PNY RP60 portable SSD review

PNY RP60 portable SSD: 30-second review

The PNY RP60 Portable SSD 1TB sports a sleek, matte black rubberized finish with a subtle PNY logo, enhancing its aesthetic and functionality. This finish not only offers protection against the elements with its IP65 rating—making it essentially shower-proof and resilient against harsh dust storms—but also ensures stability. Its non-slip surface allows it to be securely placed on a car or van bonnet, or taped to a tripod or rig without slipping. The drive's size and design make it an ideal solution for expanding the video storage of iPhones and other smartphones, especially useful when filming, as it can be easily attached to the back of the phone.

A standout feature here is the flat USB cable, reminiscent of a computer data ribbon, which facilitates neat routing around any attached equipment. Additionally, the small carabiner loop at one corner allows the drive to be hooked into a bag or case, securing it conveniently and making it easily accessible within a camera bag's internal loops.

Having tested out plenty of the best portable SSDs, performance-wise, the drive holds up solidly when connected to a true USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port with speeds that just exceed those stated by PNY. However, Mac users with Thunderbolt 4 ports will find the performance downgraded, averaging closer to 1000MB/s rather than the expected 1800MB/s. Nevertheless, these speeds are sufficient for editing tasks, including handling 4K Log3 footage from devices like the Canon EOS R5 C and meeting the demands of any of the best video editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve.

PNY RP60 portable SSD: Price & availability

The PNY RP60 portable SSD 1TB is widely available at most electronics and photography stores, such as Adorama and B&H Photo, for around $99. There is also a 2TB version of the drive available for $179.

• Score: 4/5

PNY RP60 portable SSD: Design & build

The PNY RP60 Portable SSD 1TB, despite its IP65 certification and drop-proof rating of 3m, isn't marketed as a tough drive. When compared to rugged drives designed to withstand intense physical abuse, the RP60 is clearly a lighter option with added protection rather than built for extreme durability.

Weighing just 55g, the drive feels lightweight. Its rubberised casing is well-enclosed, with the only opening being the USB Type-C port at the base, which is protectively sealed by an attached rubber cover. Although there's a slight flexibility at the top of the case when squeezed, the build quality seems sufficiently robust for both indoor and outdoor use.

The rubberised casing is in place to enhance the drive's durability, which, as an SSD with no moving parts is inevitably going to be more robust than traditional mechanical HDDs. However, the rubber port cover's attachment is a weak point—it detaches easily and is tricky to reinsert, likely needing some reinforcement with tape in field use or just left to flap around.

The inclusion of a flat cable is a great idea, as it enables easy mounting by laying it flat against the side of the drive before you attach it to the back of laptop with tape. The cable's connection to the port is secure, enabling the drive to be suspended by the cable without stress due to the drive being lightweight, although obviously this isn't best practice. An improvement could be made to reinforce the cable connection, as seen in other models.

The carabiner loop on the top edge is a good idea and mirrors a trend in drive design. This feature essentially enables the drive to be easily hooked onto a bag loop or securely attached to equipment, a belt, or other items, making it particularly useful in a professional field environment. 

• Design & build: 4/5

PNY RP60 portable SSD: Features

The PNY RP60 1TB SSD is marketed for its speed, durability, and compatibility and offers data transfer speeds that reach up to 2,000 MB/s, which for an external drive is extremely fast.

The tough build quality and rubberised outer have been designed to withstand the rigours of active use. Through the design, the RP60 incorporates durable materials and design elements that offer protection against water and dust, enough to meet the IP65 standards, which means that it can withstand accidental drops from heights up to 3 metres (approximately 9.8 feet) and a bit of dust and moisture as long as the data connection port is covered.

Despite its design, it can hardly be considered one of the best rugged hard drives out there. The RP60 remains lightweight at 55g and includes an integrated loop, making it easy to slide into a pocket or securely clip onto a backpack or camera bag.

The RP60 is designed for maximum compatibility with a huge range of devices, from the Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, iPads, Android smartphones, tablets, as well as laptops, desktops, and of course gaming consoles. 

This compatibility comes through the connection type, which is of the standard USB Type-C type. Alongside the drive a flat USB cable is included, and this is handy when used with a phone as it enables it to be neatly tucked around the phone, and then Velcro can be used to attach the drive to the phone case if needed, making it perfect for filming using the iPhone's high quality ProRes file format.

A nice addition to the RP60 package is the inclusion of Acronis True Image Data Protection software, providing an additional layer of security. This backup software, intended for PC use, offers backup and data recovery services to help safeguard your data, ensuring it is easily recoverable in case of data loss.

• Features 4/5

PNY RP60 portable SSD: Performance

The PNY RP60's design focuses on durability, tailored to the needs of those working in the field. Its rubberized exterior, flat cable, and loop all contribute to its robustness. In our tests, we explored the drive's potential as a storage solution for image and video files, utilizing Acronis True Image for data backup in the studio.

Initial impressions are positive; the rubberized finish ensures the drive stays securely in place whether it's on a desk, a car bonnet, or a rock. Its compact size and weight, combined with a velcro attachment, allow for easy mounting on the back of a monitor, reducing strain on the cable during movement.

A key feature is the flat cable, which is particularly useful when the drive is connected to a rig as a direct storage device for video file recording, compatible with cameras like the Blackmagic 6K Pro and iPhone 15 Pro. The drive maintains the required transfer rates and integrates neatly, allowing the cable to be taped down for a more streamlined setup.a

When tested with one what's still of the best MacBook Pro laptops around - the 16-inch M1 model, the RP60 performed well with applications like Photoshop and DaVinci Resolve, handling footage playback without lag. However, after extensive use in video editing, the drive exhibited some heat-related slowdowns, with write speeds dropping to about 450MB/s in the AJA System Test Light after two hours of editing 4K video.

Benchmark tests on both Mac and PC systems revealed a difference in performance levels. The Mac maxed out with read speeds around 1100MB/s and write speeds peaking at approximately 950MB/s—fast, but not as fast as advertised.

Switching over to an Intel NUC 9 Extreme Ghost Canyon with a PCIe USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 card installed the speed accelerated, maxing out with Crystal Disk Mark at 2067.91MB/s read and 1818.60MB/s write, just exceeding the stated speeds from PNY.

Editing footage from the drive in DaVinci Resolve on the PC highlighted the potential of this drive, you just need to be aware that to make the most of the performance you need to be using a dedicated USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port and not a backward compatible Thunderbolt 3 or 4.

• Performance: 4/5

Should you buy the PNY RP60 portable SSD?

The PNY RP60 Portable SSD 1TB is an excellent choice for professionals and adventurers seeking reliable, rugged storage for on-the-go use. With its high-speed data transfer capabilities, robust build quality, and broad compatibility with various devices, it meets the needs of those looking for a versatile storage solution. In real-world tests, the drive's performance for high-demand applications was excellent, making it a great choice for outdoor or challenging environments where durability is essential.

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