I’ve been on a bit of a quest in recent months, searching for cheap, compact SSD storage for data backup. Basically, I want to replace the slow and massive HDDs that are taking up so much space on my desk. Plus, nothing beats a tiny SSD for portable storage needs, like moving large files between my upstairs and downstairs computers or taking collections of files (like the family digital photo library) over to my in-laws. A few weeks back, I found a winning combination in the Crucial X6, a tiny 2TB SSD with USB-C that I picked up on sale for $90 (review here).
Crucial X8 offers 2TB of SSD storage in a premium aluminum enclosure with a $119.99 MSRP Carbide Burrs Set
This week I found something that might just trump that one, although it is physically considerably larger. This is another offering from Crucial – a company long associated with RAM that has become a player in the storage market with the switch to solid state.
My latest acquisition was a 2TB Crucial X8 SSD. It’s almost twice the size of the X6 and considerably heavier. On sale, I was still able to snag one for under $100 (the MSRP for the 2TB version is $119.99). So why pay more for the same amount of storage in a larger and heavier form factor?
First, let's put that size in some perspective. Its weight is 3.5 ounces, which is more than double the weight of the X6, but still hardly a burden. My iPhone weighs nearly 8.5 ounces and I carry that around in a pocket. The Crucial X8 is still the fraction of the size of any portable HDD (and most phones) and is easily pocketable.
Crucial X8 portable SSD in action
That weight is because it uses an aluminum enclosure instead of plastic. This offers a much more premium feel and it comes with some advantages. Crucial says the entire case helps to dissipate heat. I can’t imagine a scenario when you’d be writing files to this drive enough to be generating masses of heat, but if you do it’s covered. In addition, that solid aluminum case offers protection and the Crucial C8 offers 7.5-foot drop protection. That’s better than the lighter X6.
In addition, although both drives use a USB 3.2 Gen-2 (USB-C) interface, the Crucial X8 is rated to sequentially read data at a speed of 1,050 MB/s. That’s roughly 20% faster than the X6. While you’re not likely to notice any difference copying a few movie files, when it comes to moving libraries of data around that extra zippiness is going to come in handy.
The Crucial X8 SSD looks quite slim and compact, until you see it beside the much smaller (but ... [+] identical capacity ) Crucial X6
Double Cut Tungsten Carbide Burr Ultimately, I bought a Crucial X8 because it feels reassuringly solid. I know that aluminum enclosure has no relationship to performance (other than it’s ability to dissipate heat should you somehow manage to push the drive that hard), but the heft makes this SSD feel more like a premium device. To me, it’s worth the extra heft and the additional $10 over the X6. But either of these Crucial SSDs are great options for anyone looking for cheap, reliable (backed by a 3-year limited warranty) and highly portable storage.