Western Digital My Passport SSD is maker's fastest portable drive

Western Digital has taken the wraps off what it says is its fastest portable drive ever, the My Passport SSD. This presents a new category of external drives for Western Digital customers, one that features a solid state drive rather than a hard drive. The company says this model is palm-sized with rapid speeds and a durable body for safe, fast data storage and access. Among its other features, this new drive has a USB-C port for use with compatible computers.

The My Passport SSD has an attractive two-part design, one half being smooth black and the other half being textured silver. The drive boasts many features for both PC and Mac users, including both USB Type-C and USB Type-A connectors. Those who use the USB-C connector can expect speeds up to 515MB/s; the drive can be used with USB 3.1 and older.

Western Digital says this model features integrated 256-bit AES hardware encryption for optional password protection, helping users keep their data safe. In addition to its data protection features, the drive has an ultra-durable body able to withstand drops from heights as high as 6.5ft. Users can also easily manage their data via the included WD Backup software for automatic back-ups.

Western Digital is offering the new My Passport SSD in three capacities: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. The prices are, in order, $99.99 USD, $199.99 USD, and $399.99 USD. The company's website shows all three drives as available to purchase now.

SOURCE: Western Digital