Western Digital
Western Digital 5TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive
Bottom line: The Western Digital 5TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive: 5TB capacity for photos, videos, music and documents in one palm-sized drive; main trade-off: backup software needs download, install and account registration.
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Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ 5TB capacity for photos, videos, music and documents in one palm-sized drive
- ✓ Built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption with password protection
- ✓ SuperSpeed USB 3.0 (5Gbps) transfers, backward-compatible with USB 2.0
- ✓ WD backup software automates device backups and management
Cons
- ✗ Backup software needs download, install and account registration
- ✗ USB 3.0 tops out at 5Gbps, slower than USB-C/3.2 portable SSDs
- ✗ Mechanical HDD, not SSD, so slower and less shock-resistant
- ✗ Bundled software is Windows-first; Mac users may need to reformat
Manufacturer description
Every journey needs a passport. The My Passport drive is trusted, portable storage that gives you the confidence and freedom to drive forward in life. With a new, stylish design that fits in the palm of your hand, there’s space to store, organize, and share your photos, videos, music, and documents. Perfectly paired with backup software* and password protection, the My Passport drive helps keep your digital life's contents safe. (*Download and installation required. Terms and conditions apply. User account registration may be required.)
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored Western Digital 5TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive 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 Design
- Software for device management and backup with password protection. (Download and installation required. Terms and conditions apply. User account registration may be required.)
- 256-bit AES hardware encryption
- SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port (5Gbps); USB 2.0 compatible
- 3-year limited warranty
Full Specifications
| Brand | Western Digital |
|---|---|
| Color | White |
| Model Name | My Passport |
| Form Factor | Portable |
| Media Speed | 1 |
| Connectivity | USB |
| Model Number | WDBPKJ0050BWT-WESN |
| Built-In Media | External Hard Drive, USB Cable, Quick install guide |
| Item Type Name | External HDD |
| Hard-Drive Size | 5 TB |
| Mfr Part Number | WDBPKJ0050BWT-WESN |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Special Feature | Portable |
| Hardware Platform | PC, Mac |
| Installation Type | External Hard Drive |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop, Laptop |
| Enclosure Material | Plastic |
| Additional Features | Portable |
| Hard Disk Interface | USB 1.1 |
| Warranty Description | 3-year manufacturer's limited warranty |
| Full listing title | Western Digital 5TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive with password protection and auto backup software, White - Western DigitalBPKJ0050BWT-WESN |
Ready to buy?
Western Digital 5TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive with password protection and auto backup software, White - Western DigitalBPKJ0050BWT-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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