by 6 reviews.
SP Silicon Power 2TB Rugged Portable External Hard Drive Armor A60 Review: A Durable and Fast Storage Solution
The SP Silicon Power 2TB Rugged Portable External Hard Drive Armor A60 is a versatile and durable storage solution designed for gamers, professionals, and anyone who needs reliable data protection and fast file transfers. With its military-grade shockproof design, USB 3.1 Gen1 speeds, and compact form factor, this external hard drive has become a popular choice for those seeking a balance of performance and durability.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Durability and Build Quality
The Armor A60 is marketed as a rugged, shockproof, and water-resistant external hard drive, and customers generally agree that it lives up to these claims.
Pros:
- Military-Grade Protection
Many users appreciate the shockproof rubber casing and internal suspension system, which provide excellent protection against drops and impacts. One reviewer mentioned, "It feels extremely durable and is not too big at all." - Water-Resistant Design
The IPX4 water resistance adds an extra layer of security, making it suitable for use in various environments. A customer shared, "It is waterproof, so I don’t have to panic if one of my grandkids picks it up."
Cons:
- Not Fully Scratch-Proof
While the drive is marketed as scratch-resistant, some users noted that the plastic casing can still get scratched over time. One reviewer stated, "The marketing says it's scratch-resistant, but I don't see that being a reality." - Corner Impact Concerns
The rubber edges don’t extend past the hard plastic corners, which could make the drive vulnerable to damage if dropped on its corners.
Performance and Speed
The Armor A60 boasts USB 3.1 Gen1 speeds, which customers have found to be impressive for an external hard drive.
Pros:
- Fast Transfer Speeds
Users reported average read/write speeds of around 120 MB/s, which is double the speed of standard USB 3.0 drives. One tech-savvy reviewer tested the drive and shared, "The average rate was 120.5 MB/s read and 122.5 MB/s write." - Plug-and-Play Convenience
Windows users can start using the drive immediately, as it comes pre-formatted as NTFS.
Cons:
- Mac Compatibility Issues
Mac users need to reformat the drive to make it compatible with macOS, which can be a hassle if files are already stored on it. A frustrated Mac user shared, "I wound up copying the files on my external drive, then using Disk Utility to format it."
Design and Usability
The Armor A60’s compact and user-friendly design has received praise from many customers.
Pros:
- Compact and Lightweight
The drive’s small size and lightweight design make it highly portable. One reviewer noted, "It is so small and lightweight that it could slip easily into a slim laptop neoprene case or even a jacket pocket." - Cable Storage Feature
The built-in slot for storing the USB cable is a standout feature. A customer mentioned, "I like the way the connecting cable is stored on the unit itself." - Anti-Slip Base
The rubber strips on the bottom prevent the drive from sliding around during use.
Cons:
- Short USB Cable
Some users found the included USB cable to be too short, measuring only about 12 inches. - Removable Cable Clips
The clips that hold the USB cable in place are not permanent and can come off if pulled too hard.
Storage Capacity and Use Cases
With 2TB of storage, the Armor A60 is ideal for a wide range of applications, from gaming to professional use.
Pros:
- Massive Storage
The 2TB capacity is more than enough for most users. One reviewer said, "It will take me forever to fill 2TB." - Versatile Compatibility
The drive works seamlessly with gaming consoles like Xbox and PS4, as well as PCs and Macs (after reformatting).
Cons:
- Not an SSD
While the drive is fast for an HDD, it’s not as fast as an SSD. A reviewer pointed out, "Keep in mind this drive is NOT an SSD drive, so don’t drop it while it’s in use."
Conclusion: Is the SP Silicon Power Armor A60 Worth It?
The SP Silicon Power 2TB Rugged Portable External Hard Drive Armor A60 is a solid choice for anyone in need of a durable, high-capacity, and fast external hard drive. Its military-grade protection, compact design, and USB 3.1 Gen1 speeds make it a standout option in its price range.
However, it’s not without its flaws. The drive’s scratch resistance and corner durability could be improved, and Mac users will need to reformat it for full compatibility. Additionally, the short USB cable and removable cable clips may be minor inconveniences for some.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for a reliable, rugged external hard drive with ample storage and fast transfer speeds, the Armor A60 is an excellent choice. Just be mindful of its limitations, especially if you’re a Mac user or need SSD-level performance.
Specification SP Silicon Power 2TB Rugged Portable External Hard Drive Armor A60 Shockproof USB 3.1 Gen1 for PC Mac Xbox and PS4 Black:
Comments from Amazon:
I ordered this to back up the home movie & pictures I have saved on my desktop computer harddrive. Just a safety measure on my part, in case anything ever happens to the desktop's harddrive. Seems to be a great device, and is working very well for me.
I purchased this to back up pictures, songs, etc from my MAC computer. It arrived earlier than expected. I like it because it is compact and easy to use. I like the way the connecting cable is stored on the unit itself. It is light weight and fits in the palm of my hand. I got the green one so I could see it easier among my clutter in my desk drawer. It has rubber strips on the back to prevent it from sliding around on your desk while you are transferring files. It is waterproof and you have to open the silicone cover to insert the connecting cable. I did my first transfer of over 5k of songs and 5k pictures. It took only a just couple minutes. This is a 2TB storage external hard drive with no moving parts. It is like using a thumb drive. It is so easy to drag and drop the files on to it. It will take me forever to fill 2TB. This is the best external hard drive I have ever had. I don't have to find a power cable to use it and then plug a data transfer cable. It is so easy to use and it is small enough you can take it with you anywhere and transfer data to it. If you are looking for a compact external hard drive, this is the one. It is waterproof, scratch proof, shockproof, so I don't have to panic if one of my grandkids picks it up. It is a good price for the amount of storage and protection you get for the case. jw
All in all this is a great drive for the price and size of storage. I purchased this drive for the sole purpose of editing my video and photo files on the go and switch from computer to computer without uploading large gb files to the cloud. Here are my conclusions: The drive is quite small and lightweight. I have used quite a bit of the LaCie rugged drives in the past and they can be fairly bulky. This drive could slip easily into a slim laptop neoprene case or even a jacket pocket. (See photos). The marketing says its scratch resistant but I dont see that being a reality. The plastic casing on top and bottom is your standard ABS so im sure you will be able to get a scratch or ding or 2 over time. The USB port on the drive itself is a full size USB-C type connector and it is colored the correct Blue (pantone 300) indicating it is in fact a USB 3.0 port. The packaging states USB 3.1 Gen 1 however that confused me because technically USB 3.1 is Gen 2. I tested the speed (see photos) and the average rate was 120.5 MB/s read and 122.5 MB/s write. This is where the drive gets the most stars. USB 3.0 average speed tables are around 60 MB/s so the 3.1 format is clocking at x2 the speed which is just about right, comparative to other 3.1 USB drives. Now to put that into comparison for folks who really need all the speed they can get, the average internal HD clocks in about 300 MB/s so keep that in mind. A USB external drive isnt going to give you the same kind of results. So choose your use case for these types of drives carefully. Testing against my Seagate 5tb tabletop external drives which are also USB 3.1 the write speed is about the same but the read speed on my Seagates are only 95 MB/s. The bench computer is a 27" iMac i7. The drive comes formatted as FAT32. I reformatted it to be a standard Mac OS Extended (journaled) which is compatible with Time Machine so you can use this for your Mac OS backup drive. I like the convenience of attaching the USB cable to the exterior so you don't have to find another place to store a cable, or possibly forgetting it all together. Keep in mind the clips that hold the USB cable are removable. They slip into a silicone rubber channel and do come out if you pull the USB cord hard enough. I don't see a reason why this should be an issue but its also designed not to be permanent so keep that in mind. The cable is also short. I would say 12" port to port. There's 2 non-slip rubber channels on the base so that it wont slide around too much on your desk and the same soft silicone rubber around the entire edges of the drive. They don't stick out past the hard plastic top and bottom however so not sure how effective they would be in dampening the shock from a fall on the corners which is probably the most lethal spot. Keep in mind this drive is NOT a SSD drive (or it would cost a lot more) so don't drop it while it's in use. PROS: Lightweight Fast 3.1 USB r/w Small Size Convenient Cable Storage Low Cost CONS: Not as durable as can be. I give it 4 stars for its construction/durability Not a SSD drive If you like my review please give it Helpful thumbs up!
This external drive is formatted for a windows computer. I put a bunch of stuff on it then I switched over to a mac and I couldn’t write to it. On the Mac could read the files from the external drive, but that’s all I could do. After some research, I found some software that would supposedly solve the problem. The software did not work for me probably because I already had stuff on the external drive. Anyway, I wound up copying the files on my he external drive then using disk utility to format the external drive. You can reformat the disk for use in both Mac and windows. Reformatting worked for me. If only I had known to do that before I put a bunch of stuff on it. It wasted a lot of time. Anyway, now it works great. Maybe it said to format it in the instructions, but I threw those away without reading lol!! So, if you are using this with a Mac, format it when you get it. It’s easy to do and there are YouTube videos you can watch that will help you.
This was a suggested drive for my husband … it’s a great quality and has exact storage capacity that he needed!
Haven't had any issues with it. Quick and easy to transfer files to. No hassle or errors.
For the price at the time, this external hard drive was the best option I could find. It feels extremely durable and is not too big at all. Capacity is great for the price and works well via the included usb to usb connection cord. Easy to backup files and pictures stored on cameras or computers.