by 6 reviews.
Transcend 4TB USB 3.1 Gen 1 StoreJet 25H3B External Hard Drive Review: Rugged, Reliable, and Ready for Anything
When it comes to external hard drives, the Transcend 4TB USB 3.1 Gen 1 StoreJet 25H3B (SJ25H3B) is a standout choice for anyone seeking durability, performance, and ample storage. With its sleek blue design, rugged build, and advanced features, this portable hard drive is designed to protect your data and simplify your workflow. Whether you're a professional filmmaker, a teacher, or a casual user, this drive promises to deliver. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details based on real customer experiences.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
1. Durability and Build Quality
The Transcend StoreJet 25H3B is built like a tank, and customers can’t stop raving about its ruggedness.
Pros:
- Military-Grade Shock Resistance: One customer, a filmmaker, shared how they’ve been using Transcend drives for over a decade in challenging environments like Cambodia. Despite drops and rough handling, none of their 16 Transcend drives have failed.
- Anti-Shock Silicone Shell: The drive’s outer shell and internal suspension system provide excellent protection against impacts, making it ideal for on-the-go use.
Cons:
- Awkward Cable Design: Some users found the included USB cable a bit cumbersome, especially the double USB connection on the computer end. However, most agreed it works fine with just the USB 3.0 connection.
2. Performance and Speed
Speed is a critical factor for any external hard drive, and the Transcend StoreJet 25H3B delivers solid performance.
Pros:
- Fast Transfer Rates: Customers reported transfer speeds of over 70 MB/s for large files and around 25 MB/s for smaller files. While not the fastest on the market, it’s more than sufficient for most users.
- USB 3.1 Gen 1 Compatibility: The drive is backward compatible with USB 3.0 and 2.0, ensuring versatility across devices.
Cons:
- Slower Than Competitors: A few users noted that the drive’s speed doesn’t match up to brands like WD, which offer faster transfer rates. If speed is your top priority, this might be a drawback.
3. Usability and Features
The Transcend StoreJet 25H3B is packed with features that make it user-friendly and versatile.
Pros:
- One-Touch Backup Button: The dedicated backup button simplifies the process of securing your data, a feature that many customers appreciated.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: The drive works seamlessly with Windows, Mac, and even Linux (after reformatting). One Linux user praised its out-of-the-box functionality and ease of use.
- Portable and Lightweight: Its compact 2.5-inch design makes it easy to carry, whether you’re traveling for work or backing up files at home.
Cons:
- Limited Backup Software: The included Transcend Elite software received mixed reviews. Some users found it quirky and unreliable, especially when backing up open files. Many opted for third-party alternatives like FreeFileSync or Macrium.
4. Storage Capacity and Value
With 4TB of storage, the Transcend StoreJet 25H3B offers plenty of space for your files, photos, and videos.
Pros:
- Massive Storage: Customers loved the ample storage capacity, which is perfect for large projects, media libraries, or backups.
- Affordable Price: Many users felt the drive offered excellent value for money, especially given its rugged design and reliable performance.
Cons:
- Price per Gigabyte: Some users noted that the price per gigabyte is comparable to other drives, so you’re paying more for durability rather than storage capacity.
Conclusion: Is the Transcend StoreJet 25H3B Worth It?
The Transcend 4TB USB 3.1 Gen 1 StoreJet 25H3B is a reliable, rugged, and feature-packed external hard drive that excels in durability and usability. While it may not be the fastest drive on the market, its shock-resistant design, one-touch backup button, and cross-platform compatibility make it a standout choice for professionals and casual users alike.
Final Verdict: If you’re looking for a durable, high-capacity external hard drive that can withstand the rigors of daily use, the Transcend StoreJet 25H3B is an excellent investment. However, if speed is your top priority, you might want to explore other options. Overall, this drive delivers on its promises and has earned its place as a trusted companion for data storage.
Specification Transcend 4TB USB 3.1 Gen 1 StoreJet 25H3B SJ25H3B Rugged External Hard Drive TS4TSJ25H3B Blue:
Comments from Amazon:
Last week I received, and fell in love with, the Transcend 1 TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive - Military Drop Standards (TS1TSJ25M3). So I decided to order another Transcend drive that I can alternate with the first for backing up files, and I ordered this drive. It arrived today, and I'm as pleased with it as I am with the other one. As always for me, it's important that a product not only work with Linux but work WELL with Linux. This drive does, straight out of the box. (Note: I did format it as ext3 using gParted before using it because its original FAT32 file system would lose case sensitivity on file names, and that's not acceptable for this 30-year UNIX/Linux person. Aside from that, it works out of the box.) As I noted in my review for the other drive, there is some software included on it, but it's only for Mac and windows. However, that's not an issue for me as I wouldn't use it anyway; I like managing my backups myself. If you're a Linux user and you're going to reformat the drive, you might want to follow its warranty web page first. I really like how easy Transcend has made it to register your products, activate their warranties, and see visual proof on their web site regarding your warranties' start and end dates. Nice. This is a great product for its price.
Transfer Rate is solid, low noise and no issues yet!
I purchased this hard drive so I can get my information to and from work. I am walking about storing all sorts of documents, pictures and worksheets. I will say I am super impressed with this hard drive. Not only does it look and feel great, but it works great. It is really fast to upload my documents and very easy to sort and organize all of the files. Opening the documents on both PC and Mac has been really simple. I am loving this hardrive. I have had a really easy time transporting my work. I love how I can be effeciant with such a simple device. I can start working one computer and finish up on the next. The best part, this can hold 1 TB of information and is drop proof. Great for teachers.
Good little drive. I bought it for ruggedness and durability, but the performance is also quite satisfactory. I get well over 70M Bytes/sec transfer rates on large (>1G) files, and about 25M Bytes/sec transfer rates on small (<1M) files. I also tested this with USB2, and it works fine, roughly the same speed as my other external USB2 drives. There is no separate power cable or power supply. The included short, custom, cable seems awkward. It has a double USB connection on the computer end, in order to guarantee sufficient power for the drive, but I find it works fine using just the USB3 connection to attach it to my desktop system. YMMV. The included file backup software is a little quirky and limited, and will fail if you are trying to backup any open files. Once I got it working, it seems to be good enough to get by. You'll probably want to get better backup software. Fortunately, many excellent, free, alternatives exist, like FreeFileSync, or the free version of Macrium. As of 7/2011, The price/gigabyte is the same as their similar, green-colored 750G drive, so you can choose according to your capacity (and color) needs. I'm using the SIIG USB3 kit Superspeed USB3.0 Bay Hub Kit with A Frontaccessible 4PORT Bay Hub A 2-PORT Pci to talk to it, since my older system lacks native USB3 support. Pros: *Rugged *Fast *Purple :) Cons: *Awkward Cable *Software
The product arrived as described and pictured. Shipping was super fast arriving a week before it was supposed to. Product arrived to my surprise even before tracking info was sent. I’ve been using this product to store media and it’s been working well so far. Happy customer!
It has 1/3 the speed of WD hard disks, I don't why, but it looks like they haven't update the speed technology as WD hard disks, so for everybody beware if you need higher speed of hard disk, this is very slow.
Recently bought a pair for like the 10th time. I started using Transcend StoreJet series when I lived in Cambodia about 10 years ago. Not trusting the merchandize quality that was available in the Cambodian market at that time (no regulation/no quality check -> dumping ground for sub-par products), I made a point of purchasing a good chunk of famous brands in the US when I traveled back. I was starting on a rather large documentary film project. I bought the usual suspects. WD, Seagate, Toshiba, etc. They all would had slow start, stuttering and some failure. Out of utter frustration and reluctantly through a recommendation of a local filmmaker friend, I picked up my first pair of Transcend. I never looked back since. They always came to life fast. Never failed to read. I have purchased 16 or so of them (all in pairs due to my back up needs). None has yet to fail or yet to fail to start, or even stutter. The track record I experience is impeccable and ridiculous, compared to other established brands. I am a filmmaker and do massive photography for exhibits sometimes. Transcend StoreJet is the only brand I fully trust. I recently picked up a pair of Seagate 2T USB drives. They feel finicky. Not failed yet but let's see if they can begin to re-establish my trust on other brands. Because Transcend came in and delivered quality when I felt most vulnerable, I remain grateful to this brand.