by 18 reviews.
WD 5TB My Passport Ultra Portable External Hard Drive Review: A Reliable Storage Solution?
The WD 5TB My Passport Ultra Portable External Hard Drive is a sleek, high-capacity storage solution designed for users who need secure, portable, and reliable data storage. With its USB-C and USB 3.1 compatibility, password protection, and ransomware defense, this drive promises to be a versatile tool for both personal and professional use. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the pros and cons based on real customer experiences.
Pros and Cons: A Detailed Breakdown
1. Storage Capacity and Performance
Pros:
- Massive 5TB Storage
Customers love the sheer storage capacity of this drive. One user mentioned using it to store large data files across multiple Linux systems, while another praised it as a reliable backup solution for their Mac. The 5TB capacity is perfect for storing photos, videos, music, and documents without worrying about running out of space. - Fast Data Transfers
The USB-C and USB 3.1 compatibility ensures quick data transfers. A user noted that the USB-C connection provided faster access speeds compared to older USB-A devices. Sequential write speeds of up to 112MiB/s were reported, which is impressive for a portable hard drive.
Cons:
- Speed Degradation
Some users pointed out that the drive’s performance slows down as it fills up. While it’s fast initially, the transfer speeds drop significantly when dealing with larger files or when the drive is nearly full. - Not SSD-Level Speed
A few customers wished the drive was an SSD for even faster performance. While it’s not as slow as older models, it doesn’t match the speed of modern SSDs.
2. Compatibility and Usability
Pros:
- Plug-and-Play for Windows
The drive is ready to use out of the box with Windows 10, making it incredibly user-friendly for PC users. - Linux and Mac Compatibility
Despite being marketed for Windows, the drive works well with Linux and Mac systems. One user shared their experience of configuring the NTFS file system on Fedora-33 and Rocky-8 Linux systems, highlighting its versatility. - USB-C Adapter Included
The inclusion of a USB-C to USB-A adapter is a big plus, allowing users to connect the drive to older devices without hassle.
Cons:
- Limited Plug-and-Play for Mac
While it works with Mac, some users noted that it requires reformatting for optimal performance, which can be a minor inconvenience. - Incompatibility with Certain Devices
A user reported issues using the drive with an ATSC TV tuner, which initially didn’t recognize the drive even after reformatting. However, it worked fine with a different tuner.
3. Durability and Build Quality
Pros:
- Sleek and Durable Design
The anodized metal casing not only looks premium but also adds to the drive’s durability. Users appreciate the compact and portable design, making it easy to carry around. - Longevity
Many customers reported using older versions of the WD My Passport Ultra for years without issues. One user mentioned owning 1TB and 4TB versions for nearly a decade, with daily use and no problems.
Cons:
- Cable Durability Concerns
Some users expressed concerns about the durability of the included cable. One customer advised keeping the cable attached at all times to minimize wear and tear on the connection points. - Not Ruggedized
Unlike some competitors, this drive isn’t ruggedized, which might be a drawback for users who need extra durability in harsh environments.
4. Security Features
Pros:
- Password Protection and Encryption
The 256-bit AES hardware encryption and password protection are standout features. Users feel confident storing sensitive data on the drive, knowing it’s secure from unauthorized access. - Ransomware Defense
The built-in ransomware defense adds an extra layer of security, protecting your data from malicious attacks.
Cons:
- No Mention of Water or Shock Resistance
While the drive is secure from digital threats, it lacks physical protection against water or shock, which might be a concern for some users.
5. Value for Money
Pros:
- Affordable for the Capacity
Many users praised the drive for offering 5TB of storage at a reasonable price. It’s an excellent value for those needing high-capacity storage without breaking the bank. - 3-Year Warranty
The included 3-year limited warranty provides peace of mind, ensuring you’re covered in case of any manufacturing defects.
Cons:
- Mixed Experiences with Quality Control
A few customers reported receiving defective drives, such as one user who received a 5MB drive instead of the advertised 5TB. While these instances seem rare, they highlight potential quality control issues.
Conclusion: Is the WD 5TB My Passport Ultra Worth It?
The WD 5TB My Passport Ultra Portable External Hard Drive is a solid choice for anyone in need of high-capacity, secure, and portable storage. Its sleek design, fast data transfer speeds, and robust security features make it a reliable option for both personal and professional use. However, it’s not without its flaws. The drive’s performance can slow down as it fills up, and some users have reported quality control issues. Additionally, while it’s durable, it’s not ruggedized, which might be a dealbreaker for some.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for an affordable, high-capacity external hard drive with excellent security features, the WD My Passport Ultra is a great choice. However, if you need faster speeds or extra durability, you might want to consider an SSD or a ruggedized drive. Overall, it’s a dependable storage solution that delivers on its promises for most users.
Specification WD 5TB My Passport Ultra, Blue, Portable External Hard Drive, backup software with defense against ransomware, and password protection, USB-C and USB 3.1 - WDBFTM0050BBL-WESN:
Comments from Amazon:
Great little hard drive, I use it as my back up for my Mac. Fast, works well, comes with the cord plus an adapter (USB 4 to USB 3), and a great price for the amount of storage. What more is there to say?
A fast, compact drive powered by its USB-C connector. A solidly built cable is included plus a USB-A converter. There's a single activity LED near the connector. Write performance on a USB-C 3.1 host interface was decent, with 1MB sequential writes running at 112MiB/s, but dropping to 94MiB/s presumably along the slower (outer) parts of the spinning disk. Linux/BSD people, here's how the drive showed up for me: WD My Passport 260D 2007 Fixed Direct Access SPC-4 SCSI device 1907697MB (3906963456 512 byte sectors) Note the enclosure shows up as a separate device, BSD sees it as: ses1: WD SES Device 2007 Fixed Enclosure Services SPC-4 SCSI device ses1: SES Device USB-C is a selling point for me despite some skeptical reviewers here. It isn't meant to be faster, necessarily, that's a function of the interfaces on each end. But it's always a more robust & simpler connector. It lasts long than microUSB (by design) and doesn't need to be flipped back and forth repeatedly until it finally fits. I generally won't buy a device with an older USB connector unless there's no option. USB-C all the way. A great little drive, and nice-looking too. I might wish it were SSD or that the LED was on the front, but otherwise no complaints.
I've been using this drive (5TB version) for almost 4 years now and have zero issues to report with it regarding data loss or anything else. I have it partitioned and formatted with multiple volumes. This USB version is a little slow for today's day and age, so I will probably be upgrading to Thunderbolt 3, but it's purpose and price it still gets the job done.
Ordered a 5TB drive, received a 5MB (4.9MB) drive in a box labelled 5 TB. Based on the number of positive reviews for this product, I wrongfully assumed this issue had been resolved. (Shame on Amazon for continuing to market this product.) Spent several minutes using Disk Utility to verify the drive I received only has 4.9MB of storage, NOT the 5TB I purchased for a whopping $179.00+ tax. Complete waste of my time during a work day. Am returning the drive and will be purchasing another SanDisk Professional G-Drive ArmorATD because the Seagate drives I own are unreliable and dismount without notice – usually when I am in the middle of a project, which guarantees all of my changes and new work are lost. For those who are interested, I use Mac compatible, reliable external drives with a decent lifespan and transfer speed. Plug and play is a plus, not a must. I will re-format exFAT drives like the SanDisk Pro G-Drive ArmorADT. Functional cable that comes with the drive is also a must. Western Digital is notorious for shipping drives with defective cables. I decided to give this drive a try based on positive reviews posted by Amazon purchasers and a review in MacWorld (they certainly missed the mark). This product was a complete waste of my time and money. Don't be duped! Save your money and skip this external drive. If you want a great reliable external drive with a good transfer speed (that doesn't significantly degrade as the drive fills) and good lifespan (mine are 5 yrs and counting), buy the SanDisk Professional G-Drive ArmorATD. The G-Drive is a bit spendy, but they are ruggedized drives, unlike Seagate, the WD My Passport Ultra and many other brands – and you won't go thru the stupid crap I just experienced with this WD My Passport Ultra drive that only had 4.9MB of storage space. SHEESH ... The SanDisk Pro G-Drive offers VARIETY with 5 drive sizes: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 5TB and 6TB. They are RELIABLE and come with a good quality cable (unlike Western Digital). Note: the SanDisk is formatted to exFAT, so you will need to re-format using Disk Utility – but that's a breeze and only takes a few minutes. Save yourself time, hassle and aggravation ... avoid this drive and buy a SanDisk Pro G-Drive ArmorADT.
I recently bought the Western Digital 4TB hard drive, and it’s been a solid addition to my storage setup. The setup was quick and simple, and the drive offers plenty of space for all my files, backups, and media. It runs quietly and doesn’t overheat, which is a big plus for me. Overall, it’s reliable and performs well for both personal and work-related storage needs. If you’re looking for an affordable and spacious external drive, I definitely recommend it.
I bought this to use with a new ATSC TV tuner as the external hard drive for the DVR function. I had bought an ATSC TV tuner stick but it would not accept the WD hard drive even after I reformatted it to the FAT32 configuration. So I had to use a flash drive instead. The tuner started malfunctioning, sputtering in and out, so I bought a second one that was similar but by a different company. This second tuner not only worked better out of the box, it came with a better remote control lay out and accepted the reformatted WD external hdd to record programming. It all works fine. I trashed that first tuner.
This product is used to store large data files on both Fedora-33 and Rocky-8 linux systems. They are moved between the two systems allowing machine based access. The NTFS file system just needed to be configured in /etc/fstab, the blkid gave the device location, and then the mount command allowed access to the device so that it acted like any other. They are inexpensive enough that three devices are now attached to the same linux box giving multiple terrabytes of storage. The USB-C connection with adapter gives a quick change between the USB ports of the Rocky Linux USB-A 3.0 ports and the fedora-33 USB-C ports, allowing portable connection to each computer. Access speeds seem higher with the 5T USB-C than with the USB-A devices (e.g. the non Ultra version of the 5T drive). I keep the cable attached to the device at all times. Experience with others has taught me that the connection to the device is direct to the circuit board, so this procedure keeps the connects to a minimum. I do not tug or flex the attaching cables. Three are operated horizontally and one is operated vertically. There does not seem to be any difference in performance between vertical or horizontal operation. Longevity - I have both the 1T and 4T versions which I purchased almost 10 years ago which I use to store pictures (1T) and data files (4T). I started purchasing 5T drives in 2017 and 2018, and again in 2022. All but the 1T device are continually used daily and have had no issues.