External storage solutions are almost essential nowadays, especially for heavy users who are limited by their device’s onboard storage capacity. External HDDs were the thing then – high capacity, chunkier, and slower than SSDs but more affordable. But it looks like external SSDs are becoming more popular. They’re faster, significantly smaller, and are becoming more affordable. One good example is the Kingston XS1000 USB 3.2 Gen 2 External SSD.

This is a portable SSD; when I say portable, I mean it’s something you can fit in your jeans pocket, so it will store well inside your bag. The size also makes it a great external solution for content creators who need to carry and transfer huge files.

In terms of build quality, the casing combines metal and plastic with a matte finish. It’s not rugged, so do not drop it and store it properly. It would have been nice if Kingston included a rubber case for it, but we still got USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cables, which are pretty standard.

Performance-wise, we’re looking at 1TB and 2TB capacities with up to 1,050MB/s read and 1,000MB/s write speeds. We were able to transfer 2GB of video files to our MacBook Pro and Windows laptop in just a couple of seconds. It’s significantly slower on our Android smartphone and tablet but still gets the job done.

Kingston is still one of the most popular and reliable brands out there when it comes to storage solutions, and the XS1000 doesn’t break the bank. The 1TB capacity only costs PHP 4,599, while the 2TB costs PHP 7,599 (it’s even on sale right now on Shopee: https://shope.ee/6UxFKFIgLd). It’s a great product for those who are looking for a portable external SSD that they can use for work and play.