Earlier this 12 months, I reviewed the Western Digital Components SE, a tiny and cheap transportable SSD that glad my want for affordable storage. Though a drive like that is actually meant for informal knowledge storage–not archival knowledge–some individuals have been spooked by current experiences of WD exterior SSDs affected by knowledge corruption points. Whereas the Components SE drive doesn’t appear to be caught up on this creating mess, it’s comprehensible that you may want a unique possibility till the corporate will get that sorted out. So I purchased a competing drive from Essential that appears nearly equivalent to the Digital Components SE in look.
In reality, this Essential X6 2TB transportable SSD was even cheaper than the WD mannequin, and comes with a a lot quicker USB 3.2 Gen-2 USB-C interface.
A tiny SSD and a brief USB-C cable come within the field
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A Tiny, Cheap Transportable SSD
The Essential X6 2TB transportable SSD can be very straightforward to mistake for that WD Components SE drive at a fast look. They’re each skinny, black plastic squares with rounded edges that will simply match within the palm of a hand or slip right into a pocket. The Essential X6 isn’t fairly an ideal sq. (2.52 x 2.72 inches) and it’s barely thicker and heavier than the WD drive. The Essential X6 has a USB-C port as a substitute of USB Micro-B, which is an enormous win. Nevertheless, you’d be hard-pressed to inform them aside with out a shut look.
The opposite benefit the X6 has is value. Its MSRP of $109.99 undercuts the competitors by $10. Even higher, I picked one up on sale for $90. That’s a steal for a name-brand, 2TB SSD.
Zippy Knowledge Switch Speeds
After I copied 1GB information from a 13-inch MacBook Professional to the WD Components SE drive, it will take about 5 seconds. That was effective for informal use, however quicker is all the time higher in relation to transferring knowledge. In testing, the Essential X6 SSD–with its USB-C port and USB 3.2 Gen-2 assist–would copy the identical 1GB file in about 1 second.
Connectivity is USB-C
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Rugged
Being fragile is a unfavourable with a transportable drive which may get knocked round a bit throughout transport. Any SSD is healthier than a tough drive with its transferring components, however this one is designed to do higher than common. Essential says the X6 is examined to outlive a 6.5-foot drop and can also be shock, vibration and excessive temperature resistant.
Essential X6 SSD Key Specs:
- 2TB capability as examined (additionally accessible in 500GB, 1TB, and 4TB capacities)
- USB 3.2 Gen-2 (USB-C)
- Most connection velocity 10Gbps, most sequential learn velocity 800MBps
- 2.72 x 2.52 x 0.43-inches, weighs 1.48 ounces
- Restricted 3-year guarantee
- MSRP $109.99
Advice
The entire options of the Essential X6 2TB SSD must be taken in context of its very cheap $109.99 value.
It’s small, zippy and rugged–for a transportable SSD in that value vary. There are smaller possibility, way more rugged choices and much quicker choices. However you’ll pay for these. If you’re searching for a pocketable SSD that can maintain loads of knowledge for informal use or “sneaker-netting” the Essential X6 2TB SSD is a winner. Much more so for those who can decide it up on sale.
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