iPhone 16 Pro Max Problems Recording ProRes 4K 120FPS To An External USB-C SSD Using The Samsung T7

Testing ProRes 4K 120FPS with the iPhone 16 Pro Max using the popular Samsung T7 as its external USB-C SSD, should have been a very easy test with a simple and conclusive answer.

However, as you seen in the video the Apple Camera App recording of ProRes 4K 120FPS with the T7 had an error after over 30 minutes of what seemed to be a good recording. The video file also didn't record 120FPS. MediaInfo identified it as around 98FPS and Blackmagic's DaVinci Resolve Studio identified it as 100FPS. Although, the file did seem to be a full recording regardless of the anomalies.

When using the Blackmagic Camera App the results were better but still confusing. While there was a relatively short shot recorded before the app stopped recording. Presumably due to a dropped frame detection. The file was 120FPS, it did play properly, but Resolve identified the recoding as being shorter than what the Blackmagic Camera App reported it.

I also used a Sabrent 10Gb/s USB-C cable to connect the T7 to the iPhone because it's shorter than my Samsung cable. This cable is perfect as it works with faster drives on my iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro Max. You can see this cable in use in this speed test video.

I have seen another YouTuber saying that the T7 works with 4K 120FPS ProRes. However, in their video they did not show it working, they did not show any footage being used in an NLE, so obviously never confirmed anything about how the footage was identified by their NLE. Basically. In fact, they did not even say what NLE they were using or what computer platform. Basically, they showed no proof of it working whatsoever.

So if anyone want's to contest the results of this video, then prove your point with a video that's as thorough as mine, which shows a long recording and it working in an NLE. It's far too easy for YouTubers to make claims without irrefutable proof or evidence.

My iPhone 16 Pro Max playlist: list=PLleKChtNUwZRmt2wIdprAJ5ry5XZSlTiW

Video chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:59 Apple Camera App
05:46 Checking the recording
09:03 Blackmagic camera app
12:57 Checking the recording
17:47 End summary

Here's the stuff I used in this video. I would still recommend the T7 for up to 4K 60FPS ProRes, it is a great little drive and with it being slim it can be rigged very easily, even with velcro or straps.

I also used different cases on the 16 Pro max and 15 Pro max when talking to camera, these were the Aurora ArmorAir by Benks. Here's the links for those, if buying direct form Benks use my discount code - David15 - for a 15% discount

AMAZON ASSOCIATE DISCLOSURE
I am an Amazon Associate.
My Amazon links are Amazon affiliate links.
I earn money from qualifying purchases when you use my Amazon affiliate links.

OTHER EARNINGS AND COMMISSIONS
I also earn money from other product links within my video description.

For the sake of clarity and for the avoidance of any confusion, assume that I earn money from commissions from any and all links that I have within my video description.

Amazon links to stuff used in this video:

The gear that I use, have used or reviewed that I would recommend.

You can also send me a coffee donation via PayPal if you found my video super helpful:

My Amazon pages with videos and product links

If you would like to help my channel please use my global Amazon Affiliate links. I will be paid a small commission for anything you buy from Amazon when using these links. These commissions don't cost you any extra but really do help me to buy gear for my productions and to review:



I'm David Harry. Thank you very much for watching this video, take care and goodbye now.

Cheers,
Dave.
#iphone16#iphone#ssd

[DavidHarry]

Testing ProRes 4K 120FPS with the iPhone 16 Pro Max using the popular Samsung T7 as its external USB-C SSD, should have been a very easy test with a simple and conclusive answer.

However, as you seen in the video the Apple Camera App recording of ProRes 4K 120FPS with the T7 had an error after over 30 minutes of what seemed to be a good recording. The video file also didn't record 120FPS. MediaInfo identified it as around 98FPS and Blackmagic's DaVinci Resolve Studio identified it as 100FPS. Although, the file did seem to be a full recording regardless of the anomalies.

When using the Blackmagic Camera App the results were better but still confusing. While there was a relatively short shot recorded before the app stopped recording. Presumably due to a dropped frame detection. The file was 120FPS, it did play properly, but Resolve identified the recoding as being shorter than what the Blackmagic Camera App reported it.

I also used a Sabrent 10Gb/s USB-C cable to connect the T7 to the iPhone because it's shorter than my Samsung cable. This cable is perfect as it works with faster drives on my iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro Max. You can see this cable in use in this speed test video.


I have seen another YouTuber saying that the T7 works with 4K 120FPS ProRes. However, in their video they did not show it working, they did not show any footage being used in an NLE, so obviously never confirmed anything about how the footage was identified by their NLE. Basically. In fact, they did not even say what NLE they were using or what computer platform. Basically, they showed no proof of it working whatsoever.

So if anyone want's to contest the results of this video, then prove your point with a video that's as thorough as mine, which shows a long recording and it working in an NLE. It's far too easy for YouTubers to make claims without irrefutable proof or evidence.

My iPhone 16 Pro Max playlist:

Video chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:59 Apple Camera App
05:46 Checking the recording
09:03 Blackmagic camera app
12:57 Checking the recording
17:47 End summary

Here's the stuff I used in this video. I would still recommend the T7 for up to 4K 60FPS ProRes, it is a great little drive and with it being slim it can be rigged very easily, even with velcro or straps.








I also used different cases on the 16 Pro max and 15 Pro max when talking to camera, these were the Aurora ArmorAir by Benks. Here's the links for those, if buying direct form Benks use my discount code - David15 - for a 15% discount.




AMAZON ASSOCIATE DISCLOSURE:
I am an Amazon Associate.
My Amazon links are Amazon affiliate links.
I earn money from qualifying purchases when you use my Amazon affiliate links.

OTHER EARNINGS AND COMMISSIONS:
I also earn money from other product links within my video description.

For the sake of clarity and for the avoidance of any confusion, assume that I earn money from commissions from any and all links that I have within my video description.

Amazon links to stuff used in this video:

The gear that I use, have used or reviewed that I would recommend.






You can also send me a coffee donation via PayPal if you found my video super helpful:

My Amazon pages with videos and product links:

If you would like to help my channel please use my global Amazon Affiliate links. I will be paid a small commission for anything you buy from Amazon when using these links. These commissions don't cost you any extra but really do help me to buy gear for my productions and to review:




I’m David Harry. Thank you very much for watching this video, take care and goodbye now.

Cheers,
Dave.

[racingwithlowvisipn]

I really like how you explain things, it’s always good to follow. Thanks a lot for that stuff!

[kristofeight]

Samsung t7 is DRAM less cash disk, which means is not intended to work with constanant high bps, and in this case will not work properly, when his bitrate can easly go down to 100-150 MB/s

[christopherbrowne]

My guess is that it is more a power issues as opposed to speeds. With external power, many 2230 SSDs in power compatible enclosures can work. The iPhone 15 Pro Max allows 4 watts max power draw. Samsung T's max out at 6.6 watts. Older gen SSDs with lower power draws are probably better for plug and play SSDs for an iPhone.

[sbr]

T7 1TB has a 42G pslc-cache, After that direct write speed may drop down below 422M/s, In your test for black magic the recorded file size is 38G then the recording was stopped because of the frame-drop. I think that was the reason why you just recored 1:40 footage without a frame-drop.

[KevinMuldoon]

Interesting.

Does Apple have an official statement on what the minimum write speed should be for external hard drives to be able to record at that frame rate?

They really need a compatible hard drive page or more information as to what you need to ensure recordings are ok.

Kevin

[jasostoor]

Hi David. Have you tried the Samsung t9?

[brissett]

Do you think the hagibis MC100 pro enclosure that supports pass thru charging would work with the crucial mini or the Corsair mini for 4K 120 log pro res recording

[tomasogrossi]

Hi, do you have the link to the USBC cable (or others suitable)? Thank you!

[leonard_roy]

the iphones footage has a variable framerate as in it contains timestamp metadata for every frame. with thermal limits reached on the phone or the ssd frametimes will deviate further from the framerate target. davinci resolve handles this vfr footage poorly resulting in audio desyncs and wrong framerate interpreted. also reported framerate in mediainfo can be deceiving. but you can render a prores intermediate via ffmpeg to drop and duplicate frames to achieve target constant framerate. then audio desync in resolve should be minimized.

[KMLR]

I think the T7 Shield has a bigger cache than the regular T7. I wonder if it would work better. I know that the T7 Shield works better than the T7 with my sigma FP.

[RIPCUTPOSTPRODUCTION]

May you can try with nvme gen 4 or 5 with thunderbolt enclosure and thunderbolt cable.

[IDKOKIDK]

Would you know of any places where I could download a short HEVC 10bit with spatial audio from IPhone 16? I have been hearing it can cause Resolve to crash but oddly I can not find a single AVC or HEVC sample on the internet, Thanks!

[MatthewFling]

I had this exact same problem yesterday shooting ProRes 120Fps and the footage is extremely laggy and pretty much unusable. My SSD was definitely fast enough and formatted correctly.

[ehenferio]

Overt heat? Test with cooling attach on SSD and phone too.

[petertkf]

Does that mean if I’m shooting 4k60fps with t7 there shouldn’t be much of a problem?

[KaioshinAemi]

i want to be able to record regular 4K to external SSD without recording to the internal iphone first. Black magic app allowed me but i want to use the iphone native camera app.

[Human]

Check the cable my t7 shield cable much faster than basic t7 cable

[raymaxwell]

I recorded 4K 120 fps ProRes 422 HQ to a T7 SSD with no problem. Playback data rate was 190 megbytes/sec. I also could playback another file from the T7 that was 6K 29.97 fps with a data rate of 245 megabytes/sec. I could not reproduce your problem.

[armandoragusaucyz.]

The interesting part is that we can actually record 4k 120fps 10-bit RAW video on androids without the need for an external SSD. Admittedly its at the limit but its already possible, yet Apple struggles even with an external SSD

Worth mentioning that in our Android community we discovered that the SSD, when supplied with external power, can achieve faster write speeds - just an FYI 😊