by 59 reviews.
SSK External SSD 1TB Review: A Portable Powerhouse with a Few Caveats
The SSK External SSD 1TB is a compact, high-speed portable solid-state drive designed to meet the storage and transfer needs of modern users. With read speeds of up to 550MB/s, dual USB-C and USB-A connectivity, and a lightweight design, this SSD promises to be a reliable companion for professionals, gamers, and everyday users alike. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details based on real customer experiences.
Pros and Cons: A Balanced Look
1. Performance and Speed
Pros:
- Decent Transfer Speeds
Many users reported transfer speeds close to the advertised 550MB/s when using USB-C connections. One reviewer noted speeds of 460MB/s with USB-C, which is impressive for everyday use. - Improved System Performance
For users upgrading from older HDDs, the SSK SSD provided a significant boost. One customer mentioned their 2012 Mac Mini became five times faster after booting from this SSD. - Cool Operation
Unlike some competitors, the SSK SSD stays relatively cool during operation, which is a plus for prolonged use.
Cons:
- Slower Than Competitors
While the SSK SSD performs well, it falls short compared to similarly priced USB thumb drives. A reviewer compared it to a PNY USB 3.2 thumb drive, which was nearly twice as fast in sequential reads and writes. - Inconsistent Speeds
Some users reported slightly slower speeds than advertised, particularly in random read/write operations.
2. Design and Portability
Pros:
- Compact and Lightweight
Weighing just 27g and measuring 2.66 x 2.65 x 0.39 inches, this SSD is highly portable. Customers praised its small size, making it easy to carry in a pocket or bag. - Dual Connectivity
The included USB-C and USB-A cable ensures compatibility with a wide range of devices, from smartphones to gaming consoles.
Cons:
- Limited iPhone Compatibility
Despite claims of universal compatibility, the SSD does not work directly with iPhones or iPads. One user had to use their computer as an intermediary to transfer photos from their iPhone to the SSD.
3. Durability and Reliability
Pros:
- TRIM Technology and S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring
These features help maintain consistent performance and extend the drive’s lifespan. - LED Indicator
The blinking LED light during data transfer ensures users don’t unplug the drive prematurely, reducing the risk of data loss.
Cons:
- Formatting Issues
One user reported difficulty formatting the drive, which could be a concern for those looking to customize their storage setup.
4. Value for Money
Pros:
- Affordable Price
The SSK SSD is competitively priced, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers. - Adequate Performance for Most Users
While not the fastest on the market, it delivers satisfactory performance for everyday tasks like file transfers, backups, and gaming.
Cons:
- Not the Best Value at Full Price
Some users felt that the SSD’s performance didn’t justify its full price, especially when compared to faster alternatives like the PNY thumb drive.
Conclusion: Is the SSK External SSD 1TB Worth It?
The SSK External SSD 1TB is a solid choice for users seeking a portable, reliable, and affordable storage solution. Its compact design, dual connectivity, and decent transfer speeds make it a versatile tool for a variety of applications. However, it’s not without its flaws. The SSD’s performance lags behind some competitors, and its lack of direct iPhone compatibility may be a dealbreaker for Apple users.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly SSD for everyday use, the SSK External SSD 1TB is a good option. However, if speed is your top priority, you might want to explore faster alternatives. For most users, though, this SSD strikes a fine balance between performance, portability, and price.
Specification SSK External SSD 1TB,Portable SSD 1TB up to 550MB/s SSD 1tb External Hard Drive Type C+USB A Fast External Solid State Drives USB 3.2 GEN2 External Storage for iPhone 15/Android/Windows/Mac/Xbox:
Comments from Amazon:
With USB standard, I got 330 Mbps. Using USB C, I got 460 Mbps. Not bad as both were going into their appropriate HUBs, with the PC running all of its apps as usual. I used it for my TABLO, and it noticeably accelerated the software.
This "SSD" works. I tested the capacity with a program called "Fight Flash Fraud" and the drive I received contains the claimed capacity. I did not have any problems with it during my testing. So the question is how good is it compared to the competition? Answer: considerably slower than a similarly-priced USB thumb drive. Works fine, but doesn't seem to be a great value at full price. I specifically compared it against a 256GB PNY USB 3.2 thumb drive which I happen to have recently purchased. In my testing the SSK drive yielded CrystalDiskMark performance similar to that shown in the product listing (almost... queued random reads were about 20% slower, but the rest were on par... the random reads and writes can be heavily impacted by your system). The PNY thumb drive was almost twice as fast as the SSK one at sequential reads/writes (such as for streaming or saving large media files), as illustrated by the CrystalDiskMark scores I've attached as photos. Random reads and writes were also faster across the board, ranging from 13% to 40% faster. While performing the F3 capacity tests, the SSK drive averaged about 82MB/s when writing the whole drive. The PNY averaged 230MB/s to write the whole drive. That's about 2.8 times faster. But the SSK is cheaper, and the PNY is larger (larger flash drives are also faster by the nature of flash organization), so this is an unfair test, right? My SSK test results are nearly the same as those presented in this product listing for their 1TB drive, so drive size didn't factor into this. I'm not supposed to discuss pricing in reviews (which is fair, as pricing changes over time), but the selling price for 256GB versions of both these drives over recent history has been within around 10%, so I'd call them comparable in price. The SSK has an interesting form factor and comes with a nice short USB-C 3.2 cable with integrated A-to-C adapter. The SSK stays far cooler in operation than the PNY drive. I am not saying there's nothing to recommend the SSK. I plan to use it as a Ventoy installer drive, because its speed is adequate and its form factor and included cable make it very flexible. I debated with myself whether this deserved 3 or 4 stars. I decide on 4 because there is nothing wrong with the drive. It's just isn't as fast as the competition. And to be fair you would need to use a USB 3.2 10Gbps port to see a really substantial difference in speed between this and a faster competitor, which most people using these drives probably are not yet doing. (Edit: the PNY is a very fast thumb drive. I don't mean to imply that the SSK is slower than your average cheap thumb drive. Only that when comparing to current, similarly-priced drives, its speed is not top tier. For many uses, this drive is quite satisfactory.)
I have two 2012 Mac Minis that have slowed down to the point where they were almost unusable. I bought two of the 256gb ssds and setup the minis to boot from them. Everything is working fine so far. The speeds of the adds are five times + faster than the speeds of the internal hdds. My only regret? I should have gotten more storage. LOL.
Just what I needed. Just as described. The size is just right. Fast shipping and delivery. Would recommend.
Can not format
works great; exactly as expected.
No lo he utilizado por mucho tiempo, pero hasta ahora ha sido de muy buen funcionamiento. La transferencia de datos no es mala, es muy ligero y pequeño, eso es algo muy importante porque lo puedes cargar para todos lados. Lo malo es que no es compatible con iPhone o iPad, pero sí con un celular Android y con MacBook y PC. Yo lo compre para descargar fotografías de mi iPhone y usarlo como respaldo, pero me toco usar mi computadora para intermediar la descarga al disco.