Crucial, a specialist in storage solutions, already offered us a convincing external SSD with its X8 which benefits from good speeds and also good value for money. With the X9 Pro, the American manufacturer is making a few additions in order to offer a more robust model, both physically and digitally. Currently, this SSD is priced at 132.99 euros instead of 184.99 euros in its 2 TB version.
External SSDs are more reliable storage solutions than traditional hard drives, or HDDs, on the one hand because they are more resistant thanks to the absence of mechanical parts, and on the other hand because they are much faster. However, you should expect them to be more expensive. But at the moment, the Crucial X9 Pro, which is usually displayed at 184.99 euros in its 2 TB version, is benefiting from a 28% reduction on Amazon.
The Crucial X9 Pro in summary
IP55 waterproof certification and hardware encryption A reading speed of 1050 MB/s More compact dimensions than its predecessor
Instead of the usual 184.99 euros, the Crucial X9 Pro (2 TB) is now available on sale at 132.99 euros at Amazon.
As robust inside as out
While the Crucial X8 stood out with its elongated shape, the Crucial X9 Pro opts for a more traditional format reminiscent of the Samsung T7. This small block of metal is as robust as it looks since it would be able to survive a fall of two meters according to the American manufacturer. In addition, it displays an IP55 sealing certification, which means that it resists dust deposits and water jets, but not necessarily immersion, or only a few seconds.
This robustness also involves digital protection via AES 256-bit hardware encryption, which the Crucial X8 does not have. Using this feature, data that needs to be secured is encrypted without the need for additional software. All that’s required is a password to access the encrypted data and a compatible operating system, which isn’t hard to find since the Crucial X9 Pro is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
An external SSD for those who need maximum security
In terms of performance, the Crucial X9 Pro does not really stand out from its predecessor since the read speed announced here is also 1050 MB/s while the write speed is 975 MB/s. These speeds are only achievable if the SSD is plugged into a USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port. If speeds aren’t good enough, then the Crucial X10 Pro is a better alternative, but if ruggedness and encryption aren’t worth it, it’s worth better to fall back on the X8 accessible at a better price.
More generally, the Crucial X9 Pro is reminiscent of a mix between the Samsung T7 Shield and the T7 Touch in terms of durability and performance. One flaw that can be pointed out is that this SSD only comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable, an adapter to USB-C would have been welcome. The Crucial X9 Pro ultimately remains a powerful and interesting SSD at this price.
In order to compare the Crucial X9 Pro with other products in the same category, we invite you now to consult our guide on the best external hard drives.
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