by 6 reviews.
Silicon Power 4TB USB-C USB 3.1 Gen1 Rugged Portable External Hard Drive A60 Review
In today’s digital age, having a reliable external hard drive is essential for safeguarding your data. The Silicon Power 4TB USB-C USB 3.1 Gen1 Rugged Portable External Hard Drive A60 is a standout option for those who need a durable, high-capacity storage solution. With military-grade shockproof and IPX4 water-resistant protection, this drive is built to withstand the rigors of daily use and harsh environments. Whether you’re a photographer, gamer, or business professional, this external hard drive promises to keep your data secure and accessible.
Pros and Cons
Durability and Build Quality
One of the most praised features of the Silicon Power A60 is its rugged design. Customers love the military-grade shockproof and water-resistant casing, which provides peace of mind when using the drive in challenging conditions. One reviewer shared, “I had one stolen before, replacing it with this one. Good drive!” The rubberized exterior not only protects against drops and impacts but also resists scratches and fingerprints, keeping the drive looking new even after extended use.
However, some users have reported issues with long-term reliability. A customer mentioned, “Since 2018, I’ve been buying different capacity drives from this manufacturer. Overall, they performed well, but just a month ago, the first drive I bought six years ago malfunctioned and had to be discarded.” While the drive is durable, it’s always wise to have backups of your data to avoid potential losses.
Performance and Speed
The Silicon Power A60 delivers impressive performance thanks to its USB 3.1 Gen1 interface, which offers fast transfer speeds. One user noted, “On average, I get about 70-80 MB/s, but I could get 120-130 MB/s while copying from my PC’s SSD drive to these, depending on how full the SP drives are.” This makes it ideal for transferring large files like HD videos and high-resolution photos.
That said, some users have experienced connectivity issues, particularly with newer devices. A frustrated customer shared, “After upgrading my PC to a newer and faster HP AIO, this SP HDD drive keeps failing to appear on Windows. I’ve tried all the suggested fixes, but none seem to work.” This highlights the importance of ensuring compatibility with your devices before making a purchase.
Usability and Design
The A60’s compact and lightweight design makes it highly portable, and the included USB-C cable is a convenient addition. One reviewer appreciated the cable-carry design, stating, “The connecting cord is a good length, and it’s a good size.” The anti-slip surface also adds to its usability, making it easy to handle even in less-than-ideal conditions.
On the flip side, some users have found the drive’s pre-formatting for Windows to be a minor inconvenience. Mac users, in particular, need to reformat the drive for compatibility, which can be a hassle for those unfamiliar with the process.
Customer Support
Silicon Power’s customer support has received high praise from users. One customer shared a positive experience, “I had a problem the other day (that turned out to be my fault for not using ‘safely remove’ in Windows). The drive became unreadable. I visited the Silicon Power website and started a Support chat. They responded quickly and helped me recover my files. I really appreciate friendly and intelligent support!” This level of service adds significant value to the product.
Conclusion
The Silicon Power 4TB USB-C USB 3.1 Gen1 Rugged Portable External Hard Drive A60 is a solid choice for anyone in need of a durable, high-capacity storage solution. Its military-grade protection, fast transfer speeds, and compact design make it ideal for professionals and adventurers alike. However, potential buyers should be aware of occasional connectivity issues and the need for reformatting on Mac devices.
Overall, the A60 offers excellent value for its price, backed by reliable customer support and a 3-year warranty. If you’re looking for a dependable external hard drive that can handle the demands of everyday use, the Silicon Power A60 is worth considering.
Specification Silicon Power 4TB USB-C USB 3.1 Gen1 Rugged Portable External Hard Drive A60, Military-Grade Shockproof/Water-Resistant for PC, Mac and iPad Pro, Black:
Comments from Amazon:
I have several different models of this item. I use one for weekly backup, another for photos and a spare just in case one fails. This one works great, connecting cord is a good length and it is a good size. Will buy again.
I bought this about 6 months ago and love it. I've had no problems with it. I use it to store thousands of photos that I shoot with my DSLR. I had a problem the other day (that turned out to be my fault for not using "safely remove" in Windows. The drive became unreadable. I visited the Silicon Power web site and started a Support chat. It was in Facebook Messenger, which wasn't a problem for me. They responded to my issue very quickly. It did not take them long to discover what I had done wrong. They let me know how to avoid the issue and how to recover from it. They even gave me some advice on software that I could use to recover my files. I really appreciate friendly and intelligent support! 5 stars!
Product is as advertised, and is easy to use.
Since 2018 I have been buying different capacity drives from this manufacturer. Overall they performed well. Just a month ago the first drive bought 6 years ago malfunctioned and had to discard it. Luckily I had backup and didn't lose data. I care about reliability more than speed. On most pcs with USB 2 or 3 you won't get speeds higher than 90-100 MB/s between same drives connected on the same hub. On average I get about 70-80 MB/s. I could get 120-130MB/s while copying from my PC's SSD drive to these depending how full SPs are. In general any other brand I used never lasted more than 3 years. Get a pair every 6 months and rotate your data, use older drives for redundancy archiving. Lightly used drives seem to last longer.
I purchased this drive to complement my collection of back up drives. I have several, all from different manufacturers. I realized, just like banking, you don't want to store all your precious data on hard drives from the same company. This was my first SP drive and with high hopes from reading all the glorious reviews. At the time of purchase (Sep. 2024), my 7 year old HP AIO connected to it without issues and backed up my data seamlessly, or as I thought initially. Soon after (Nov. 2024) I upgraded my PC to a newer and faster HP AIO but this SP HDD drive keeps failing to appear on Windows. A few google searches makes me believe that I am not the only one with this issue. After following all the suggestions (Device manager, Disk management uninstall/reinstall/reboot, etc) none of them seem to work. I still have my other back up drives so I still have access to my data but since I already have data on this new SP, which is obsolete at this point, neither can I access the drive to reformat to send it back or toss it out entirely. Now it's just sitting on my desk collecting dust and it's been a waste of my time and money. =(
Nice size physical and storage wise. I don't trust the cloud. I back up a lot of my favorite files and this one is a backup and travel companion.
had one stolen before, replacing it with this one. good drive!