Western Digital P10 Review

The Western Digital P10 is a perfect display of what WD has come to be known for — a quality piece of equipment that takes every detail into account. Geared toward gamers, the P10 has a sleek metal plating that adds a dash of style to any console cave. One of this drive's best attributes is that it works seamlessly with all major operating systems.

Performance Comparison

Read/Write Performance

Considering that read and write speeds are the primary purchasing factor for most tech enthusiasts, we decided that metric should constitute 60% of our total score. To gather data for this section, we used AmorphousDeskMark test software to measure Mac OS's speed and CrystalDiskMark test software for Windows. We then conducted a manually timed drag and drop file transfer using three different size files for both operating systems.

The WD P10 is slightly slower than average compared to the other HDDs in our review. While using Mac OS, this model was able to write sequential files at an average rate of 127 MB per second and random data files at an average rate of 0.4 MB per second.

When we switched to Windows, the WD P10 wrote sequential files at a noticeably faster rate of 133 MB per second and random data files at a rate of 0.5 MB per second.

For the second part of this metric, we manually timed how long the drives took to transfer 1GB, 5GB, and 10GB files. These time trials were performed for both Windows and Mac OS. For Windows, the WD P10 transferred a 1GB file in 10 seconds, a 5GB file in 55 seconds, and a 10GB file in 113 seconds for an average rate of 93 MB per second. When we transferred the duplicate files on a Mac, the 1GB time tied Windows at 10 seconds while the 5GB and 10GB files transferred at 62 seconds and 120 seconds, respectively. The average MB per second transfer rate for the P10 using Mac OS fell to 86.

Convenience

In the age of information and the perpetual advancements in the tech behind products such as external hard drives, nobody wants to be bogged down by extra steps while trying to perform a task or achieve a goal. When we invest in a product such as this, we expect it to work seamlessly with our current hardware and be as easy to use as possible. Accounting for the next 30% of our final score, we looked closely at attributes that add or detract from each drive's overall convenience. We considered manufacturers' warranties, each model's compatibility across several hardware platforms, the types of connections they have, and the setup process for each drive.

All in all, our team determined that the WD P10 is a very convenient piece of equipment to use. Its compatibility is top-notch — it works with Windows, Mac OS, gaming consoles, and Android devices. There is no formatting required to seamlessly interchange use on any of the aforementioned operating systems. It has a three-year warranty to put your mind at ease while storing your most precious files. The P10 does not have many options for storage capacity. The minimum memory offered for this version is 2TB, and the maximum is 5TB. We also deducted a few points because the included cable has a limited interface. The drive side of the cable is a Micro-B port which is a less common type than USB C or USB A. Also, the output side of the cable is USB A only. Many modern computers, such as the newer MacBook Pro, only have a USB C port, so you'll need a hub or an adapter if you own this computer and decide to purchase this drive.

Portability

For the final 10% of our review, we looked at the transportability of each device. If your plan is for your drive to permanently live in your office or next to your gaming console, this characteristic may not be as important to you. If you travel or move often, work remotely, or transport your drive to and from the office, you may put a little more weight into this metric.

The WD P10 is highly transportable. Measuring 4.6" x 3.5 “ x .5”, it is roughly the size of a wallet. It is entirely powered by USB, so there is no need to haul an AC adapter and extra cord around with it. Our one complaint is with the rigid metal casing on the body. A metal plate might look burly, but it won't do much to protect the moving parts inside from being jarred if the drive is dropped. We'd like to see a rubber coating or an actual shockproof certification rating on a future version, as competing brands have begun to include these details into their drive design. Weighing 141 grams, this is about on par for HDDs with similar physical dimensions and memory capacities, but there are SSD models that weigh less than half of this. If portability and durability are deciding factors for you, we highly recommend reading up on some of the more transportable models in our review.

Value

Considering the overall performance, portability, and aesthetic appeal, the WDP10 is well worth the purchase. In fact, it outperformed several devices with similar specifications that cost more during our assessment.

Conclusion