At a look
Knowledgeable’s Score
Execs
- Suits in a shirt pocket
- Quick 20Gbps USB efficiency
- Good trying
- Shock-reducing silicone jacket
Cons
- USB cowl isn’t captive
Our Verdict
The LaCie Rugged Mini SSD presents good efficiency plus fashion to spare. There’s additionally a software program bundle, an extended than common guarantee, in addition to free information restoration must you want it.
Value When Reviewed
500GB: $80 I 1TB: $120 I 2TB: $190 I 4TB: $350
LaCie has vended a number of the most trendy exterior storage available on the market. The Rugged Mini SSD reviewed right here follows go well with with a Neil Poulton designed shock-absorbing sleeve that’s the bigger a part of a particular, enticing look. The Rugged Mini is quick, suits in your pocket, and appears good doing it!
Additional studying: See our roundup of one of the best moveable SSDs to study competing merchandise.
Design & Options
The LaCie Rugged Mini SSD is a 20Gbps USB exterior SSD sporting a Sort-C connector, so it’s appropriate with all Home windows and Mac pc, and most different units. The internals are NVMe, and little doubt Seagate, as that’s the mum or dad firm to LaCie.
The drive measures simply over 4-inches lengthy, by 2.61-inches vast, by 0.675-inches thick with its brilliant orange, shock-absorbing cowl on, and three.7-inches lengthy, by 2.32-inches vast, by a hair underneath 0.5-inches thick with out it. The load is 3.6 ounces (cowl on).
As for the sleeve/cowl, SSDs are already extraordinarily rugged by way of g-forces, so the jacket isn’t as useful a characteristic because it is perhaps on a tough drive. In different phrases, it’s primarily for seems to be. As for that…
You in all probability gained’t need to take away the sleeve, since with out it, the drive is a somewhat bland silver rectangle with putty-colored finish caps and a big sticker denoting its place of manufacture and meeting (Taiwan and Thailand). In different phrases, not so enticing.
LaCie Rugged Mini SSD
Jon L. Jacobi
Which brings me to my solely grievance — the quilt for the Sort-C port isn’t captive. Except you’re extra constant than I’m with the place you place issues, this can be a positive recipe for shedding stated cap.
There’s no IP (Ingress Safety, aka weatherproofing) score declare in order that’s not a problem. Additionally, we’ve additionally seen quite a few uncovered Sort-C ports on IP-rated Bluetooth audio system, so the quilt may not be wanted. Regardless, if a plug is included, it must be captive.
The LaCie Rugged Mini SSD carries a three-year restricted guarantee, however LaCie didn’t say what the boundaries have been. Extreme bodily harm little doubt and possibly extreme quantities of knowledge written to the drive, although the corporate didn’t present any TBW (terabytes which may be written) rankings.
What LaCie does present is helpful software program (backup and safety) and a free restoration service must you want it (heaven forbid!). Past that, the corporate additionally touts development that makes use of at the very least 30 p.c recycled supplies. Each little bit helps!
Efficiency
The Rugged Mini is the third-fastest 20Gbps SSD we’ve examined, proper behind the wonderful USB4 OWC 1M2 and the Essential X10. It positioned fifth total amongst exterior SSDs while you issue within the Thunderbolt 3 Sandisk Professional-G40 and OWC Envoy Professional FX.
The CrystalDiskMark 8 sequential checks proven bear out its placement within the higher echelon.
CrystalDiskMark 8 additionally confirmed the Rugged Mini’s random efficiency to be fairly good — relying on the take a look at.
The Rugged Mini fell a bit off the tempo in our 48GB copies. This isn’t a foul time, as you possibly can see from the Samsung T9, nevertheless it’s not a good time like that delivered by the OWC 1M2.
The Rugged Mini redeemed itself with an impressive 450GB write time. It did ultimately run out of steam (aka secondary cache) at which level the write pace dropped to round 200MBps. Not unbelievable, although few individuals will ever write a terabyte of strong information in a single sitting.
Whereas not the quickest of the quick, the Rugged Mini can at the very least declare a seat on the desk. Subjectively, you’ll little doubt discover it fairly speedy.
Value & Availability
The Rugged Mini SSD retails for £69.99/$80 for the 500GB capability, £109.99/$120 for the 1TB, £179.99/$190 for 2TB, and £329.99/$350 for the 4TB mannequin. That’s pretty affordable given the good styling and the price of NVMe SSDs as of late.
We will solely discover it at Amazon on the time of writing however anticipate wider availability quickly.
Do you have to purchase the LaCie Rugged Mini SSD?
The Rugged Mini SSD ought to completely be in your quick listing of small USB SSDs. It’s not the most cost effective, nevertheless it’s among the many finest, and hey… it’s orange!
This assessment initially appeared on PCWorld.