WD My Passport 6TB portable HDD review

WD My Passport 6TB: 30-second review

The WD My Passport is a traditional HDD rather than an SSD portable hard drive. It offers a huge capacity, with our review sample coming in at 6TB, making it an ideal solution for storing large amounts of data. 

One of the nice features of this drive is that it is portable and has such a large capacity. Western Digital has included Acronis True Image software and 256-bit as part of the purchase, which comes with a free five-year license. They have also included 256-bit AES hardware encryption, so if you lose the drive while on the go, your data will remain secure. If you've been on the hunt for the best external hard drives, you could do a whole lot worse than opt for this device.

Some of the highlights of this drive include its huge storage capacity. While it is an HDD rather than an SSD, which makes it considerably slower than the latest technology, you benefit from the larger storage. However, unlike some more modern drives that utilize the latest USB Type-C connection, this drive uses an older USB 3.2 Gen 1 port. This enables relatively fast data transfer speeds of just over 100 MB/s, but it is considerably slower than what we're used to with the latest drives.

Design-wise, the aesthetics are really nice, with a full plastic but high-quality build, a nice textured top, and a design with a little bit of flair. 

Performance-wise, the speeds are relatively quick for an HDD, at just over 100 MB/s. While there might be better options if you're looking for a high-speed working drive, it's absolutely perfect for backing up data. The inclusion of Acronis True Image software also allows you to back up your full computer to the drive in a few clicks.

The drive quality is excellent, although you do need to watch the Micro B connector as it is a bit of a weak point. It may not quite match the best portable SSDs, but otherwise, the actual performance of the drive is exactly what you'd expect for an HDD of this style and design. The large capacity is definitely beneficial and will suit anyone looking to back up large volumes of data. The inclusion of the Acronis True Image software and 256-bit AES hardware encryption provides additional peace of mind.

WD My Passport 6TB: Price & availability

The WD My Passport is widely available in a range of storage capacities and colors. You'll find 6TB model retailing for around $180 / £163. It's available directly from the official Western Digital website, as well as online retailers. 

• Score: 4/5

WD My Passport 6TB: Design & build

The WD My Passport 6TB has been designed to be highly portable, measuring 107.19mm x 74.93mm x 11.18mm and weighing just 210g. This compact size means it will easily slip into the side pocket of a backpack or laptop bag for easy transport. It also fits into a standard A5 padded envelope, making it easy to send to another location or office if needed.

While the outer casing is made of plastic, it is high-quality and feels durable, providing decent protection for the internal HDD. The design of the casing is simple, with minimal detailing except for some texturing on the top and bottom, a discreet product label on the base, and a USB 3.2 Micro-B connector for the USB cable that plugs directly into your computer.

Given that many devices are moving to USB Type-C, the decision to use a USB Micro-B connector is somewhat surprising, especially considering how delicate this connection type can be. However, as long as you handle it carefully, it should be fine. WD has supplied a high-quality cable to ensure the longevity of this connection type.

One small detail that's easy to miss is the small status light on the back next to the connector port. This highlights when the drive is connected and in use. If you want to then there is the option through the WD software to switch this light off. 

Aesthetically, WD has opted for a dual-tone look, with several colour options available. Our review sample, for example, has a black base with a red top, which looks attractive and makes it easy to find when tucked away in a bag. 

• Design & build: 3/5

WD My Passport 6TB: Features

The WD My Passport is a traditional portable hard drive, but WD has enhanced its features with the addition of some software and hardware solutions. Ultimately, it's a simple plug-and-play drive enhanced with software and hardware. When it comes to capacity, there are five options ranging from 1TB to 6TB and a selection of colours, including black, blue, red, and white.

The USB 3.2 Gen 1 connection enables transfer rates of up to 5Gb/s, ensuring relatively fast data transfers. The drive also comes with a three-year limited warranty, and a data recovery plan is available when purchased through the WD website.

Two significant features are the additional extras that come with the drive: Acronis True Image for Western Digital and 256-bit AES encryption. Acronis True Image provides a robust backup solution, and the hardware encryption ensures your data is secure if the drive is lost or stolen.

• Features 4/5

WD My Passport 6TB: Performance

Starting with the WD My Passport 6TB is relatively simple. First, plug it directly into a USB Type-A port on your computer. If you are using a Mac, which is fully compatible with this drive, you'll need an adapter to convert the USB Type-A connector to USB Type-C. Once connected, the bus-powered drive requires only a single cable, so there is no need for an AC wall socket. The drive is instantly recognized and comes pre-formatted in the NTFS format, which is compatible with PCs and will encourage Mac users to install Paragon NTFS

Upon opening the drive, you'll find options to install Western Digital software for either Mac or Windows. Select the relevant option, which will open the WD Discovery application and guide you through the setup process. This takes only a few minutes as the drive extracts the files needed to launch its key features.

The WD My Passport 6TB offers more than just storage. It comes with Acronis True Image for Western Digital and 256-bit AES hardware encryption, available on both PC and Mac systems. Setting this up on a PC is straightforward: connect the drive, open the pre-loaded software, and install Acronis True Image or WD Security. The backup software allows you to back up your entire system, and you can secure the drive with a password.

For Mac users, the process is slightly more complicated. First, you need to install the WD Discovery software. Since the drive comes pre-formatted in NTFS, which isn't readable by a Mac, you'll need to install the NTFS driver, Paragon NTFS. WD Discovery highlights this requirement and guides you through the process. After installing the necessary drivers, you can then install Acronis True Image and WD Security. However, MacOS security requires additional permissions and extensions to be activated, which involves restarting your machine and configuring settings, as these are deep security settings. If this is a business machine, you may need IT support to access these. Alternatively, you can reformat the drive to ExFat or APFS for greater compatibility. 

However, once everything is installed and the drive is reformatted to a Mac-compatible file system, it works seamlessly. The security features are easy to use and set up for both Mac and PC users. The added bonus of Acronis True Image is that it provides a robust backup solution for both systems. However, I would probably stick with Apple's Time Machine rather than adjust the Mac's security options.

In terms of performance, the HDD is slower than an SSD, but the massive 6TB capacity allows you to back up an entire computer on a single drive. The added security and backup features provide peace of mind, making this drive a reliable choice for storing and transferring large amounts of data securely.

• Performance: 4/5

Should you buy the WD My Passport 6TB?

The WD My Passport 6TB is an excellent option if you need large-scale storage and comes with software to streamline your backup process and enhance the security of your data.

It is ideally suited for backing up a computer or laptop, ensuring you have a full system backup at home, or sending large quantities of data, such as video and image files, to colleagues. While 6TB terabytes might seem excessive to some when it comes to the creative industry, large video files from cameras like the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K, can quickly fill up space. 

Having a hard drive with not only the capacity but also onboard hardware security is a significant asset in the professional world.

Overall, the WD My Passport is outwardly simple and easy to use. Still, it comes with software and hardware features that elevate it from a basic hard drive to an invaluable tool in the professional world.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

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