Note: Just like the SanDisk Extreme SSD, the WD My Passport has a single cable USB Type-C to Type-C and an additional Type-A adapter that can be attached to one end of the cable Samsung has added two USB cables, one is Type-C to Type-A and the other is Type-C to Type-C.
Both the WD My Passport and the Samsung T5 SSDs come with a USB 3.1 Generation 2 Type-C port (10Gbps), but only Samsung has added a small LED indicator to let you know the status of the device (solid blue shows that the SSD is connected to a computer, while a flashing blue LED shows that the data is being transferred). The Samsung T5 is almost always cool to touch and it only got slightly warm when data was being transferred for a longer period of time. When I tested the SanDisk Extreme SSD, I noticed that, even when I wasn’t moving files, the case was constantly warm, especially towards the port and I have seen the same behavior on the WD My Passport which, immediately after I have connected to the computer, it got warm on the silver side of the case. At the same time, since I’m a long time user of the Samsung T5, I can attest that it will survive against drops despite not having any rating since I constantly drop it and it still functions perfectly fine (once again, the SSDs are simply tougher than the HDDs). Western Digital claims that the My Passport SSD will survive drops from up to 6.5 feet and, while I haven’t tested this claim, it’s in the nature of the SSD to be more rugged than the HDDs (the former lacks the spinning platter or any other moving parts), but if you’re looking for a truly rugged external drive, then the SanDisk Extreme is going to be the better option due to its rubber-coated unibody (while the plastic case of the My Passport can be cracked). On a personal note, while I do appreciate the unique design of the WD My Passport, I do prefer the more premium feel of the Samsung T5. I did find the design approach of the SanDisk Extreme quite unique, but WD took it to another level with the My Passport SSD: the drive features a rectangular case (with sharp corners) which is divided into two equal parts, one is fully covered by a black matte finish (only with the WD logo carved inside the plastic) and the other has a ridge pattern covered by a silver finish which, unfortunately, is a smudge magnet. Similarly to the SanDisk Extreme SSD, the WD My Passport went for a slightly different design approach and instead of a metallic unibody, it chose a narrow plastic case which measures 3.5 x 1.8 x 0.39 inches, so while, it’s taller than the T5, it’s size will allow you to easily slide it inside a pocket (it’s also more lightweight, weighing 1.23 ounces, making it lighter than both the Samsung T5, which weighs 1.79 ounces and the SanDisk Extreme SSD). Depending on the chosen storage, the T5 is going to be either blue (the entry-level models of 250 and 500GB) or black (the 1 and 2TB higher-end models), but, despite the chosen color, the finish remains matte, so you don’t have to worry about fingerprints or smudges. The Samsung T5 has kept the same case and the dimensions of its predecessor, the T3 (it measures 2.91 x 2.25 x 0.41 inches), both featuring a card-sized case with the uni-body metallic enclosure surrounding the internal hardware, leaving only the left and the right areas in hard plastic. The reason why I use external SSDs is because I can work on various projects directly on the drive and it’s easy to switch from one working station to another without having to transfer the data – of course, a NAS can help with this (and the TerraMaster F2-210 does a wonderful job), but it’s not going to work if I am constantly traveling, so the design and durability of an external SSD drive are two factors that should be taken very seriously.
Two years later, the Samsung T5 and the WD My Passport are still very much popular and, since the flash storage memory got a lot cheaper, both devices are more accessible, so, if you need an external drive to easily carry around data while traveling or to simply increase the available flash memory of your laptop (especially MacBooks which don’t allow you to upgrade the SSD), I think it would be interesting to see which of the two portable SSDs are the better choice.ĪLSO CHECK OUT: SAMSUNG T5 SSD VS SANDISK EXTREME SSD
In the meantime, Samsung didn’t stay silent and it immediately released the T5 SSD (which also uses 64-layer TLC V-NAND) in an attempt to retain its top spot in the portable storage market.