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WD 1TB My Passport SSD External Portable Drive, USB 3.1, Up to 540 MB/s - WDBKVX0010PSL-WESN
Western Digital

WD 1TB My Passport SSD External Portable Drive, USB 3.1, Up to 540 MB/s - WDBKVX0010PSL-WESN

Bottom line: The Western Digital WD 1TB My Passport SSD External Portable Drive: Read speeds up to 540 MB/s over USB 3.1 Gen 2; main trade-off: shock resistance is claimed but no drop rating is published.

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Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014, focused on GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference. Synthesises community benchmarks, manufacturer specs, and public forum data into actionable buying guides.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ Read speeds up to 540 MB/s over USB 3.1 Gen 2
  • ✓ Hardware encryption with password protection built in
  • ✓ USB-C ready plus USB 3.0, 2.0, and USB-A compatibility
  • ✓ WD Discovery bundles backup, security, and drive utilities

Cons

  • ✗ Shock resistance is claimed but no drop rating is published
  • ✗ Write speed is not specified, only the 540 MB/s read figure
  • ✗ Non-listed operating systems may require reformatting first
  • ✗ WD Discovery software is Windows and macOS only

Manufacturer description

The WD My Passport SSD packs 1TB of portable storage into a shock-resistant shell built for people who move large files daily. Read speeds reach up to 540 MB/s over USB 3.1 Gen 2, so a folder of 4K footage or a game library moves off your laptop in a fraction of the time a spinning portable drive would take. The drive ships USB Type-C ready and works with USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and USB-A ports, so it slots into an older desktop as easily as a current notebook. Security is handled in hardware: password protection with built-in hardware encryption keeps your files locked if the drive walks off. WD…

SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored Western Digital WD 1TB My Passport SSD External Portable Drive using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the PC & gaming hardware category. Western Digital's PC & gaming hardware 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 PC & gaming hardware 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

How fast is the WD My Passport SSD?

Read speeds reach up to 540 MB/s when connected over USB 3.1 Gen 2. Actual transfer speed depends on your port, cable, and the files you are moving.

Does it work with a Mac?

Yes. It supports macOS 10.13 and later, along with Windows 10, 8.1, and 7. Other operating systems may require reformatting the drive first.

Can I password protect the files on this drive?

Yes. The drive includes password protection backed by hardware encryption, managed through the bundled WD Security tool in WD Discovery.

Will it connect to an older laptop without USB-C?

Yes. The drive is USB Type-C and USB 3.1 Gen 2 ready but is also compatible with USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and USB-A connections.

Is this drive durable enough to carry around?

Western Digital describes it as shock-resistant with a compact, durable design intended for portable use. Check the product listing for published drop-test and warranty details.

Key Features

  • Blazing-fast file transfers with read speeds up to 540 MB/s
  • Password protection with hardware encryption
  • USB Type-C and USB 3.1 Gen 2 ready; USB 3.0, USB 2.0 and USB-A compatible
  • WD Discovery software for WD Backup, WD Security, Social Media and Cloud Storage import, WD Drive Utilities
  • Trusted drive built with WD reliability
  • Compatible with Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, macOS 10.13+. Reformatting may be required for other operating systems.

Full Specifications

BrandWestern Digital
ColorBlack
Model NameMy Passport
Read Speed540 megabytes_per_second
Form FactorPortable
Media Speed300-600 MB/s
ConnectivityUSB
Model NumberWDBKVX0010PSL-WESN
CompatibilityMac
Built-In MediaPortable SSD drive, Quick Start Guide, USB Type-C to Type-A adapter, USB Type-C to Type-C cable (supports USB 3.1 Gen 2), WD Discovery for WD Backup, WD Security and WD Drive Utilities software
Item Type NameWD WDBKVX0010PSL-WESN 1TB My Passport SSD Portable Storage - USB 3.1 - Black-Gray
Hard-Drive Size1 TB
Mfr Part NumberWDBKVX0010PSL-WESN
Number of Items1
Special FeatureDurable, Portable
Hardware PlatformMac
Installation TypeExternal Hard Drive
Compatible DevicesWindows 7+ or MacOs
Data Transfer Rate540 megabytes_per_second
Enclosure MaterialDurable Plastic

Ready to buy?

WD 1TB My Passport SSD External Portable Drive, USB 3.1, Up to 540 MB/s - WDBKVX0010PSL-WESN 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.

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