WD
WD My Passport 5TB (WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN)
$159.95
Released 2019
Best External Hard Drives · head-to-head
WD My Passport 5TB (WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN) vs Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB (HDTB540XK3CA)
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB (HDTB540XK3CA) is cheaper at $89.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Toshiba
Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB (HDTB540XK3CA)
$89.99Cheaper
Released 2022
Which is better: the WD My Passport 5TB (WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN) or Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB (HDTB540XK3CA)?
The WD My Passport 5TB (WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN) wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB (HDTB540XK3CA) is the cheaper at $89.99. Get the WD My Passport 5TB (WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN) for the stronger spec sheet, the Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB (HDTB540XK3CA) to spend less.
See WD My Passport 5TB (WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN) on Amazon Check Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB (HDTB540XK3CA) price
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Key specs, head to head
The numbers that decide it, drawn to scale — longer bar wins, the accent bar is the stronger figure.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | WD My Passport 5TB (WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN) | Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB (HDTB540XK3CA) |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $159.95 | $89.99 |
| Brand | WD | Toshiba |
| Released | 2019 | 2022 |
| Capacity (TB) | 5 | 4 |
| Form factor | portable | portable |
| Interface | usb_3_2_gen1 | usb_3_2_gen1 |
| RPM | 5400 | — |
| Power | bus_powered | bus_powered |
| Hardware encryption | Yes | No |
| Dimensions (in) | 4.22 x 2.95 x 0.75 in | 3.07 x 4.29 x 0.77 in |
| Release | 2019 | 2022 |
Sources — WD My Passport 5TB (WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN): cdw.com (verified 2026-06-19). Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB (HDTB540XK3CA): amazon.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the WD My Passport 5TB (WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN) and Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB (HDTB540XK3CA)?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (3 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Capacity (TB): WD My Passport 5TB (WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN) 5 vs Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB (HDTB540XK3CA) 4
- Hardware encryption: WD My Passport 5TB (WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN) true vs Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB (HDTB540XK3CA) false
- Dimensions (in): WD My Passport 5TB (WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN) 4.22 x 2.95 x 0.75 in vs Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB (HDTB540XK3CA) 3.07 x 4.29 x 0.77 in
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
WD My Passport 5TB (WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN)
All three whitelisted labs (Tom's Hardware, StorageReview, PCWorld) hands-on tested this exact 2019 5TB My Passport. Consensus: a spacious, cheap-per-gigabyte, attractively built portable HDD with consistent sequential speeds in the ~115-128 MB/s range, but clearly slower than SSDs and weak on small-file writes. One StorageReview write figure (114.5 MB/s) was dropped because the source printed a garbled unit that could not be confirmed. (3 sourced reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
Praised: Spacious 5TB capacity in a slim, portable body; Consistent, solid-for-an-HDD sequential speeds (~115-128 MB/s); Low price per gigabyte and attractive styling.
Flagged: Much slower than SSDs; wrong pick if speed is a priority; Unusually slow small-file / folder write performance.
Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB (HDTB540XK3CA)
No sourced tester review yet.