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Western Digital 1TB P40 Game Drive SSD - Up to 2,000MB/s, RGB Lighting, Portable External Solid State Drive , Compatible with Playstation, Xbox, PC, & Mac - WDBAWY0010BBK-WESN
WD_BLACK

WD_BLACK Western Digital 1TB P40 Game Drive SSD (WDBAWY0010BBK-WESN)

Bottom line: The WD_BLACK Western Digital 1TB P40 Game Drive SSD: USB 3.2 Gen2x2 interface rated up to 2,000MB/s read; main trade-off: PS5 and Xbox Series X|S games can only be archived, not played.

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

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014. For SSDs and PC storage upgrades, synthesises manufacturer specs and independent reviews rather than first-hand lab testing. Core beat: GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ USB 3.2 Gen2x2 interface rated up to 2,000MB/s read
  • ✓ Shock-resistant shell rated for a two-meter drop
  • ✓ Plays PS4 and Xbox One games directly off the drive
  • ✓ RGB lighting tunable via WD_BLACK Dashboard

Cons

  • ✗ PS5 and Xbox Series X|S games can only be archived, not played
  • ✗ Dashboard RGB control is Windows-only, so no Mac tuning
  • ✗ 2,000MB/s needs a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 host port to hit
  • ✗ RGB adds bulk and draw versus a plain portable SSD

Manufacturer description

The WD_BLACK P40 Game Drive SSD brings desktop-class speed to a drive you can drop in a backpack. Its USB 3.2 Gen2x2 interface pushes read speeds up to 2,000MB/s, so large open-world installs move off your console or PC far faster than on a mechanical game drive. The 1TB capacity keeps a deep library staged and ready to launch, and WD_BLACK rates the shock-resistant shell to survive a two-meter drop, which matters if this SSD lives in a bag between LAN nights. Console players get broad coverage: play and store PS4 and Xbox One titles directly from the drive, and archive PS5 and Xbox Series…

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SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored WD_BLACK Western Digital 1TB P40 Game Drive SSD using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the ssds & storage category. WD_BLACK's ssds & 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 ssds & 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

Can I play PS5 games directly from the WD_BLACK P40?

No. On PS5 the P40 plays and stores PS4 games, while PS5 titles can be archived to it and moved back to internal storage to play. Xbox Series X|S works the same way: Xbox One games play off the drive, Series X|S games archive.

Is the P40 fast enough to be worth it over a regular external drive?

It uses a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 interface rated up to 2,000MB/s read, per WD's internal testing. Real speed depends on your host port, usage conditions, and drive capacity, so a slower USB port will cap throughput below that figure.

Does the P40 work with a Mac?

Yes, the drive lists compatibility with PC and Mac alongside PlayStation and Xbox. The WD_BLACK Dashboard used to customize the RGB lighting is Windows-only, so Mac users get the storage but not the lighting controls.

How durable is it if I carry it around?

WD builds the P40 with a shock-resistant structure rated to survive a drop of up to two meters. That, plus the compact form factor, is aimed at players who move the drive between a desk, a console, and a bag.

How much can I actually store on the 1TB model?

WD counts 1TB as 1 trillion bytes, so usable capacity is lower once formatted and varies by operating environment. The P40 line scales up to 2TB if 1TB is not enough headroom for your installed library.

Key Features

  • Customize your drive’s RGB lighting with the downloadable WD_BLACK Dashboard (Windows only) to show off your style and make every play personal.
  • Kick loading into overdrive with a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 interface and speeds up to 2,000MB/s. (Based on read speed. 1 MB/s = 1 million bytes per second. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors.)
  • Compatible with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. {Compatible with PlayStation 4 Pro or PS4 with system software version 4.50 or higher, PlayStation 5 (Play and store PS4 games; archive PS5 games), Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S (Play and store Xbox One games; archive Xbox Series X|S games).}
  • Keep more of the latest and largest titles installed and ready to launch with capacities of up to 2TB. (1TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.)
  • Built with WD_BLACK toughness thanks to a shock-resistant structure, this durable drive can survive a drop of up to two-meters.

Full Specifications

BrandWD_BLACK
ColorBlack
Model NameWD_BLACK P40 SSD
Read Speed2000 megabytes_per_second
Form Factor2.5-inch
Media Speed1950 MB/s
ConnectivityUSB
Model NumberWDBAWY0010BBK-WESN
CompatibilityPC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Mac
Built-In MediaQuick Start Guide, USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable, USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable, WD_BLACK P40 Game Drive SSD
Hard-Drive Size1 TB
Mfr Part NumberWDBAWY0010BBK-WESN
Number of Items1
Special FeaturePortable
Hardware Platformplaystation, xbox
Installation TypeExternal Hard Drive
Compatible DevicesGaming Console, Laptop
Data Transfer Rate2000 megabytes_per_second
Enclosure Materialpolycarbonate
Additional FeaturesPortable
Full listing titleWestern Digital 1TB P40 Game Drive SSD - Up to 2,000MB/s, RGB Lighting, Portable External Solid State Drive , Compatible with Playstation, Xbox, PC, & Mac - WDBAWY0010BBK-WESN

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Western Digital 1TB P40 Game Drive SSD - Up to 2,000MB/s, RGB Lighting, Portable External Solid State Drive , Compatible with Playstation, Xbox, PC, & Mac - WDBAWY0010BBK-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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Western Digital 1TB P40 Game Drive SSD - Up to 2,000MB/s, RGB Lighting, Portable External Solid State Drive , Compatible with Playstation, Xbox, PC, & Mac - WDBAWY0010BBK-WESN
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