Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Drobo launches new USB Type-C storage device, calls it “world’s first”

drobo 5 bay external storage unit usb type c 5c
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Manufacturer Drobo launched on Tuesday a storage device based on USB Type-C connectivity called the Drobo 5C. It is essentially an external storage device that can sit on a desktop and play host to up to five 3.5-inch hard drives that are sold separately. It is not considered a network-attached storage device because there is no network connectivity offered by the device, just the single USB Type-C interface.

If you are not familiar with USB Type-C, it has nothing to do with speed, but rather the physical connection itself. Standard USB connectors must be inserted into the port a specific way, which can be annoying when fumbling to plug a wall adapter into a smartphone or tablet in a dark room. USB Type-C uses connectors that can be inserted into compatible ports either up or down. They are quite thin and rectangular, too, kicking out the odd shapes currently used on mobile — except for the latest iPhones — devices, and game controllers.

Recommended Videos

The new storage device is backed by Drobo’s BeyondRAID technology. This system will protect your data when drives fail by rerouting the information to the remaining drives, enabling full access without disruption. It provides self-healing for the total capacity and what the company calls “virtual hot-spares.” Users can even switch from single to dual-disk redundancy with just one click in the provided software.

“Drobo takes the upfront guess work out of determining the amount of capacity you require,” the company states. “Buy the capacity you need today, and when you need more storage, simply replace your smallest drive with a larger one and immediately use that capacity in seconds. You can even mix and match drive brands, capacities and speeds.”

Drobo does not say what is inside the box hardware-wise, only that it features an internal battery so that the Drobo 5C unit remains up and running for a while when the power goes out. The chassis and cover are completely made of metal, and a Kensington Lock Port keeps the internal hard drives safe from thieves — lock not included. Each drive bay includes an LED indicator showing the state of the hard drive — green/yellow/red.

The unit itself measures 5.9 (width) x 7.3 (height) x 10.3 (diameter) inches and weighs 8.5 pounds without the installed hard drives. It comes with a USB 3.0 cable with a standard Type-A connector on one end and a Type-C connector on the other end so that it can be connected to any desktop or laptop that does not have a USB Type-C port.

According to Drobo, this unit will replace the original four-bay unit that hit the market nine years ago. Since that initial release, Drobo storage products reportedly have increased 10 times in read/write performance, increased 32 times in storage capacity, and decreased in price by 33 percent. Thus, because the Drobo storage line has a long history, customers owning the second and third generation Drobo 4 units will get a $50 discount when purchasing the new Drobo 5C for a limited time.

Finally, users can configure the Drobo 5C for MacOS 10.10 and higher (HFs+), or Windows 7/8/10 (NFTS). It is available for $349 though the company’s online store serving the United States and Europe, and through other online vendors such as Amazon, Newegg, MicroCenter, TigerDirect, and more.

Buy on Amazon

Kevin Parrish
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then…
The best color laser printers for 2024: tested and reviewed
The Color LaserJet Pro 4301fdw has good photo print quality on glossy paper.

The best color laser printers are a great investment that can save you time and money compared to cartridge-based inkjet printers. Laser printers use toner, which lasts a long time, delivering a low cost per page for monochrome documents and incredibly fast color prints. The best color laser printers offer high-quality prints and reliability that help keep your home office or small business productive.

If you need to scan documents for record-keeping and photo capture or want the convenience of a color copier, an all-in-one color laser printer is an essential tool for your small business or personal use. For a small added cost, you get expanded capabilities. That's why we include several all-in-one models from the best printer brands.

Read more
Here’s why it is a good time to buy a monitor
Pair of monitors on a desk with a monitor arm.

Planning to get your hands on one of the best monitors for your workstation or gaming PC? There’s good news. Due to the declining demand for computer monitors, we could soon witness a welcome price reduction for consumers.

As per a report by DigiTimes, industry analysts suggest that the market for monitors -- particularly standard LCDs -- has been impacted by the rise of more affordable OLED alternatives and a slowdown in overall consumer demand. This shift in demand has left manufacturers with surplus inventory, which they are expected to discount more aggressively through the end of 2024 to drive sales. A similar pattern is being observed with laptop displays as the demand for entry-level notebook panels is also declining.

Read more
Samsung’s Vision Pro competitor is one step closer to a 2025 release
The Sony XR headset being worn on a someone's face.

Samsung's TM Roh shares XR plans at the 2023 Galaxy Unpacked event. Samsung

Samsung has confirmed it still has plans to release an XR device that will be available sometime next year.

Read more