Western Digital WD 5TB My Passport (WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN)
Bottom line: The Western Digital WD 5TB My Passport ($220.00 on Amazon as of 2026-10-21 12:20 UTC): 5TB capacity in a slim portable shell, no external power brick needed; main trade-off: mechanical drive, so it is slower than an SSD of the same size. Another in-stock pick with the same 5TB hard drive: the Western Digital WD 5TB Elements Portable…, $219.89 on Amazon as of (price may vary).
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-21. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ 5TB capacity in a slim portable shell, no external power brick needed
- ✓ Ships with WD backup software that includes ransomware defense
- ✓ 256-bit hardware encryption plus password protection built in
- ✓ USB 3.1/3.0 compatible, so it works with older ports too
- ✓ 3-year limited warranty from WD
Cons
- ✗ Mechanical drive, so it is slower than an SSD of the same size
- ✗ Spinning platters are vulnerable to drops in transit
- ✗ Bundled backup software is Windows/Mac only, no Linux client
- ✗ USB-A cable only, so USB-C laptops need an adapter
Manufacturer description
Slim durable design to help take your important files with you Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored Western Digital WD 5TB My Passport 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.
Key Features
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
Full Specifications
| Size | 5TB |
|---|---|
| Brand | WD |
| Color | Black |
| Model | WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN |
| Warranty | 3-year manufacturer's limited warranty |
| UnitCount | 1 |
| ReleaseDate | 2019-09-04T00:00:01Z |
| Manufacturer | Western Digital Technologies, Inc. |
| IsAdultProduct | false |
| ItemPartNumber | WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN |
| Full listing title | WD 5TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Black, backup software with defense against ransomware, and password protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 compatible - WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN |
Ready to buy?
WD 5TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Black, backup software with defense against ransomware, and password protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 compatible - WDBPKJ0050BBK-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.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-21. Price and availability subject to change.
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