Crucial MX500 500GB
Score: 79/100
SanDisk Extreme
Score: 87/100Rankings
The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 1TB delivers high-performance NVMe speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s read and 1,000 MB/s write while offering IP65 water and dust resistance in a lightweight 52 g package. Its capacity is limited to 1 TB and it lacks the ultra-fast 2,000 MB/s class of newer models. Ideal for creators and mobile professionals needing fast, rugged portable storage.
The Crucial MX500 500 GB is a 2.5-inch SATA SSD that delivers near-maximum SATA-III speeds, includes a 256 MB DRAM cache and AES-256 hardware encryption, and offers 180 TBW endurance with a 5-year warranty. Its drawbacks are the inherent speed ceiling of SATA and occasional write-performance throttling under heavy mixed loads. It is best suited for budget-conscious desktop or notebook upgrades seeking reliable, secure storage.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
500 GB | 1,000 GBbest | |
560 MB/s | 1,050 MB/sbest | |
510 MB/s | 1,000 MB/sbest | |
95,000 IOPSbest | — | |
90,000 IOPSbest | — | |
180 TBbest | — | |
1,800,000 hoursbest | — | |
256 MBbest | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Connectivity(1) | ||
Interface | SATA III | USB 3.2 Gen 2 |
Performance(2) | ||
Sequential Read Speed (MB/s) | 560 MB/s | 1050 MB/s |
Sequential Write Speed (MB/s) | 510 MB/s | 1000 MB/s |
Storage(1) | ||
Storage Capacity (GB) | 500 GB | 1000 GB |
Design & Build(3) | ||
Form Factor | 2.5-inch | Portable |
Weight (g) | 39 g | 52 g |
Dimensions (L×W×H) (mm) | 70×7.1×103 mm mm | 101x52x10 mm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers consider the MX500 an ideal HDD replacement, praising its efficient SM2258 controller, strong sequential and random performance, and robust security features. However, they note that its mixed-workload write speeds and 4K random read numbers fall short of some competitors, and the SATA interface limits its appeal for high-performance scenarios.
Everyday users overwhelmingly praise the MX500 for its noticeable boost in boot speed, system responsiveness, and ease of installation, especially valuing the included cloning software.
Professional reviewers commend the Extreme Portable SSD 1TB for its high sequential read speed, noting it delivers smoother playback when editing video files. They also appreciate its lightweight, bus-powered design and the inclusion of both USB-C and USB-A adapters, which together make it a solid choice for creators on the move.
Everyday users have limited publicly documented feedback, but the available comments emphasize appreciation for the drive's speed, portability, and cross-platform compatibility.
“the speed of this SSD mainly when reading files will provide smoother playback”
