20Gbps SSD
• Budget is no constraint and you want premium build quality
• You already have quality Thunderbolt cables

Skip if:

• You’re budget-conscious (better value exists)
• You want a complete, plug-and-play solution without cable hunting
• You can wait for potential price drops

The Bottom Line

The Glyph Atom EX20 is a high-performance external SSD with excellent design and build quality. However, the combination of a problematic included cable and premium pricing makes it a tough recommendation for most users. If Glyph addresses the cable issue and prices become more competitive, this could be a stellar option for professionals who demand the best.

Current Price: Glyph Atom EX20 20Gbps SSD

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