REVIEW - I received a pre-production unit of the Hohem SSD-01 portable SSD and spent a few weeks testing it with both iPhone and Android phones. If you record ProRes RAW video on your iPhone, this little aluminum block brings a handful of very useful features: direct recording from your phone, a USB-C mic input, and pass-through power delivery up to 65W. Below I’ll walk through what it is, how it works with different phones, real-world performance, and whether it belongs in your kit.
Where to buy: Hohem
Price: Info not available at this time
What is the Hohem SSD-01 portable SSD?
Simply put, the Hohem SSD-01 portable SSD is an external solid-state drive designed for smartphone creators. The unit I tested was a 2TB pre-production sample but it will also be available in 1TB capacity.
Key features at a glance
Direct phone connection via pop-up USB-C connector
Built-in USB-C port for wireless mic receivers
Power pass-through (65W power delivery) USB-C port so you can charge while recording
Available capacities expected to include 1TB and 2TB
Fast read/write performance at nearly 1 GB/s in my tests
Compatible with iOS, Android, macOS and Windows
iPhone 17 Pro Max support for saving ProRes RAW, Open Gate, 4K 120 FPS directly to the SSD, older iPhones need 3rd party camera app for direct record functionality
What’s in the box?
My pre-production sample arrived in a zippered aluminum case with a status LED and my name printed on it. Final retail packaging may differ, but the build feels solid and pocketable. The SSD is very small and lightweight at only 29g and its pop-up USB-C connector keeps things compact when you want a no-fuss connection to a phone.
Setup and daily use
Using the Hohem SSD-01 portable SSD is intentionally simple. The pop-up USB-C slides into your phone’s port and the drive is immediately recognized. There are two extra USB-C ports: one for power pass-through and one intended for a USB-C wireless mic receiver. That combination is what makes this more than a plain external drive for phone videographers.
I haven't been using the PD port all that much, but I have used the Mic port.
The ability to use a USB-C microphone is a game changer for creators! Other than the obvious chunk of memory that the SSD gives me, I love being able to use a microphone at the same time I have the SSD-01 plugged in to my iPhone or Android phone.
iPhone (iPhone 16 Pro Max)
With my iPhone 16 Pro Max, the SSD plugged directly into the USB-C port on my iPhone without needing an extra adapter. The status LED turns green when connected, and the Camera app can record directly to the drive if you're using ProRes. You’ll also see the drive in the Files app and can copy folders back and forth just like any external storage.
Recording directly to the Hohem SSD-01 portable SSD is a nice workflow improvement: large video files don’t land in your camera roll and clog phone storage. Instead they go straight to the SSD for easy offload later. Note that with my iPhone 16 Pro Max, I had to install the free BlackMagic camera app in order to record content directly to the SSD-01. If you have an iPhone 17 Pro Max, you can use the stock camera app.
Android (OnePlus 15)
On Android the experience is even more seamless. Plug the Hohem SSD-01 portable SSD into the phone and the Files app automatically shows the drive (OTG). I was able to browse folders, copy files to the drive, then unplug and plug the SSD into my Mac or Windows PC to transfer content.
Performance
Speed matters when you’re recording high-bitrate formats. I ran the free Blackmagic disk speed test on my MacBook and the Hohem SSD-01 portable SSD reached almost 1 GB/s in my tests. That throughput is more than enough for ProRes and other demanding workflows on modern phones.
In day-to-day use the Hohem drive felt very responsive when copying large video folders to and from my computer was fast, and recording long takes to the SSD didn't cause hiccups.
See it in action
Who is this for?
The Hohem SSD-01 portable SSD is aimed at smartphone content creators who need a compact way to:
Record directly from the iPhone in ProRes
Use an external wireless mic receiver without losing the phone’s USB-C port
Keep the phone charged during long shoots via 65W pass-through
Final thoughts
After a few weeks with my pre-production unit, the Hohem SSD-01 portable SSD has become a handy part of my mobile video workflow. The combination of direct recording, a mic input, and power delivery in a tiny package is genuinely useful. It removes the need to free up phone storage mid-shoot and makes offloading footage straightforward.
Note: the unit I tested was a pre-production sample and the Hohem SSD-01 portable SSD wasn’t available on Hohem’s site at the time of testing. Expect confirmed pricing and final availability from Hohem when they launch the product.
What I like about the Hohem SSD-01 portable SSD
Compact, solid build and pop-up USB-C connector
Mic input and 65W power pass-through add real-world value
Very fast performance for phone-based Pro workflows
Works with iPhone, Android, macOS and Windows
What could be improved
Final retail packaging and pricing were not available at the time of testing
Would be nice to see confirmed dust/water resistance ratings
If you shoot a lot of video on your iPhone and need direct-record, mic input, and power in one compact accessory, the Hohem SSD-01 portable SSD is worth watching closely.
Where to buy: Hohem
Price: Info not available at this time
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Hohem. Hohem did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
