ADATA SD810 portable SSD review

It pleases me to say we're firmly planted in a new era for external SSDs. For the longest time, it was hard to recommend anything other than a 10 Gbps drive such as the (still-wonderful) Crucial X6 because that's all that most motherboards could manage. Now, however, 20 Gbps SSDs like the ADATA SD810 are widely supported, much to the benefit to us gamers.

It's not just a USB generation thing, either. It's also a value thing. USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 external SSDs such as the SD810 are now very reasonably priced, making it difficult to recommend an older drive unless you're on a strict budget or have an older PC that doesn't have a Gen 2x2 port.

For most people using a modern gaming PC, however, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 is where it's at, and in this segment, the SD810 rules the roost. It's everything I value in my hardware, whatever that hardware may be: Simple, fast, effective, and reasonably priced. No flashy gimmicks, no unnecessary padding, just a solid drive that delivers where it matters.

What does matter is obviously transfer speed—fast and consistent peak speeds—but also portability, durability, and sensibility. The SD810 is very sensible. You unpackage it and are greeted with a dinky brushed metal drive that's strangely pleasant to hold and pocket. For those familiar with its ostensible predecessor, the ADATA SE880, it has the same kind of design same but is a little bigger.

Capacity: 500 GB / 1 TB (tested) / 2 TB / 4 TB
USB Gen: 3.2 Gen 2x2
Rated performance: 2,000 MB/s
Flash memory: 3D NAND
Controller: Silicon Motion SM2320
Price: $80 / £95 / AU$169 

That is, except for one addition. The SD810 has a plastic cover along one side that, given a somewhat hefty push, pops off to reveal the USB-C port. While perhaps a little difficult at first, after a while you get used to pushing your thumb against the raised edge until it opens with a satisfying pop. 

This is what I mean when I say this SSD keeps its value by shedding anything unnecessary. There's just what's practical, like this