AJA Video Systems unveils Io Xpand, a Thunderbolt 5-enabled PCIe expansion chassis for AJA Kona and Corvid video and audio I/O cards. The new enclosure was introduced at InfoComm 2026 in Las Vegas.
“As demand for higher bandwidth, higher resolution content intensifies across industries, Io Xpand unlocks the performance of AJA PCIe I/O cards for video professionals leveraging Thunderbolt 5 laptops and mini-PCs on Windows, macOS, and Linux,” according to the announcement. “Io Xpand is ideal for creative or live production environments where space is limited and portability matters, including on-set, remote production, and live switching.”
Video professionals can pair the new chassis with either a Kona 1, Kona 4, or Kona 5 I/O card and a Thunderbolt 5-equipped computer to create a compact workstation with advanced throughput and video capture/playback functionality. For AJA Developer Partners, most AJA Corvid I/O cards can be used with the Io Xpand enclosure to develop smaller-footprint solutions.
AJA’s new Io Xpand chassis includes a 0.8-meter Thunderbolt 5 cable, Thunderbolt cable lock, power cable, and universal power adapter. It will be offered as a standalone unit, or in three bundles that include the Io Xpand and either a single Kona 1, Kona 4, or Kona 5 card. The Kona 5/Io Xpand bundle provides Thunderbolt 5 laptop and mini-PC users with access to the PCIe card’s 12G-SDI I/O, additional frame stores, and full I/O stack – including AES/EBU audio and machine control – in a portable, plug-and-play solution.
“Across media and entertainment and proAV, we’re seeing a move toward more compact and highly configurable workstations. With this shift, creative and video professionals are asking for high quality I/O solutions, like our Kona and Corvid cards, that can deliver breakthrough performance on the newest laptops and mini-PCs equipped with Thunderbolt 5,” explains AJA President Nick Rashby. “Io Xpand delivers a convenient, cost-efficient solution for harnessing our Desktop I/O capabilities with a smaller form factor workstation that travels easily.”
AJA lists Io Xpand feature highlights to include:
Thunderbolt 5, 4, 3, and USB4 compatibility
Windows, macOS, and Linux support
Support for full height, half length, x4 Gen 4 PCIe cards
Compatibility with double-width PCIe cards and PCIe cards with daughter cards
Up to 6000 MB/s of bi-directional PCIe bandwidth to the installed card
Support for PCIe 4.0, 3.0, 2.0, and 1.1 cards
Nearly silent operation via a temperature-controlled fan
Thunderbolt daisy-chaining support via a second Thunderbolt port
A portable, lightweight, and rugged aluminum internal enclosure
A two-year warranty
Pricing and Availability
Io Xpand will be available soon for purchase through AJA’s network of resellers for $499 US MSRP. Bundle packages that include an Io Xpand chassis and either a Kona 1, a Kona 4, or a Kona 5 I/O card are also coming soon, with prices ranging from $1249 US MSRP to $4455 US MSRP, depending on the Kona model.
For more information and bundle pricing, visit https://www.aja.com/io-xpand.
