WD
WD My Passport SSD (2022)
$100Cheaper
Released 2022
Best Portable Ssds · head-to-head
WD My Passport SSD (2022) vs LaCie Rugged SSD Pro
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. WD My Passport SSD (2022) is cheaper at $100. Every spec and price links to its source.
LaCie
LaCie Rugged SSD Pro
$200
Released 2019
Which is better: the WD My Passport SSD (2022) or LaCie Rugged SSD Pro?
The LaCie Rugged SSD Pro wins 3 of the 3 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The WD My Passport SSD (2022) is the cheaper at $100. Get the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro for the stronger spec sheet, the WD My Passport SSD (2022) to spend less.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.
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 SSD (2022) | LaCie Rugged SSD Pro |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $100 | $200 |
| Brand | WD | LaCie |
| Released | 2022 | 2019 |
| Capacity (GB) | 500 | 1000 |
| Read (Mbps) | 1050 | 2800 |
| Write (Mbps) | 1000 | 2300 |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) | Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C |
| Encryption | AES 256-bit hardware | — |
| IP rating | — | IP67 |
| Weight (g) | — | 100 |
| Release | 2022 | 2019 |
Sources — WD My Passport SSD (2022): newegg.com (verified 2026-06-15). LaCie Rugged SSD Pro: seagate.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the WD My Passport SSD (2022) and LaCie Rugged SSD Pro?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Capacity (GB): WD My Passport SSD (2022) 500 vs LaCie Rugged SSD Pro 1000
- Read (Mbps): WD My Passport SSD (2022) 1050 vs LaCie Rugged SSD Pro 2800
- Write (Mbps): WD My Passport SSD (2022) 1000 vs LaCie Rugged SSD Pro 2300
- Interface: WD My Passport SSD (2022) USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) vs LaCie Rugged SSD Pro Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
WD My Passport SSD (2022)
Two whitelisted labs benchmarked the WD My Passport SSD NVMe (1,050/1,000 MB/s, USB 3.2 Gen 2, DRAM-less Blue SN550E): Tom's Hardware (Feb 2021) and StorageReview (Sep 2020). Both call it slim, secure and fast in real-world use but note it falls ~200 MB/s short of its rated speeds and, being DRAM-less, lags DRAM-based rivals like the Crucial X8 in file-copy/moderate-dataset tests. Tom's found a small 12GB SLC cache that drops sustained writes to ~710 MBps once saturated, though the drive stays cool (45C surface). (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Slim, light, pocketable design with AES-256 hardware encryption and 5-year warranty; Fast large-file read-back and solid real-world portable-SSD performance; Runs cool under sustained load (45C surface).
Flagged: DRAM-less design; falls behind DRAM-based rivals (Crucial X8) and lags in file-copy tests; Fell short of WD's rated 1,050/1,000 MB/s in real benchmarks (~200 MB/s under); Small SLC cache (12GB) drops sustained write to ~710 MBps once saturated.
LaCie Rugged SSD Pro
Only one whitelisted outlet (Tom's Hardware) has a hands-on, benchmarked review of this exact Thunderbolt 3 model. It rates the drive fast and cool-running with a rugged IP67 build, but flags a small SLC write cache, a steep price (about twice a typical 10 Gbps SSD), and the lack of AES hardware encryption found on the cheaper non-Pro Rugged SSD. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Competitive Thunderbolt 3 speed: ATTO ~2,450/2,130 MB/s read/write, peaking near 2.8/2.4 GB/s in iometer; Runs cool and avoids thermal throttling under sustained load, unlike the Samsung X5; Rugged IP67 build (3m drop, car-crush rated) with 5-year warranty plus Rescue data-recovery service.
Flagged: Small SLC write cache: sustained writes fall from ~2.1 GB/s to ~1.1 GB/s after roughly 25GB; Very expensive, about twice the cost of most 10 Gbps portable SSDs; Lacks 256-bit AES hardware encryption that the cheaper non-Pro Rugged SSD includes.