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WD My Passport 2TB Portable External USB 3.0 Hard Drive Storage Blue (WDBY8L0020BBL-NESN)
Western Digital

WD My Passport 2TB Portable External USB 3.0 Hard Drive Storage Blue (WDBY8L0020BBL-NESN)

Bottom line: The WD My Passport 2TB Portable External USB 3.0 Hard Drive Storage Blue ($160.10 on Amazon as of 2026-10-07): Full 2TB in a pocket-sized enclosure, no external power brick needed; main trade-off: spinning platter drive, so slower and less shock-tolerant than an SSD.

$160.10

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Buy on Amazon — $160.10 Compare to similar external storage

By , Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated

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.

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-07. Price and availability subject to change.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ Full 2TB in a pocket-sized enclosure, no external power brick needed
  • ✓ USB 3.0 interface for fast transfers of large photo and video libraries
  • ✓ Drops back to USB 2.0 on older PCs with no adapter or driver install
  • ✓ Hardware encryption plus password protection built into the drive itself

Cons

  • ✗ Spinning platter drive, so slower and less shock-tolerant than an SSD
  • ✗ Bundled backup software is Windows-focused; Mac users often skip it
  • ✗ Bus-powered over one USB port; may struggle on unpowered older hubs
  • ✗ Lose the password and WD cannot recover the encrypted contents

Manufacturer description

WD's My Passport 2TB puts a full 2TB of portable capacity in a shell small enough to live in a jacket pocket, and USB 3.0 connectivity keeps large file transfers from becoming a coffee break. The blue WDBY8L0020BBL-NESN model is a straightforward proposition: plug it into a USB 3.0 port for full-speed backups, or fall back to USB 2.0 on older machines and it still mounts without adapters or drivers. Western Digital bundles automatic backup software so your documents, photos, and project files copy over on a schedule instead of whenever you remember, and built-in password protection with…

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SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored WD My Passport 2TB Portable External USB 3.0 Hard Drive Storage Blue 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 the WD My Passport 2TB work with a Mac?

The drive connects over standard USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, so it mounts on Mac hardware, though it typically ships formatted for Windows. Reformatting in Disk Utility is the usual first step, and WD's bundled backup software is aimed at Windows users. Check the product listing for the current out-of-box format.

Do I need a power adapter or is it bus-powered?

It draws power from the USB connection itself, so a single cable handles both data and power. No separate AC adapter is included or required.

How secure is the password protection?

The My Passport pairs password protection with hardware encryption built into the drive, so the contents stay unreadable without the password. Note that WD cannot recover data if you forget it, so store the password somewhere safe.

What warranty comes with this drive?

Western Digital covers it with a 2-year limited warranty. Registration and claim details are handled through WD's support site; confirm current terms on the product listing before purchase.

Is it worth buying over an external SSD?

This is a traditional hard drive, so an SSD will be faster and more resistant to being knocked around. The trade is capacity per dollar: 2TB of platter storage is far more budget-friendly than 2TB of SSD, which is why this model is highly rated for backup and archive duty.

Key Features

  • Sleek compact design with plenty of storage
  • Ultra-fast data transfers with USB 3.0 interface
  • USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatibility
  • Automatic backup software
  • Password protection and hardware encryption
  • 2-Year Limited Warranty

Full Specifications

ASINB009ZEATVM
BrandWestern Digital
ColorBlue
SeriesMy Passport
LanguageEnglish
Hard Drive2048 GB portable
Model NameMy Passport
Item Weight8.16 ounces
ManufacturerWestern Digital
Model NumberWDBY8L0020BBL-NESN
Hard Disk Size2048 GB
Flash Memory Size2
Hardware PlatformPC
Item model numberWDBY8L0020BBL-NESN
Compatible DevicesDesktop, Smartphone, Tablet
Data Transfer Rate5000 Megabits Per Second
Product Dimensions4.4 x 3.2 x 0.8 inches
Date First AvailableOctober 31, 2012
Item DimensionsLxWxH4.4 x 3.2 x 0.8 inches
Hard Disk Descriptionportable

Ready to buy?

WD My Passport 2TB Portable External USB 3.0 Hard Drive Storage Blue (WDBY8L0020BBL-NESN) is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

Buy on Amazon — $160.10

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-07. Price and availability subject to change.

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WD My Passport 2TB Portable External USB 3.0 Hard Drive Storage Blue (WDBY8L0020BBL-NESN)
$160.10
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