External SSDs

Flash-based portable drives have become popular fast storage options for both content creators and backups-seeking consumers. The advent of high-speed interfaces such as USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps) along with Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40 Gbps) have enabled rapid improvements in performance of such portable SSDs over the last few years. While the higher-speed variants have traditionally been premium devices, a push towards lower priced drives was kickstarted by the introduction of native USB flash drive (UFD) controllers. Today, we are taking a look at the performance and value proposition of the complete Kingston XS2000 portable SSD lineup based on the Silicon Motion SM2320 controller.