Crucial X6 1TB
Score: 34/100
WD Elements SE 2TB
Score: 47/100Rankings
The WD Elements SE 2TB Portable SSD offers a budget-friendly, ultra-compact solution with reliable 400 MB/s performance, making it suitable for casual backups and travel, though its legacy Micro-USB interface and lack of encryption limit its appeal for power users.
The Crucial X6 1TB is an affordable, ultra-light portable SSD with decent everyday performance, but its QLC NAND and DRAM-less architecture prevent it from delivering the high sustained speeds some users expect.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
1,000 GB | 2,048 GBbest | |
540 MB/sbest | 400 MB/s | |
212 MB/s | 400 MB/sbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 40 g | 27 gbest |
36 monthsbest | 36 monthsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Capacity(1) | ||
Storage Capacity (GB) | 1000 GB | 2048 GB |
Performance(3) | ||
Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | USB 3.0 |
Sequential Read Speed (MB/s) | 540 MB/s | 400 MB/s |
Sequential Write Speed (MB/s) | 212 MB/s | 400 MB/s |
Build & Design(1) | ||
Weight (g) | 40 g | 27 g |
Power & Connectivity(2) | ||
Power Source | bus-powered | Bus-powered |
Included Cable Type | USB-C to USB-C | Micro-USB to USB-A |
Compatibility(1) | ||
Operating System Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, consoles | Windows, macOS |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers consider the X6 a serviceable, budget-friendly portable SSD that works well for everyday tasks but is hampered by its SATA-based internals and DRAM-less design, recommending PCIe-based alternatives for power users.
Consumers appreciate the X6's reliability, pocket-size convenience, and price, though many note that real-world speeds fall short of the advertised 800 MB/s and that performance drops after the cache is exhausted.
Brad Moon of Forbes praised the Elements SE as a cheap, affordable SSD ideal for casual use and backups, highlighting its sub-$120 price, pocket-size, and durability while noting the outdated Micro-USB port and modest speed compared to premium drives.
Everyday users rate the drive highly for reliability, ease of use, and ultra-compact durability, but commonly complain about the legacy Micro-USB connector and slower-than-expected transfer speeds.
“smaller than car keys”
“perfect for travel”
“Crucial SSDs have never failed me.”
