Crucial · Updated June 2026
Crucial X6 Portable SSD: price, specs & release date
Crucial X6 Portable SSD, released 2021. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: newegg.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
The Crucial X6 Portable SSD is listed at $55 on newegg.com as of 2026-06-27, the cheapest portable ssds (median $125); other retailers may be lower. It earns a Silver Deskmark — 48/100 pay-blind standing, #7 of 21 in class.
Verified Jun 27, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
- Best for Compact, light, pocketable design; Low price and good value per GB.
- Skip if Falls short of quoted/expected speeds; sustained writes slow sharply once the SLC cache is exhausted is a dealbreaker.
Is the Crucial X6 Portable SSD a good buy?
At $55, the Crucial X6 Portable SSD is the cheapest of the 18 portable ssds we track, where the median is $125. On the spec sheet, its capacity of 500 GB is the lowest of the 20, its read of 540 Mbps is below the median of the 21, and its write of 500 Mbps is below the median of the 19.
Evidence of Record
Our data- Independent labsmeasured it
- 3
- Physical metricsrecorded
- 1
- Outlets on recordall tested
- 3
3 independent labs measured this product, logging 1 distinct physical metrics between them — speed. That is how much independent evidence stands behind any claim about it — not a rating of the product.
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the Crucial X6 Portable SSD
Three whitelisted labs (Tom's Hardware, StorageReview, TechRadar) hands-on tested the 2TB X6: all rate it a cheap, tiny, decently fast USB SSD that trails rivals and slows sharply on sustained writes once its SLC cache fills. No tester found it class-leading; low price and small size are the main draws.
Based on 3 reviews · 3 lab-tested · 2020-09-24–2021-03-08
Tested by Tom's Hardware, StorageReview, TechRadar
Consistently praised
- Compact, light, pocketable design · 3 sources
- Low price and good value per GB · 2 sources
- Responsive/fast for everyday transfers within the cache · 2 sources
Commonly flagged
- Falls short of quoted/expected speeds; sustained writes slow sharply once the SLC cache is exhausted · 3 sources
- No USB-C to USB-A adapter in the box (sold separately) · 3 sources
- No hardware encryption or security features · 2 sources
- Nothing sets it apart; rivals (Samsung T5, SanDisk Extreme) offer a better deal · 2 sources
Where reviewers disagree Testers split on the recommendation: Tom's Hardware frames everyday performance as 'responsive' with a value-leaning verdict, while TechRadar and StorageReview conclude rivals like the Samsung T5 and SanDisk Extreme offer a better deal and that nothing meaningfully sets the X6 apart.
The sources (3)
SLC write cache size (2TB): ~250 GB
Responsive performance within the cache and fast to recover
Slow after cache write is exhausted during sustained workloads
BlackMagic sequential read: 505.9 MB/s · BlackMagic sequential write: 450 MB/s · IOMeter 2MB sequential read (4-thread): 539.8 MB/s · IOMeter 2MB sequential write (4-thread): 350.4 MB/s · Random 4K read (4-thread): 15,071 IOPS · Random 4K write (4-thread): 3,647 IOPS
In BlackMagic, the Crucial X6 recorded 505.9MB/s read and 450MB/s write, not quite reaching its quoted speeds.
With its compact, bus-powered design, the X6 is an extremely convenient drive and users will have no trouble fitting it in larger pockets.
Overall, the Crucial X6 is a fine release from Micron, but there’s really nothing that sets the portable SSD apart from the vast amount of competition already out there.
CrystalDiskMark read: 464 MB/s · CrystalDiskMark write: 432 MB/s · AS SSD sequential read: 435 MB/s · AS SSD sequential write: 375 MB/s · 10GB file transfer: <33 s (>300 MB/s)
Our benchmark tests show that the Crucial X6 performs in general below expectations.
A single 10GB file was transferred in less than 33 seconds, yielding a transfer rate of more than 300MBps which was better than quite a few of the rivals we tested recently.
There are cheaper and smaller options
Specifications
| Price (US) | $55 US starting price for 500GB approximately $55 at launch; 1TB ~$90. |
|---|---|
| Brand | Crucial |
| Released | 2021 |
| Capacity (GB) | 500 |
| Read (Mbps) | 540 |
| Write (Mbps) | 500 |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) |
| Encryption | — |
| IP rating | — |
| Weight (g) | 41 |
Source: newegg.com (verified 2026-06-15) · corroborated by storagereview.com. Crucial X6 (CT500X6SSD9 etc.): budget-tier portable SSD, up to 540 MB/s read / 500 MB/s write, USB 3.2 Gen 2 (though SATA-based internally), USB-C. No hardware encryption. No IP rating. Very compact — 41g, smaller than X9 Pro. Available in 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB. Entry-level counterpart to the X9/X10 Pro line. Price ~$55 (500GB) at launch.
Is the Crucial X6 Portable SSD worth it vs cheaper portable ssds?
Crucial X6 Portable SSD against its closest cheaper and pricier portable ssds on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 18 ranked
| Product | Price | Capacity (GB) | Read (Mbps) | Write (Mbps) | Interface | Weight (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crucial X6 Portable SSD this | $55 | 500 | 540 | 500 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) | 41 |
| SK Hynix Beetle X31 Portable SSD | $60 | 512 | 1050 | 1000 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) | 53 |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the Crucial X6 Portable SSD?
Three whitelisted labs (Tom's Hardware, StorageReview, TechRadar) hands-on tested the 2TB X6: all rate it a cheap, tiny, decently fast USB SSD that trails rivals and slows sharply on sustained writes once its SLC cache fills. No tester found it class-leading; low price and small size are the main draws. Praised: Compact, light, pocketable design; Low price and good value per GB; Responsive/fast for everyday transfers within the cache. Flagged: Falls short of quoted/expected speeds; sustained writes slow sharply once the SLC cache is exhausted; No USB-C to USB-A adapter in the box (sold separately); No hardware encryption or security features; Nothing sets it apart; rivals (Samsung T5, SanDisk Extreme) offer a better deal. (From 3 tester reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
How much does the Crucial X6 Portable SSD cost?
The Crucial X6 Portable SSD has a US price of $55 (US starting price for 500GB approximately $55 at launch; 1TB ~$90.), as of 2026-06-15.
How does the Crucial X6 Portable SSD compare on price?
At $55, the Crucial X6 Portable SSD is the cheapest of the 18 portable ssds we track, where the median is $125.
When was the Crucial X6 Portable SSD released?
The Crucial X6 Portable SSD was released 2021.
What are the Crucial X6 Portable SSD's key specs?
Crucial X6 Portable SSD (Crucial): capacity gb 500, read mbps 540, write mbps 500, interface USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), weight g 41. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.
Price of record: $55 at newegg.com, 2026-06-27. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:
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