REASONS TO BUY
Decent overall performance
Affordable
Encrypted
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited high-capacity options
Lacks water or dust protection
No shock protection
Western Digital My Passport Portable Review
A great run-of-the-mill hard drive that works both for day-to-day use and within a tight budget
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
By Aspen Rain Weaver ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ October 6, 2025
Our Verdict
For years now, Western Digital has claimed the leader's jersey among external hard drive manufacturers, and that doesn't just stop with high-end models. The WD My Passport Portable stands out amongst our lineup of top-notch hard drives, not just for its performance, but also for its price tag. It can transfer data at a reasonable rate and comes in a wide range of storage capacities. Whether you work on a Mac, Android, Chrome, or Windows device, this WD model is compatible with a multitude of platforms and comes with security features to protect your sensitive information, including 256-bit encryption. Overall, this is a slim, lightweight, and extremely easy-to-use hard drive that works great for simple day-to-day use.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Not only is the WD My Passport Portable affordable, but it also has speed and features to rival more costly models.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
Read/Write Performance
During our Mac testing using AmorphousDiskMark, we found that the WD My Passport Portable rivaled other hard drives in terms of read/write performance. After averaging three tests, we were satisfied with MyPassport's on-par transfer rates of 129 MB per second for sequential read and 108.7 MB per second for sequential write on Mac.
Once tested on Windows using CrystalDiskMark, it maintained a median performance for an HDD, achieving 127.5 MB per second in sequential read rates and 121.79 MB per second in sequential write speed. These are some of our best results for drives of comparable price and size.
Using AmorphousDiskMark gave us a deeper understanding of how each drive performed on macOS.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
When we tested the My Passport's random transfer rates, we were greeted by relatively standard read and write speeds on macOS, with read rates of 0.43 MB per second and write speeds of 7.67 MB per second. However, when we ran CrystalDiskMark on Windows and tested for random rates, we were thoroughly surprised by its swift random write rate of 9.62 MB per second, outcompeting most HDDs of the same relative size and cost.
During our actual speed tests, we found surprisingly swift rates for a budget-friendly product.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
After concluding optimal speed testing, our team sought actual speed data for drag-and-drop usage to compare with the findings from our software tests. While testing actual speeds on Mac, the My Passport fell within the upper median group, with an average drag-and-drop speed of 80.04 MB per second. On Windows, it dropped slightly to 72.55 MB per second. Ultimately, all of this data translated into one of the swifter HDDs we tested; however, it is worth mentioning that solid state drives (SSD) generally have significantly faster transfer rates. At the same time, HDDs come with a more affordable sticker price.
Drag and Drop speed testing on Windows OS.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
Usability
The WD My Passport is a bit easier to use than most other drives, but still has its pros and cons. We were excited about several features and disappointed by others.
We found that this model comes formatted as NTFS out of the box, which works only with the Windows OS unless otherwise reformatted. It can be formatted to work with Windows, Chrome, Android, and Mac operating systems, making it a relatively compatible device. This particular hard drive also comes with 256-bit encryption to keep your data secure.
Most Western Digital hard drives come with a Micro-B port.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
The WD My Passport only includes one cable — the Micro-B to USB-A that we have become accustomed to from Western Digital products. These cables are USB 3.2 and are great for speedy transfers, but have limited compatibility because they are solely USB-A. Generally speaking, most new computers and handheld devices are compatible with USB-C, meaning you might need to purchase an adapter to use the WD My Passport.
We needed to use an adapter to test several products on a newer macOS, including the WD My Passport.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
We appreciate the 3-year limited warranty, although it does not cover damage from dust, water, or drops. It is available in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 5TB, and 6TB options, providing a decent range of sizes. For anyone looking for a slightly more environmentally friendly drive, the WD My Passport and its packaging are both made from 50% recycled material, further adding a couple of points to its usability score.
The WD My Passport comes ready to use with Windows systems.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
Portability
The My Passport's dimensions are the smallest out of any HDD drive we measured at just 4.22" x 2.95" x 0.44", taking up only 5.47 cubic inches of space.
This hard drive is smaller than the average handheld cellular device and weighs about half as much at just 4.3 ounces, making it the lightest HDD throughout our entire reviewed lineup, with only the two SSDs weighing less. It is such a compact unit that we could easily slip the thing into our back pocket or computer bag without noticing a difference.
Not only is this HDD one of the smallest throughout our lineup, but it is also the lightest.
Despite its phenomenally small footprint, this hyper-light hard drive fell in the ranks due to its lack of water, dust, or drop protection, which can leave it vulnerable to a spilled beverage or accidental impact. Overall, this sleek hard drive scored middle of the pack in our portability metric.
When it comes to price versus performance, the WD My Passport Portable is a genuine winner.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
Should You Buy The WD My Passport Portable?
WD My Passport Portable is the way to go if you're looking for an external HDD that outperforms much of the competition in read and write speeds while costing a fraction of the price. While it doesn't match the high-octane speeds of our reviewed SSDs, it showed results comparable to those of any HDD models. This is the lightest and smallest HDD we reviewed, and with a small price tag to match, this is a homerun for anyone shopping for a hard drive on a budget.
What Other Hard Drives Should I Consider?
If you need a rugged hard drive that can withstand harsh climates and adverse environments, yet fits in a wallet, consider the SanDisk Extreme V2. It boasts remarkable speeds and features water resistance, dust resistance, and nearly 10 ft of drop protection. It does come with a significant cost, so alternatively, you can take a look at the ADATA HD710M Pro, which also offers dust, water, and drop protection at half the price of the SanDisk.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Western Digital My Passport Portable versus top competing products:
—Aspen Rain Weaver
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