The Front Desk Review

WD · Updated June 2026

WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN): price, specs & release date

WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN), released 2019. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.

Source: bhphotovideo.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger

BronzeDeskmark34/100#7 of 12 in class

The WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN) is listed at $129.99 on bhphotovideo.com as of 2026-06-27, #3 cheapest of 12 external hard drives (median $165); other retailers may be lower. It earns a Bronze Deskmark — 34/100 pay-blind standing, #7 of 12 in class.

Verified Jun 27, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below

Cheapest external hard drives: Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB (HDTB540XK3CA) — $89.99

See WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN) on Amazon Live price at the store — may differ from the dated listed price above. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN) — WD
Image: support-en.wd.com (© WD)

Is the WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN) a good buy?

At $130, the WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN) is #3 cheapest of the 12 external hard drives we track, where the median is $165. On the spec sheet, its release of 2019 is below the median of the 12, its capacity of 5 TB is at the median of the 12, and its RPM of 5400 is at the median of the 5.

Evidence of Record

Our data
Independent labsmeasured it
1
Physical metricsrecorded
1
Outlets on recordall tested
1

One independent lab measured this product across 1 physical metric — speed. These numbers rest on a single hands-on source so far.

A coverage record, not a rating. How we count

Review consensus · sourced & dated

What reviewers say about the WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN)

Only one whitelisted tester, TechRadar, has hands-on data for the WD Elements Portable line (1TB-5TB, including this 5TB); it names it the best overall external HDD, balanced, portable, with great price-per-terabyte, while noting it leads no single category and carries only a two-year warranty.

Based on 1 review · 1 lab-tested · 2025-04-15

Tested by TechRadar

Consistently praised

  • Best-in-class balance of price, capacity and speed; top overall pick
  • Very portable, lightweight design
  • Fantastic price per terabyte

Commonly flagged

  • Not the fastest or highest-capacity drive; leads no single category
  • Only a two-year warranty

Where reviewers disagree No cross-source disagreement is possible: only one whitelisted tester (TechRadar) covers this product. Its measured 114/109 MB/s figures are a line-level 'as tested' benchmark and do not isolate the specific 5TB unit.

The sources (1)

TechRadar lab-tested ·

Average sequential read (as tested): 114.0 MB/s · Average sequential write (as tested): 109.0 MB/s

this is my top pick for the best external hard drive overall because in every category, it is consistently in the top three.
The WD Elements external hard drive isn't the fastest or the most spacious on the market.
The WD Elements then is very much a jack-of-all-trades kind of drive, doing all things reasonably well, while not outperforming in one category or the other.

Specifications

Price (US)$129.99 $129.99 at B&H (sale from $139.99); Amazon/Newegg vary $130-$215
BrandWD
Released2019
Capacity (TB)5
Form factorportable
Interfaceusb_3_2_gen1
RPM5400
Powerbus_powered
Hardware encryptionNo
Dimensions (in)4.35 x 3.23 x 0.82 in

Source: bhphotovideo.com (verified 2026-06-19) · corroborated by support-en.wd.com. VERIFIED. Price $129.99 confirmed at B&H. Hardware encryption None/false per WD compatibility matrix (Elements Portable = No). Dimensions retained. RPM 5400 per aggregator data (WD does not officially publish). Source URL changed from mobilespecs aggregator to B&H retailer for a topical primary-retail source.

Is the WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN) worth it vs cheaper external hard drives?

WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN) against its closest cheaper and pricier external hard drives on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 12 ranked

ProductPriceCapacity (TB)Form factorInterfaceRPMPower
WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN) this$129.995portableusb_3_2_gen15400bus_powered
Seagate One Touch 2TB (STKB2000400)$102.052portableusb_3_2_gen1—bus_powered
Seagate One Touch 5TB (STKC5000400)$154.995portableusb_3_2_gen1—bus_powered

Frequently asked questions

What do reviewers say about the WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN)?

Only one whitelisted tester, TechRadar, has hands-on data for the WD Elements Portable line (1TB-5TB, including this 5TB); it names it the best overall external HDD, balanced, portable, with great price-per-terabyte, while noting it leads no single category and carries only a two-year warranty. Praised: Best-in-class balance of price, capacity and speed; top overall pick; Very portable, lightweight design; Fantastic price per terabyte. Flagged: Not the fastest or highest-capacity drive; leads no single category; Only a two-year warranty. (From 1 tester review, 1 lab-tested.)

How much does the WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN) cost?

The WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN) has a US price of $129.99 ($129.99 at B&H (sale from $139.99); Amazon/Newegg vary $130-$215), as of 2026-06-19.

How does the WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN) compare on price?

At $130, the WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN) is #3 cheapest of the 12 external hard drives we track, where the median is $165.

When was the WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN) released?

The WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN) was released 2019.

What are the WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN)'s key specs?

WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN) (WD): capacity tb 5, form factor portable, interface usb_3_2_gen1, rpm 5400, power bus_powered. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-19.

Price of record: $129.99 at bhphotovideo.com, 2026-06-27. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:

See WD Elements Portable 5TB (WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN) on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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