The UGREEN US221 2.5 Inch SATA Hard Drive Enclosure is now in stock at Mascom International for KSh 1,700, brand new and sealed, at our Old Mutual Building shop on Kimathi Street in Nairobi CBD. This caddy converts any 2.5-inch SATA hard disk or solid-state drive into an external USB drive. The US221 pairs a 7+15 pin SATA III connector rated at 6Gbps with a USB-C 3.1 port and supports UASP transfer acceleration. Disks measuring 7mm or 9.5mm in thickness slide straight in. The UGREEN US221 draws power from the same cable that carries data, so no wall adapter is needed.
Kenyan laptop owners swap to solid-state storage every week, then leave the original disk sitting in a drawer. The UGREEN US221 puts that disk back to work. Videographers shooting weddings in Karen offload footage on location between ceremonies. Accountants archiving KRA filings, students at Strathmore and the University of Nairobi backing up coursework, and NGO staff carrying project files to Turkana all want capacity without the price of a sealed portable disk. Paying KSh 1,700 for the US221 and reusing a drive you already own costs far less than the KSh 7,000 to KSh 9,000 a 1TB retail external unit fetches locally.
Where most Nairobi electronics shops stock unbranded plastic caddies with no model code and no paperwork, Mascom International sells the UGREEN US221 under a printed model number with warranty backing and a service desk you can walk into. Users consistently report sustained read speeds close to 450MB/s once a SATA solid-state disk is fitted, which sits near the practical ceiling of the 2.5-inch SATA format. PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 owners across Kenya run the US221 as spare game storage. Visit Mascom International on Kimathi Street to handle the unit first, or order for pay-on-arrival delivery countrywide.
Common Questions About the UGREEN US221 Hard Drive Enclosure
Does the UGREEN US221 fit every 2.5-inch hard drive?
It fits 2.5-inch SATA I, SATA II, and SATA III disks measuring 7mm or 9.5mm thick, covering both spinning hard drives and solid-state drives. Brands including Western Digital, Seagate, Toshiba, Samsung, Kingston, Crucial, and Hitachi all seat correctly. It does not accept M.2 or NVMe sticks, which use a different connector shape and need a separate caddy. Most laptop disks pulled from HP, Dell, Lenovo, and Acer machines sold in Kenya are exactly this format, so an old drive from a dead laptop usually works first try.
How fast is the UGREEN US221 in real Kenyan use?
Real speeds depend on the disk you install, not the caddy. Fit a SATA solid-state drive and you should see roughly 400 to 450MB/s, moving a 5GB video file in about 12 seconds. Fit a spinning laptop hard disk and you land nearer 90 to 120MB/s, since the mechanical disk itself is the limit. UASP acceleration keeps the transfer steady on long copies and lowers processor load, which matters when you are backing up 500GB overnight on an older machine.
Do I need a screwdriver or any driver software?
No tools and no software. The lid slides off, the disk pushes onto the SATA connector inside, and the lid clicks back on. Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS, Linux, and ChromeOS all recognise the disk on their own once you plug in. If the disk is brand new and never formatted, it will not appear in File Explorer until you initialise it through Disk Management on Windows or Disk Utility on a Mac, which takes about a minute.
Can I use the UGREEN US221 with a PS4 or PS5?
Yes, and it is a common reason Kenyan gamers buy one. Sony's consoles accept USB external storage, so a SATA drive inside the US221 works for storing and playing PS4 titles directly, and for archiving PS5 titles that you copy back to internal storage before playing. The console formats the disk on first connection, erasing anything already on it. Copy your files off beforehand. A 1TB disk holds roughly 12 to 20 modern game installs depending on title size.
Does the enclosure need its own power adapter?
No separate adapter is required. A single 2.5-inch SATA disk draws under 5W, and the USB port supplies that alongside the data connection. That is why the US221 stays pocketable while 3.5-inch desktop enclosures need a bulky brick. On very old USB 2.0 ports, or unpowered hubs, a spinning disk can occasionally click and fail to mount because the port cannot supply enough current. Plug directly into a laptop port rather than through a hub when that happens.
Will it work with a MacBook, a Windows laptop, and an Android phone?
All three, with one caveat about formatting. The USB-C connection plugs into MacBook Air and Pro, USB-C Windows laptops, and Android phones supporting USB On-The-Go, and the bundled cable also covers older USB-A ports. Formatting decides cross-device use: NTFS reads on Windows and Android but is read-only on macOS, while exFAT works everywhere. Format your disk to exFAT if you move between a Windows office machine and a Mac at home.
What happens to the data already on my old laptop disk?
Nothing is erased by fitting it into the US221. The disk mounts with its existing partitions intact, including a previous Windows installation, so you can copy documents, photos, and M-Pesa statements off a laptop that no longer powers on. This makes the enclosure a practical data-recovery tool for Kenyan repair shops and offices. Once you have retrieved what you need, reformat the disk to reclaim the space taken by the old operating system.
Is the UGREEN US221 worth KSh 1,700 against a ready-made external drive?
It is worth it when you already own a spare disk. A 1TB retail portable drive runs KSh 7,000 to KSh 9,000 in Nairobi, so pairing a drawer disk with the KSh 1,700 US221 saves most of that. Buying both new is closer to a wash on price, though you keep the ability to swap disks later. Anyone holding one or more disks from retired laptops recovers the cost of the US221 immediately.
Technical Specifications
Core Function and Transfer Performance
- Converts an internal 2.5-inch SATA disk into an external USB drive for backup, file transfer, and data recovery.
- SATA III interface rated at 6Gbps, backward compatible with SATA II and SATA I disks.
- UASP protocol support raises throughput up to 70% over standard USB 3.0 bulk transfer mode.
- Practical ceiling sits near 450MB/s with a SATA solid-state disk fitted, matching the format's own limit.
- Spinning laptop hard disks reach roughly 90 to 120MB/s, limited by the mechanical platters, not the caddy.
- UASP also reduces processor load during long copies, keeping older laptops responsive while backups run.
Disk Compatibility and Supported Formats
- Accepts 2.5-inch SATA I, II, and III hard disks and solid-state drives in 7mm or 9.5mm thickness.
- Supported capacity is listed at up to 6TB on most retail packaging for this model.
- Works with Western Digital, Seagate, Toshiba, Samsung, Kingston, Crucial, and Hitachi disks.
- Does not accept M.2 SATA or M.2 NVMe drives, which require a different connector and caddy.
- Existing partitions and data remain readable, letting you pull files off a laptop disk that no longer boots.
Interface, Cable, and Host Device Support
- USB-C 3.1 port on the caddy paired with a 7+15 pin SATA III connector inside the housing.
- Bundled 50cm detachable cable carries both data and power, so no wall adapter is needed.
- Backward compatible with USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and USB 1.1 host ports at those ports' lower speeds.
- Recognised by Windows 10 and 11, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox consoles.
- Android phones with USB On-The-Go read the disk directly, useful for offloading video in the field.
Build Quality and Daily Durability
- ABS plastic housing rated fireproof and shock-resistant, weighing far less than aluminium alternatives.
- EVA foam padding inside grips the disk and absorbs knocks during matatu and boda boda commutes.
- Slide-off lid design uses no screws, so the disk swaps out in under thirty seconds.
- Sealed body keeps out the dust common on Thika Road and upcountry routes to Nakuru and Eldoret.
- Housing measures roughly 128 x 82 x 14mm and weighs about 140 grams with a disk installed.
- Black finish across all units currently held at Mascom International's Nairobi CBD store.
Power Management and Disk Health Features
- Auto-sleep engages after about three minutes of inactivity, cutting draw and reducing wear on spinning disks.
- Bus-powered operation draws under 5W from the host port, well inside USB 3.0 current limits.
- LED indicator stays lit when connected and flashes during read and write activity.
- S.M.A.R.T. reporting passes through, so tools like CrystalDiskInfo can read disk health and temperature.
- TRIM pass-through keeps solid-state disks performing correctly over months of repeated writes.
- Sleep behaviour varies by host machine; some laptops keep the port awake and the light on continuously.
Portability and Practical Use
- Fits a laptop bag pocket or shirt pocket, unlike 3.5-inch enclosures that need a mains brick.
- Doubles as a data-recovery tool for repair technicians pulling files from laptops that no longer power on.
- Turns a retired laptop disk into extra console storage for PlayStation and Xbox game libraries.
- Useful as an offline backup that stays disconnected between uses, limiting exposure to ransomware.
- Photographers and videographers use it for on-location card dumps during weddings and corporate shoots.
- Cyber cafés and small offices across Kenya keep one on hand for customer file transfers.
Package Contents
- 1 x UGREEN US221 2.5 Inch SATA Hard Drive Enclosure
- 1 x 50cm USB data and power cable
- 1 x User manual
Note:The hard disk or solid-state drive is not included and is bought separately. Mascom International stocks 2.5-inch SATA drives in several capacities at our Kimathi Street counter, and our team will fit and format one for you before you leave the shop if you buy both together.
Warranty
The UGREEN US221 carries a 6-month Mascom International warranty on manufacturing defects under normal use. Coverage applies to the enclosure itself, including the SATA connector, the housing, and the bundled cable. Any disk you install is covered by that drive manufacturer's own terms. Our Nairobi CBD service desk handles all claims directly.
Where to Buy the UGREEN US221 Hard Drive Enclosure in Kenya
The UGREEN US221 is available now at Mascom International, Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. Walk in Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and our team will test the US221 with your own disk before you pay. Stock is black.
Order through any of the following:
- Phone/WhatsApp: +254 708 852 521
- Email: info@mascomintl.com
- Website: www.mascomintl.com
Mascom International ships the UGREEN US221 across all 47 Kenyan counties with pay-on-arrival delivery, so you settle up only when the unit reaches you. Nairobi and its environs receive same-day delivery. Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, and every other major town receive it within 1 business day. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days.
Every unit ships covered by the 6-month warranty stated above, with claims handled at our Nairobi CBD counter.
Buyers across Kenya rely on Mascom International for accurate specifications, current pricing, and after-sales support that comes from a shop you can find on a map.
