Skip to main content
WD 5TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Red, Backup Software with Defense Against ransomware, and Password Protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 Compatible - WDBPKJ0050BRD-WESN
Western Digital

Western Digital WD 5TB My Passport (WDBPKJ0050BRD-WESN)

Bottom line: The Western Digital WD 5TB My Passport ($263.98 on Amazon as of 2026-10-08): 5TB in a bus-powered, slim enclosure - no separate power adapter to carry; main trade-off: spinning platter drive, so slower than an SSD for editing off the drive.

$263.98

As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →

Buy on Amazon — $263.98 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 2026-10-08. Price and availability subject to change.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ 5TB in a bus-powered, slim enclosure - no separate power adapter to carry
  • ✓ Acronis True Image for WD included, with ransomware defense built in
  • ✓ Password protection backed by hardware encryption, not software-only
  • ✓ USB 3.1 port that stays backward compatible with USB 3.0 machines

Cons

  • ✗ Spinning platter drive, so slower than an SSD for editing off the drive
  • ✗ Moving parts make it more vulnerable to drops than a solid-state option
  • ✗ Red finish is a fingerprint and scuff magnet compared to matte black
  • ✗ Backup software is Western Digital branded and tied to WD drives only

Manufacturer description

Store up to 5TB of photos, video projects, and game captures on the Western Digital My Passport, a slim portable drive that slips into a laptop bag without a power brick. Connectivity is USB 3.1 with USB 3.0 compatibility, so it plugs straight into current laptops, desktops, and consoles that accept USB mass storage. The bundled Acronis True Image for Western Digital software handles scheduled backups and includes defense against ransomware, while password protection with hardware encryption locks the drive so a lost bag does not become a data breach. The 5TB capacity sits near the top of…

Related Products

Other products in this category you may like:

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I actually store on the 5TB My Passport?

Roughly 5TB of formatted capacity, enough for large photo libraries, 4K video projects, or a full system image with versioned history. Western Digital also offers the My Passport line in capacities up to 6TB.

Is this an SSD or a traditional hard drive?

It is a portable hard drive with spinning platters, not an SSD. That is why it hits 5TB at this size and price, but it makes it better suited to backup and archiving than to editing files directly off the drive.

Does it need a power adapter?

No. It is a slim, bus-powered portable drive that draws power over the USB cable, so there is no separate power brick to pack.

What backup and security features are included?

It ships with Acronis True Image for Western Digital software that includes defense against ransomware, plus password protection paired with hardware encryption to help secure your files.

Will it work with my computer's USB ports?

The drive uses USB 3.1 and is USB 3.0 compatible, so it connects to standard USB-A ports on current and older machines. Check the product listing for the exact cable and connector included, and for current warranty terms.

Key Features

  • Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
  • Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
  • Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
  • Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption

Full Specifications

BrandWestern Digital
ColorRed
Model NameMy Passport External Hard Drive
Form Factor2.5-inch
Media Speed100-200 MB/s
ConnectivityUSB
Model NumberWDBPKJ0050BRD-WESN
Built-In MediaMy Passport portable hard drive, Quick Start Guide, Software[2] for device management and backup with password protection, SuperSpeed USB-A cable (5Gbps)
Hard-Drive Size5 TB
Mfr Part NumberWDBPKJ0050BRD-WESN
Number of Items1
Special FeatureHardware Encryption, Portable
Hardware PlatformMac
Installation TypeExternal Hard Drive
Compatible DevicesDesktop, Laptop, Tablet
Data Transfer Rate1 megabits_per_second
Enclosure MaterialUSB
Additional FeaturesHardware Encryption, Portable
Hard Disk InterfaceUSB 2.0/3.0
Warranty Description3-year manufacturer's limited warranty
Full listing titleWD 5TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Red, Backup Software with Defense Against ransomware, and Password Protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 Compatible - WDBPKJ0050BRD-WESN

Ready to buy?

WD 5TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Red, Backup Software with Defense Against ransomware, and Password Protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 Compatible - WDBPKJ0050BRD-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.

Buy on Amazon — $263.98

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-08. Price and availability subject to change.

Related External Storage

Keep exploring SpecPicks

Other buying guides

Browse the catalog

Editorial

More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive

Browse all articles & guides →

More reviews from the SpecPicks archive

Browse all reviews →

Earliest SpecPicks reviews

Browse full archive →
WD 5TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Red, Backup Software with Defense Against ransomware, and Password Protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 Compatible - WDBPKJ0050BRD-WESN
$263.98
View on Amazon →