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Black aluminium enclosure with ABS tray for 2.5 inch SATA drive

Vantec

Vantec NST-268S3-BK 2.5" SATA drive enclosure

SKU CH-D73V-NHBX9 MPN NST-268S3-BK

Houses one 2.5″ SATA SSD or HDD in a lightweight aluminium shell with tool-less access and USB 3 MicroB connection

  • Size2.5 in (6.35 cm)
  • Drive interface2.5 in SATA III interface (Compatible with SATA II/I)
  • External connectionUSB 3 MicroB
  • Bay count1
  • Power detailsSelf-powered, no external power needed
  • Product colorBlack
  • USB 3.2 Gen1 external interface enables fast data transfers
  • Lightweight aluminium casing with ABS tray protects the drive while staying portable
  • Self-powered design removes the need for an external adapter
  • Tool-less tray allows quick drive installation without extra tools
  • Supports 2.5″ SATA III, II and I drives from 7 mm to 9.5 mm thick

Compact 2.5" SATA Enclosure

The Vantec NST-268S3-BK is a lightweight aluminium and ABS enclosure that turns a 2.5-inch SATA III solid-state drive or hard drive into an external USB storage device. It draws power directly from the host port so no separate adapter is required. The USB 3 MicroB connection delivers USB 3.2 Gen1 transfer rates for everyday file work.

Suitable for single-drive upgrades

Users who want to reuse a 7 mm to 9.5 mm thick SATA drive on Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS or Linux will find the tool-less tray and plug-and-play operation convenient. Builders needing multiple drive bays, a 3.5-inch form factor or a different external connector should consider other solutions.

SATA III internal interface

The enclosure accepts any 2.5-inch drive with a native SATA III, SATA II or SATA I interface and presents it over a single USB 3 MicroB port. This interface match is the decisive factor when confirming compatibility with an existing drive.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in External Drive Enclosures, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $26.99
Cheaper than about 58% of the 821 comparable items (median $30.99).

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Specifications

Product
Brand nameVANTEC
Product lineNexStar 6G
Model nameNST-268S3-BK
Part numberNST-268S3-BK
Product colorBlack
Product typeEnclosure
Storage
Drive interface2.5 in SATA III interface (Compatible with SATA II/I)
Bay count1
Ports & slots
External connectionUSB 3 MicroB
Power
Power adapterNo
Power detailsSelf-powered, no external power needed
Size & build
Size2.5 in (6.35 cm)
Main materialLightweight Aluminum Casing with Tough ABS Tray
Product dimensions4.8 × 3.2 × 0.5 in / 121.7 × 77.7 × 13.3 mm
Product weight2.77 oz / 79 g
Shipping weight0.23 kg
Package size127 × 102 × 25 mm
In the box
In the boxNexStar 6G, 2.5 in SATA Drive Enclosure
USB cable; QIG; Screw set; screwdriver; soft foam pad

Questions about this item

Does the aluminum casing keep a 2.5" SATA drive cool during all-day use without a fan?

The lightweight aluminum casing acts as a passive heatsink for the 2.5" SATA drive, and the enclosure is self-powered so no external adapter or fan is required for continuous operation.

What cables or tools must I already have to install a 7 mm to 9.5 mm thick SATA drive?

The package includes a USB 3 MicroB cable, a screw set and a screwdriver, so no extra cables or tools are needed to mount a 7 mm to 9.5 mm SATA drive.

Will this USB 3.2 Gen1 enclosure work with an older laptop that only has USB 2.0 ports?

Yes, the USB 3 MicroB interface is backward compatible with USB 2.0, so the enclosure will function on older laptops at the slower USB 2.0 speed.

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