Mac|Life

Toshiba XS700 240GB

Got the need for speed? Try this

- Alex Blake

$94 From Toshiba, toshiba-memory.com Needs USB 3.1 Gen 2

There are a lot of external SSDs out there, but few as fast as the XS700. Our testing put it neck and neck with Seagate’s Fast SSD, with average read speeds of 443MB/sec to the Seagate’s 447.2MB/sec. The average write speeds were similarly close, with the Toshiba edging ahead with 417.5MB/sec compared to 411.7MB/sec for the Seagate.

It’s a similar story for maximum speeds. The Toshiba was a hair behind, its read speed maxing out at 536.1MB/sec, but its 510.7MB/sec max write speed pulled it ahead. That makes it one of the fastest single–drive external SSDs we’ve reviewed, even (slightly) quicker than the CalDigit Tuff, our previous champ. If you need to move a lot of files in a hurry, the XS700 is a strong contender.

The design feels fairly sturdy, but not as strong as the partly metal Seagate Fast SSD. There’s a USB–A to USB–C cable included and, helpfully, an adapter so you can use it with a USB–C Mac right out of the box. That’s where you’ll feel the benefits, but it’s still worth getting if you have a USB–A Mac or need a drive with a USB 3.1 Gen 2 connector.

the bottom line. An affordable drive that’s right up there in terms of speed.

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