OWC unleashes Thunderbolt 5 power with StudioStack and Mercury Helios 5S

Other World Computing is back again with the launch of two new Thunderbolt 5 products, the OWC StudioStack and the OWC Mercury Helios 5S. Both devices are built for creative professionals and power users who demand the fastest and most flexible setups possible for their Mac and PC workstations.

StudioStack rear

The OWC StudioStack is a sleek, stackable hybrid storage hub designed to sit perfectly beneath a Mac Studio or Mac mini. It delivers speeds up to 6302MB/s and supports up to 8TB of NVMe SSD and 24TB of HDD storage. Its all-aluminum enclosure does not just look premium; it helps keep the drives cool while running almost silently. With three Thunderbolt 5 and three USB-A ports, it is clearly built for modern workflows, providing both speed and expansion in a single elegant unit.

Mercury Helios 5S A

The OWC Mercury Helios 5S solves a problem that plagues modern compact systems, which is the lack of internal PCIe slots. By connecting over Thunderbolt 5 or USB4, it brings full-size PCIe 4.0 x4 support to devices like the Mac Studio, Mac mini, or even a laptop. With up to 6000MB/s of available bandwidth, it is ideal for installing pro-grade video capture cards, high-speed network adapters, or NVMe RAID cards.

Mercury Helios 5S rear

Both units highlight OWC’s knack for bridging the gap between professional-grade hardware and everyday usability. The Mercury Helios 5S is available now for $329.99, while the StudioStack is up for pre-order at the same price and ships in mid-December.

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Brian Fagioli

Technology journalist and founder of NERDS.xyz

Brian Fagioli is a technology journalist and founder of NERDS.xyz. A former BetaNews writer, he has spent over a decade covering Linux, hardware, software, cybersecurity, and AI with a no nonsense approach for real nerds.

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