Hey, do you want to buy the WD Elements 1TB hard drive ?
Here you have my opinion and review along with the offer that I used to buy it.
My opinion of WD ELEMENTS 1 TB
The WD Elements is a compact yet high-capacity external storage device with which you won't have to break the bank .
- With a price of around 55 euros, it is one of the cheapest portable units.
- You can also get the 2 TB version for about 85 euros, or the 500 GB version for only 50 euros.
Now, according to my tests, the performance of this unit is not as fast as that of its supposed rival, the slightly more expensive Seagate Expansion.
- Includes a short one-year warranty.
- It lacks security tools.
- Includes a 30-day trial version of the WD SmartWare Pro backup utility.
In fact, if you research more about the WD Elements 1TB, opinions often complain about the few extras it includes.
The simple design of the external hard drive allows it to work with computers and game consoles to expand storage or perform backups.
That said, if you're looking for an easy way to transport your data or expand your Xbox One's storage, then the Elements drive is an excellent buy.
On the other hand, those who need features like protection or backup tools, as well as a longer warranty, should take a look at other options.
Only the basics
Essentially, the Elements drive is WD's answer to the Seagate Expansion. In both cases, they are cheap, easy-to-use, high-capacity USB 3.0 external hard drives .
On the outside, the Elements hard drive looks similar to WD's higher-end portable drives, such as the WD My Passport Slim, with rounded corners and a smooth-finished surface.
Size
Measuring 11.2 by 8.1 by 2 centimeters, this compact unit is small enough to fit in a pocket.
Compared to the Seagate Expansion, this external hard drive is somewhat shorter and thicker, but looks better overall.
However, inside it houses a standard low-power laptop hard drive that spins at just 5,400 rpm , making it slower than 7,200-rpm drives. Typically this results in poorer performance.
In addition, this disk also does not support encryption for greater security, so you should not use it to save sensitive data.
When researching more about the WD Elements 1TB, opinions support this point of view.
WD SmartWare Pro
The Elements comes loaded with a trial version of the WD SmartWare Pro tool, which will cost you another $ 20 if you want to continue using it after the 30-day trial period.
WD's higher-end portable hard drives include the full version of this software free of charge.
In the box, the Elements includes a standard Micro-USB 3.0 cable of about a foot, and nothing else. Now, you won't need any other accessories to make it work either.
The drive is formatted for Windows and will work right out of the box. For a Mac, you will have to format it using HFS +.
You can also format it using the exFAT file system in case you want to use it interchangeably with Windows and Mac computers.
Multipurpose basic unit
The features paucity of the Elements hard drive may be a good thing. This type of basic design makes the unit work anywhere.
For example, a password-protected hard drive will require the host system to run the necessary software so that you can enter the key before you can connect it.
The Elements does not require that the host system have anything in particular, apart from a USB port.
- Windows and Mac computers aside, I also tested it on non-computer systems, where it also demonstrated compatibility.
- On an Xbox One, the unit was immediately recognized as soon as it was plugged in. And once formatted I could use it to store games, applications and content.
The Elements hard drive also worked well with routers and network media players .
Performance
Since the Elements houses a low-power internal hard drive, I didn't expect it to surprise me with its performance. Despite this, the performance was quite good .
Using USB 3.0, it recorded a sustained true copy speed of more than 95 Mbps write and more than 100 Mbps read . Being about 20 Mbps slower than those obtained by the Seagate Expansion.
The results were normal for a USB 3.0 portable hard drive. If you keep reading about the WD Elements 1TB, the opinions corroborate these results.
In addition, the speed is sufficient for any application that needs external storage, including movie playback, backup copies, and transfer of files used by applications.
You should keep in mind that the WD Elements also works with USB 2.0, but at much slower speeds of around 30 Mbps for writing and reading.
Final Line
The WD Elements portable hard drive is an excellent alternative to the Seagate Expansion.
Although the two hard drives are very similar in most respects, the Expansion is faster but the Elements is cheaper. Also, in my opinion, the Elements has a more attractive design.
It is a fast, easy-to-use, and versatile portable hard drive that effortlessly adds more capacity not only to computers, but also to game consoles and systems that support USB.
If you don't plan on using it to store sensitive data, it's an excellent drive.
On the other hand, if it is a priority for you to keep your data safe from curious people in case of loss or theft, it is best to opt for other models such as the Seagate Backup Plus Slim or the WD My Passport Slim.
Reading more about the WD Elements 1TB, opinions reflect this. I am totally happy with the WD Elements external hard drive, and I have no problem recommending it to most people.
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