Sharge Disk Pro 2 adds HDMI dock features to a magnetic SSD
Sharge’s new portable SSD enclosure doubles as a USB-C hub for laptops, phones and Nintendo Switch, according to The Verge’s hands-on test.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
3 min read
Sharge Disk Pro 2 is a new portable SSD enclosure that also works as a USB-C dock, giving one small accessory roles in storage, display output and charging. The Verge’s Sean Hollister reports that the device can serve laptops, phones, tablets, handheld PCs and Nintendo’s Switch hardware, which makes it more versatile than Sharge’s earlier Disk models.
The device is roughly the size of a deck of cards and uses built-in magnets arranged for MagSafe-style attachment, according to The Verge. Sharge includes one adhesive magnetic ring for devices or cases that do not already support that style of mounting.
What does the Sharge Disk Pro 2 do?
The Disk Pro 2 combines an external SSD enclosure with a USB-C hub, meaning one USB-C connection can add storage, video output, card readers, peripheral ports and power passthrough. The Verge says it supports one 4K HDMI output, USB-A, SD and microSD readers, and USB-C charging passthrough.
The Ultra model supports HDMI 2.1 output up to 4K at 144Hz, while the Lite model is limited to HDMI 2.0 and 4K at 60Hz, according to The Verge. The enclosure accepts full-length M.2 2280 SSDs as well as smaller M.2 2242 and 2230 drives, with storage support up to 8TB.
In testing, Hollister said a MacBook Pro connected through one cable gained a second external display, access to four storage sources and 80W USB-C Power Delivery. He also reported that an Android phone and a USB-C iPhone both saw the SSD and sent video to an HDMI display through the accessory.
The enclosure is rated as a 10Gbps SSD device, which The Verge notes is slower than newer 40Gbps and 80Gbps enclosures. With a 1TB Lexar NM710 SSD, Hollister reported average write speeds around 700MB/s during large 100GB and 195GB transfers.
Power limits affect phones and Switch use
The Verge’s test found that the Disk Pro 2’s low power use creates some limits. Sharge marketing manager Leo H. told The Verge that the Ultra model needs at least 1.5W of USB-C bus power and can pass only 3W from a phone or laptop to the installed SSD.
That limit caused the device to shut down during iPhone 15 Pro 4K60 ProRes recording and during a large transfer from a Galaxy S25, according to Hollister. The problem went away when he connected an external USB-C battery or charger to the Disk Pro 2, allowing more than five minutes of 4K60 ProRes recording.
Nintendo Switch support also depends on power. The Verge says the dock worked with both the original Switch and Switch 2, but Sharge said the Switch 2 currently needs an 85W or higher USB-C Power Delivery charger while the company continues firmware work.
Hollister also reported a long delay before the Switch systems appeared on a TV, similar to some other third-party docks. With a Steam Deck or other handheld PC, the Disk Pro 2 can output 4K120 and 4K144 with HDR, but The Verge found it did not pass variable refresh rate correctly to a VRR TV.
Sharge changed the design after earlier Disk models
The Verge says the Disk Pro 2 addresses several issues from prior Sharge enclosures. The cable is detachable, the magnets are built in, the ports are easier to access, the fan is quieter by default, and the switch no longer cuts power to the drive during a transfer.
The fan can also be turned off, though The Verge found the metal body became too hot to handle comfortably after a large transfer without airflow. In one 195GB transfer test, the fan-on result was only 10 seconds faster than the fan-off result, according to Hollister.
Sharge lists the Disk Pro 2 Ultra on Kickstarter at $75 for early backers, with a planned retail price of $89, according to The Verge. Hollister cautioned that Kickstarter projects carry risk, while saying Sharge has a strong record of shipping products even when its designs have varied in quality.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.