With the WD Elements SE SSD series, Western Digital is bringing out compact flash data carriers for on the go. The external SSDs offer up to 2 TB of storage space in a compact housing that fits in your pocket. Up to 400 MB/s are achieved via USB 3.2 Gen 1 alias USB 3.0.
WD Elements SE faster with SSD technology
The data carriers described by the manufacturer as “inexpensive pocket-sized SSD performance for mobile use” measure 64.5 × 64.5 × 8.63 mm (L × W × H) and are therefore significantly more compact than the HDD counterparts with the same Names that are available with up to 5 TB. The difference in weight is even greater, which should be just 27.2 grams for the WD Elements SE SSD, while the WD Elements SE (HDD) ranges between 130 grams and 230 grams, depending on the version.
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WD Elements SE SSD (Image: Western Digital)
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WD Elements SE SSD 
WD Elements SE SSD 
SSD technology offers advantages not only in terms of size and weight, but also in terms of performance. Sequentially, data should be read at up to 400 MB/s, the HDDs should reach around 150 MB/s, but there are no official figures. The lead in access times is even greater. Therefore, applications start noticeably faster on an SSD than on a hard drive.
HDDs are further ahead in terms of price
The catch with SSDs remains the much higher price. The WD Elements SE SSD with 1 TB costs around 150 euros in the manufacturer's shop. The WD Elements HDD with 1 TB, on the other hand, is already available for 50 euros in the free trade. Western Digital charges around 90 euros for the 480 GB SSD version and 280 euros for the 2 TB version. However, it is to be expected that the prices at other online retailers will be somewhat lower. The new WD SSDs are apparently connected via USB type A.
Alternatives for external SSDs
However, the WD Elements SE SSD does not have to compete with external HDDs, but with other external SSDs. The Crucial X6 Portable (test), for example, is similarly compact, which is also faster at 540 MB/s and even reaches 800 MB/s in the 4 TB version. However, the X6 has slow QLC memory and quickly falls back to write rates of well below 100 MB/s when the capacity is high. What kind of memory is built into the WD Elements SE SSD has yet to be found out. The X6 Portable with 1 TB costs 134 euros at Crucial and is available for 100 euros * in the free trade.
With a similar throughput, the Samsung Portable SSD T5 (test) is one Another alternative in a stylish aluminum housing for around 110 euros * with 1 TB storage space. The new Portable T7 Touch (test) provides more power and a fingerprint sensor for around 150 euros *.
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