The drop test. Always fun to watch but not something I’ve attempted with too many smartphones. But then a storage device is another ball game. Especially when you’ve got all that data backed up elsewhere. Western Digital’s new ultralight storage device makes a strong durability claim – shock and vibration resistance up to 6.5 ft (1.98 metres). It was the first thing I tested as soon as I took the wraps off this device and moved some files into the drive. Not once, but thrice. I dropped it from a height of about 5 to 6 feet and it was fine even after bouncing around a bit. So was all the data stored on the drive.
The drop test is not the only reason this device deserves your attention. The SDD (Solid State Drive) vs HDD (Hard disk drive) debate has come to the fore at a time when WFH and organising files and images have become a thing. A few months ago we put the Samsung’s T7 SSD under the scanner. We came away more convinced about making the switch from HDD to SSD. Transfer speeds were one of the key drivers for that verdict. It’s an area where the My Passport SSD shines. I transferred a 2GB folder with multiple files in just under 5 seconds. This SSD uses NVMe™ (Non-Volatile Memory Express), a new protocol for accessing high-speed storage media that brings many advantages compared to legacy protocols.
Form factor is another win for SSD devices. The My Passport SSD weighs just 54gm and is almost the size of your palm. The metal finish is both elegant – we dig the ripple design effect, and durable (we checked out the 1TB, Space Gray variant). The device comes with a 5-year limited warranty. Aside from the USB Type-C to Type-C cable in the box, there’s also a USB Type-A adaptor that you might find handy.
I installed the WD Discovery App (on a MacBook) that allows you to keep updated on other WD Apps and more importantly this utility also lets you set a password. This SSD comes with 256-bit AES hardware encryption. The App also allows you to back up data to a cloud service account.
HDDs continue to remain the preferred option for most of us because of the cost factor. External SSDs are much pricier than HDDs – sometimes as much as 4-5X the cost. We still stick with our recommendation for a blended model – use HDDs for files or back-ups you don’t need on a regular basis and an SSD to supplement your laptop or portable device’s storage. You can run games or apps or event edit 4K videos directly from your SSD. The My Passport SSD is one of the best SSD drives you can buy right now with lightning quick transfer speeds and a sturdy form factor
Western Digital’s My Passport SSD pricing: 500GB – Rs 8999, 1TB – Rs 15,999, 2TB – Rs 28,999. During the Amazon Great India Festival (16th of Oct 2020 to 13th Nov 2020) the WD My Passport SSD will be available at 500GB – Rs 6999, 1TB – 12,999 & 2TB – 24999
