TechRadar Verdict
Sadly, for the TeamGroup PD20, the Gen 2x2 ship has sailed. While this unit offers a compelling proposition for those with the right port, the lack of broad support for that standard has undermined it globally. Not sure why TeamGroup launched this now.
Pros
- +
Lightweight
- +
Good performance with the right port
- +
Affordable
Cons
- -
Needs USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 for optimal performance
- -
Not as robust as Crucial X10 Pro
- -
Only a USB-C cable included
- -
Lacks hardware encryption
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30-second review
The first USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 drive I reviewed was the Kingston XS2000 back in 2021, and for a while, it remained the only option. Then Crucial, Corsair and SanDisk made products, but the lack of Intel’s support, going instead with Thunderbolt, ultimately undermined this standard.
A few hardware makers added it to laptops via 3rd-party silicon, and it can be added to a PC using a PCIe card, but a computer with USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 is the exception, not the norm.
Therefore, it seems odd that four years after the Kingston XS2000, TeamGroup would want to support a standard only after the transition to USB 4.0 is fully underway.
The PD20 is a small and easily pocketable drive that is rated for IP54 dust and water protection, and the quoted performance over Gen 2x2 is allegedly 2,000 MB/s.
It comes in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB options, providing plenty of capacity for backing up a laptop or holding a substantial selection of files.
While it’s mostly plastic, unlike the Corsair X10 Pro, it seems a solidly constructed device, and it should be able to handle being thrown in a laptop bag or being knocked off a desk.
However, the issue here isn’t the PD20 and its construction but the availability of USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C ports. Because without that port, the drive will downgrade itself to USB 3.2 Gen 2 or even Gen 1, and the enhanced performance will be nowhere to be seen.
Perhaps if more drive makers had been enthusiastic about Gen 2x2 technology four years ago, then perhaps it would have been adopted by more hardware makers.
But the TeamGroup PD20 seems woefully late to this party unless you are lucky enough to have a laptop with the required ports. It won’t be heading to our best portable SSD collection when you balance its appearance now, the performance on offer, and the price.
TeamGroup PD20: Pricing and availability
- How much does it cost? Starts from £92/$83
- When is it out? Available now
- Where can you get it? Sold through online retailers.
Unusually for an SSD maker, TeamGroup doesn’t sell directly; it only sells through online retailers.
In the USA, these include Amazon, B&H, NewEgg and MicroCenter, among others.
On NewEgg, the prices of the drives start at $82.99 for the 1TB model, $142.99 for the 2TB option, and $220.99 for the 4TB drive reviewed here.
In the UK, finding this drive was more of a challenge, though Amazon has the 1TB and 2TB (not the 4TB) drives for sale at £91.79 for the 1TB and £154.60 for the 2TB option.
Comparing the PD20 to the market leader, the Crucial X10 Pro via Amazon is £99.99.£149.99 and £239.99 in the UK for the 1TB, 2TB and 4TB, respectively. In the USA, from Amazon.com, these costs translate to $101.99, $145.99 and $239.99.
Therefore, it undercuts the X10 Pro in most regions by up to 10%, although the X10 Pro is made of metal and supports hardware encryption.
But it’s not the cheapest Gen 2x2 drive. It’s more expensive than the ADATA SE880, which sells for $79.98 and $139.99 on Amazon.com in 1TB and 2TB capacities.
While the PD20 is reasonably priced, it’s not a bargain.
- Value: 3.5 / 5
TeamGroup PD20: Specs
Model No. | TPSEG5004T0C102 |
|---|---|
Capacities | 1TB/2TB/4TB |
Capacity tested | 4TB |
Tested sequential performance (Read/Write) | 1988/1871 MB/s |
Connection | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, Gen 2 or Gen 1 on USB-C |
Controller | Unknown |
Encryption | Software only |
Dimensions | 75 x 34 x 15.2mm (WxDxH) |
Weight | 22g |
Power source | USB-bus power |
Warranty | 5-year |
TeamGroup PD20: Design
- Plastic enclosure
- Only USB-C cable
- No activity LED
From its size, it looks like the PD20 was designed to hold either an M.2 2230 or M.2 2242 drive inside the case. But the case doesn’t come apart, so that’s a guess on my part.
The main structure of this drive is plastic, with a TPU covering the bottom three quarters that incorporates a plug for the USB-C port. At the top end is a slot designed to secure it with a strap, but TeamGroup doesn’t provide a lanyard or strap for it.
The arrangement where the plug is inserted to achieve the IP54 rating and the drive is hung on a strap also makes no accommodation for the short 20cm USB-C cable that’s included in the box. Where is that meant to go?
If the cable gets wet and you insert it into the drive, the results could be fatal for whatever data was on that PD20.
The other odd feature is that there is no activity LED, another feature that is common to all the competitor devices I’ve used.
To better explain the IP54 rating, this isn’t quite the IP68 rating that some phones have, which can handle water submersion. IP54 can handle water splashes and protect against dust entering the device. It’s one notch down from the IP55 that the Crucial X10 Pro has, but TeamGroup does offer a 5-year warranty on the drive.
The cable is USB-C to USB-C, and there is no alternative cable for USB-A. To a degree, that makes perfect sense, since Gen 2x2 only works on USB-C ports, but it’s also not helpful if you ever need to connect it to a system that only has USB-A ports.
From the packing and drive construction, the PD20 sends the overwhelming message that it was built for a specific budget but is durable enough for everyday use. However, if you want to ensure it survives its warranty period, I’d get a carry pouch that can hold the cable.
If you assumed otherwise, there is no software on the drive or provided by TeamGroup.
- Design: 3.5 / 5
TeamGroup PD20: Performance
- Needs USB 3.2 Gen 2x2
- Good performance
- No hardware encryption
Bench | Test | TeamGroup PD20 4TB | Crucial X10 Pro 2TB |
|---|---|---|---|
CrystalDiskMark 8.05 | Default Read | 1988.17 MB/s | 2060.77 MB/s |
| Row 1 - Cell 0 | Default Write | 1870.86 MB/s | 1840.27 MB/s |
| Row 2 - Cell 0 | Real World Read | 1808.21 MB/s | 1857.01 MB/s |
| Row 3 - Cell 0 | Real World Write | 1678.3 MB/s | 1694.03 MB/s |
AJA System Test 64GB | Read | 1851 MB/s | 1898 MB/s |
| Row 5 - Cell 0 | Write | 1708 MB/s | 1709 MB/s |
AS SSD | Read | 1822.36 MB/s | 1881.74 MB/s |
| Row 7 - Cell 0 | Write | 1689.02 MB/s | 1693.37 MB/s |
ATTO | Read | 1830 MB/s | 1920 MB/s |
| Row 9 - Cell 0 | Write | 1750 MB/s | 1710 MB/s |
PCMark Data Drive Bench | Score | 1135 | 1136 |
If I compared this to a USB 4.0 drive like the Nextorage NX-PS1PRO Series or the Corsair EX4000U, then the speed of this drive would look poor.
However, it delivers a level of performance that’s similar to many Gen 2x2 mechanisms, like the Orico M20 or Kingston XS2000. In the benchmark information, I’ve put it against the highly popular Crucial X10 Pro, as this is a drive many of you will be familiar with.
While these results are remarkably close in some tests, the X10 Pro edges some scores with marginally better read and write performance. However, these numbers are within a few percentage points and probably within the margin of variance.
I’d categorise the performance as good, but hardly anything special. The only Gen 2x2 drive it comprehensively beat was Sabrent Rocket Nano V2, which isn’t a renowned performer.
These numbers fail to demonstrate that the SSD inside the PD20 doesn’t support hardware encryption, whereas the X10 Pro does. That makes it less suitable for business users, who often like hardware encryption if they carry sensitive documents.
- Performance: 4 / 5
TeamGroup PD20: Final verdict
Let me be blunt. Long after it vaporised on re-entry, buying into a standard that failed to achieve orbit seems far from the best plan.
Yes, for those with Gen 2x2 ports, the performance is decent. But that’s still half what USB 4.0 drives can offer, a standard that is likely to make a much more profound impact.
The PD20 is a fine example of a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 SSD, even without critical features like hardware encryption. But I’d be amiss if I didn’t suggest that investing in a USB 4.0 drive might be a better plan for your future needs.
It might be worthwhile if the PD20 had a special price or performance, but it currently ticks neither of those boxes.
Should I buy the TeamGroup PD20?
Value | Cheaper than other options, but not cheap | 3.5 / 5 |
Design | Plastic and TPU with an IP54 rating | 3.5 / 5 |
Software | There is none | 1 / 5 |
Performance | Faster than a Gen 2 USB 3.2 SSD, but not Thunderbolt/USB4 drives. | 4/ 5 |
Overall | Late to the party and brought nothing special | 3.5 / 5 |
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