Western Digital Elements 5TB
Score: 67/100
WD My Passport 2TB
Score: 74/100Rankings
The WD My Passport 2TB offers solid storage capacity, strong hardware encryption, and a lightweight, bus-powered design, making it a reliable portable backup for Windows users.
The WD 5 TB Elements Portable HDD offers a large capacity in a lightweight, bus-powered package with decent USB 3.0 speeds, but it lacks encryption and rugged features, making it best for casual backup rather than demanding professional use.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
5 GB | 2,000 GBbest | |
— | 110 MB/sbest | |
— | 110 MB/sbest | |
24 months | 36 monthsbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 0.23 kg | 0.14 kgbest |
| ↓ lower better | 81.3 mm | 74.93 mmbest |
| ↓ lower better | 111.8 mm | 13.46 mmbest |
| ↓ lower better | 20.8 mmbest | 107.19 mm |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Connectivity(1) | ||
Interface | USB 3.0 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 |
Performance(2) | ||
Sequential Read Speed (MB/s) | 70-110 MB/s | 110 MB/s |
Sequential Write Speed (MB/s) | 70-110 MB/s | 110 MB/s |
Warranty & Support(1) | ||
Warranty Period (months) | 24 months | 36 months |
Security(1) | ||
Hardware Encryption | false | true |
Compatibility(1) | ||
Operating System Compatibility | Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox | Windows, Mac (reformat) |
Build & Design(4) | ||
Weight (kg) | 0.23 kg | 0.14 kg |
Width (mm) | 81.3 mm | 74.93 mm |
Height (mm) | 111.8 mm | 13.46 mm |
Depth (mm) | 20.8 mm | 107.19 mm |
Storage(2) | ||
Storage Capacity (GB) | 5 GB | 2000 GB |
Drive Type | 2.5-inch HDD | HDD |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers view the WD 5 TB Elements as a solid, budget-friendly portable HDD that delivers reliable archival performance, but they caution that its lack of encryption, ruggedness, and recent reliability concerns make it unsuitable for demanding professional environments.
Everyday users appreciate the massive capacity and ease of use, yet many express frustration over early failures and the absence of security features.
“It died less than a year after I got it, all data was lost.”
“Great value for the storage you get, and it's really light to carry.”
“Plug-and-play works perfectly on my Windows laptop.”
Professional reviewers praise its reliability, security features, and value, while noting the misleading USB-C marketing due to the Micro-USB port.
Users rate it highly for dependable performance and ease of use on Windows, but complain about the USB type mismatch and the need to reformat for Mac.
