A Comprehensive Review of Budget-Friendly Portable Storage Options
0:00:13 Introduction: The video focuses on comparing budget-friendly portable SSDs against traditional, inexpensive flash drives, highlighting the Orico B5 Plus as a new option.
0:00:42 The Problem with Cheap Flash Drives: These drives are slow and unreliable, often taking 5-6 minutes to transfer 10GB of data and potentially risking data loss.
0:01:34 Orico B5 Plus Overview: This compact SSD offers 256GB storage for $19.99 (with coupon), significantly faster than flash drives. It features a plastic build, USB-C connectivity, and a dongle for USB-A compatibility.
0:02:40 Orico B5 Plus Performance: Blackmagic tests showed around 384 MB/s read and 666 MB/s write speeds. However, a real-world 10GB transfer test took 26 seconds, averaging 385 MB/s.
0:04:13 SSK Portable SSD Overview: Priced at $32.99 for 256GB, this drive boasts a durable, full-metal build resembling a flash drive. It only supports USB-A.
0:05:02 SSK Portable SSD Performance: Blackmagic tests indicated around 445 MB/s for both read and write speeds. The 10GB transfer test took 23 seconds, averaging 435 MB/s. It requires a separate USB-A to USB-C dongle.
0:06:45 SSK Aluminum Portable SSD Overview: Another SSK option, this tiny, aluminum-built drive offers a 1TB version for $67.49, which the presenter recommends over the 250GB model ($40).
0:07:42 SSK Aluminum Portable SSD Performance: Blackmagic tests showed 749 MB/s read and 910 MB/s write speeds. The 10GB transfer test took 15.9 seconds, averaging 629 MB/s, with consistent performance even up to 100GB transfers.
0:09:14 DIY Portable SSD: The presenter suggests building a custom portable SSD using a Quiklab enclosure ($26) and an Orico 2230 NVMe SSD ($27.99 for 256GB), totaling around $55.
0:10:44 DIY Portable SSD Performance: Blackmagic tests reported 817 MB/s read and 833 MB/s write speeds. The 10GB transfer test took only 9.9 seconds, achieving a remarkable 1,010 MB/s average speed.
0:11:57 Conclusion: The presenter strongly advises against using cheap flash drives due to their poor performance and reliability. The Orico B5 Plus is recommended as a budget-friendly option for everyday file transfers. The SSK Aluminum Portable SSD is favored for its compact size, consistent performance, and value, especially the 1TB model. Building a DIY portable SSD is presented as the fastest but most expensive option, offering customization and durability.
Key Takeaways:
Cheap flash drives are significantly slower and less reliable than budget-friendly SSDs.
The Orico B5 Plus offers a good balance of price and performance for basic file transfers.
The SSK Aluminum Portable SSD (1TB) provides excellent speed, size, and value.
Building a DIY portable SSD yields the best performance but comes at a higher cost.
Real-world transfer tests can differ from synthetic benchmarks like Blackmagic.
The choice of drive depends on individual needs, budget, and technical expertise.