Western Digital

Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1 TB USB 3.0/2.0 Ultra Portable External Hard Drive (Metallic Blue)

Name: Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1 TB USB 3.0/2.0 Ultra Portable External Hard Drive (Metallic Blue)
Brand: Western Digital
SKU: B004H1W0HO

Status: Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1 TB… (1TB hard drive): Unavailable on Amazon as of 2026-10-18 10:17 UTC. SpecPicks has no in-stock 1TB hard drive on file; an Amazon search for "1TB hard drive" lists current offers with the same specs. eBay sellers may still list this model new or used.

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Bottom line: The Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1 TB USB 3.0/2.0 Ultra: Dual USB 3.0/2.0 port works on old and new machines; main trade-off: USB 2.0 hosts cap it at old-standard speeds, no 3x gain.

Unavailable on Amazon as of 2026-10-18 10:17 UTC

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By Mike Perry, Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated 2026-10-18

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014. For external drives and portable storage, synthesises manufacturer specs and independent reviews rather than first-hand lab testing. Core beat: GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference. About the author →

Pros & Cons

Pros

✓ Dual USB 3.0/2.0 port works on old and new machines
✓ Up to 3x faster transfers on a USB 3.0 host, per WD
✓ 1 TB holds a full system image plus media libraries
✓ Hardware encryption with password protection built in
✓ WD SmartWare runs automatic, continuous backups

Cons

✗ USB 2.0 hosts cap it at old-standard speeds, no 3x gain
✗ Mechanical drive, so no SSD-class speed or shock resistance
✗ Bus-powered spinning platters are vulnerable to drops
✗ Metallic blue finish shows fingerprints and scuffs

Manufacturer description

The Western Digital My Passport Essential SE packs 1 TB of portable storage into a metallic blue enclosure light enough to drop in a jacket pocket. Its dual-interface USB 3.0/2.0 port is the headline feature: plug it into a USB 3.0 host and Western Digital rates transfers at up to 3x faster than USB 2.0, but the drive stays backwards compatible with older USB 2.0 machines, so nothing gets stranded when you swap laptops. Security and backup come built in rather than as an afterthought. The bundled WD SmartWare visual backup software runs automatic, continuous backups once configured, so files…

SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1 TB USB 3.0/2.0 Ultra… using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the external storage category. Western Digital's external storage lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for external storage of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this drive work with USB 2.0 computers?

Yes. It is backwards compatible with USB 2.0, so it connects to older machines, but transfers run at USB 2.0 speeds rather than the up to 3x faster USB 3.0 rates.

How fast is the My Passport Essential SE?

Western Digital rates it at up to 3x faster transfer rates over USB 3.0 versus USB 2.0. Actual speed depends on your host port, cable, and file sizes.

Can I password protect the files on it?

Yes. The drive includes password protection with hardware encryption, so the contents stay locked without the password even if the drive is lost or stolen.

Does it include backup software?

It ships with WD visual backup software that performs automatic, continuous backup once you set it up, copying files as they change instead of on a fixed schedule.

Is this drive reliable enough for backups?

As with any single drive, keep a second copy of critical data. Check the listing for current warranty terms.

Key Features

Dual USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatibility
Connectivity today; speed for tomorrow
Up to 3x faster transfer rates with USB 3.0
Maximum capacity
Automatic, continuous backup

Full Specifications

Brand	Western Digital
Color	Blue
Model Name	My Passport Essential
Unit Count	1.0 Count
Form Factor	2.5-inch
Media Speed	30-625 MB/s
Connectivity	USB
Model Number	WDBACX0010BBL-NESN
Built-In Media	Software, Password Booklet, USB Cable, Firewire Cable
Hard-Drive Size	1024 GB
Mfr Part Number	WDBACX0010BBL-NESN
Number of Items	1
Special Feature	Portable
Hardware Platform	Mac, PC
Installation Type	External Hard Drive
Compatible Devices	Desktop
Additional Features	Portable
Hard Disk Interface	USB 2.0/3.0
Hard Disk Description	portable
Hard Disk Form Factor	2.5 Inches

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