Western Digital My Passport 1TB Portable USB 3.2 Gen 2

The WD My Passport SSD hits 1050 MB/s read and 1000 MB/s write, which sounds great until you see the 2nd percentile random performance. The 5-year warranty and hardware encryption are nice, but the DRAM-less design cripples small file workloads. If you only move big files and find it at the CAD 252 price, it's worth a look. Otherwise, keep shopping.

Let's start with the headline: 1050 MB/s read and 1000 MB/s write. That's NVMe territory, and for moving large video files or backing up a photo library, it feels quick. But those sequential numbers only tell half the story. The random performance is where this drive stumbles hard. We're talking 2nd percentile, which puts it near the bottom of our entire database. If you're working with lots of small files, like a code repository or a folder full of documents, expect some serious waiting. The DRAM-less TLC NAND setup is the likely culprit here. It's a common cost-cutting move, but it shows up in real-world use.

Stacked against the competition, the My Passport SSD has a tough time. The Samsung 9100 PRO, Micron T710, Crucial T710, Lexar NM1090 PRO, and Corsair MP700 PRO all outclass it in raw speed. Those are internal drives, sure, but they represent what's possible with modern NVMe tech, and this external drive's 41st percentile speed ranking shows the gap. The 5-year warranty is a genuine advantage over some budget options, and the hardware encryption is a feature many competitors skip. But the 2nd percentile random performance is a dealbreaker if you do anything beyond large sequential transfers. For pure portability and durability, the drop resistance and metal build are solid, but the console score of 20.9/100 means this isn't the drive for expanding your PlayStation or Xbox storage.

Pricing is all over the place in Canada. We're seeing CAD 252 to CAD 320 across three listings, which is a CAD 68 spread for the exact same drive. That's a big enough gap that you'd be silly not to shop around. At the low end, you're getting a decent deal for a 1TB external SSD with a 5-year warranty. At the high end, you're paying a premium for a drive that lands in the 41st percentile for speed. The US listing sits at USD 229, but without more US listings to compare, it's hard to say if that's competitive. If you're in Canada, hunt for the CAD 252 price and don't settle for anything near CAD 320.

The WD My Passport SSD WDBAGF0010RD-WESN is a 1TB external drive that leans hard on its 1050 MB/s read and 1000 MB/s write speeds. Those numbers look great on the box, and for big sequential file transfers, this thing moves. But our database puts that speed at the 41st percentile for this category, which is a fancy way of saying it's a bit below average compared to the current crop of external SSDs. The 5-year warranty and hardware encryption are nice touches, but the DRAM-less design and a random performance score in the 2nd percentile tell a more complicated story.

Skip this drive if you work with lots of small files. The 2nd percentile random performance is one of the worst we've seen, and it will make everyday tasks like opening documents or browsing photo folders feel sluggish. Console gamers should also look elsewhere, given the 20.9/100 console score. And if you're expecting top-tier speed, the 41st percentile ranking means this drive is below average for its category. The endurance score of 56th percentile is also nothing to write home about, so heavy daily users might want something with better longevity.

The WD My Passport SSD is a frustrating mix of good ideas and one glaring flaw. The 1050 MB/s sequential speeds, 5-year warranty, and hardware encryption make it look like a premium product. But the 2nd percentile random performance is a massive red flag. If your workflow is mostly large files, like video editing or full system backups, this drive will serve you well, especially if you can snag it at the lower end of that CAD 252 to CAD 320 range. For everyone else, there are better options out there.